Made in Britain and Best of British are usually indicators that a brand is of high quality, celebrated craftsmanship and traditional in skill. And yet – how many of us own authentic British garments in our closets?
It is virtually impossible to buy from bigger name brands, whilst supporting UK manufacturing.
Molly Goddard, Bianca Saunders, Craig Green and Grace Wales Bonner are current big British names in the fashion industry. And we can not forget the legendary British labels: Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. We hold Marks & Spencers dear to our hearts, even if it’s been a somewhat tumultuous relationship in recent times.
According to the UK Parliament, there were 314,040 UK retail businesses as of 1 January 2023. Yet when approached, all UK major retailers could not offer up product insights into which garments were made in the UK in 2024.
These days, ‘Made in Britain’ is still a position only really upheld by smaller brands, or the newest brands on the fashion scene, keen to turn back time.
Here are the labels to know if you want to dress well, buy local and, to an extent, rectify, with pride, the meaning of ‘Made in Britain.’
Freya Simonne
Freya Simonne is a slow fashion label that handcrafts garments in pastel hues, ditsy florals, and stripes. The opening line on their website is, “The future of fashion is coming, and it’s from the past.” Using only materials that already exist, Freya Simonne reworks vintage textiles into beautiful, timeless pieces of clothing. Simonne told me, “My manufacturing process is ever-evolving in a slow and thoughtful way. I have pretty much worked with the same makers for the whole time I’ve been running Freya Simonne. I trust my makers implicitly and like to give them their own bit of creative freedom too.”
Community Clothing
Boosted by the growing profile of founder, Patrick Grant of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, and author of the new release Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish), Community Clothing has managed to entice a range of age groups. Clever marketing and accessible pricing, yes, but also simple cuts and a great palette of colours. Grant is a realist: “I’ve seen first-hand the devastating effect that the loss of jobs has had on manufacturing communities, and on the personal pride of many skilled men and women.” Every garment is made right here in the UK and it’s the social impact of boosting such communities, that were once the hub of the country’s output, that Grant is passionate about. “I believe everyone growing up in this country should have the chance of a meaningful, fulfilling and well-paid career, and it makes me happy to know that Community Clothing is helping to make that a reality in our textile making regions.”
FanFare Label
Before founding Fanfare Label, Esther Knight spent over a decade as a buyer in the fashion industry, working with numerous high street and designer brands, including Vivienne Westwood. Through her experience, Esther witnessed how fashion companies prioritised financial profits at the expense of the people who make the clothes and the environment. Recognising the urgent need for radical change, she decided to take action rather than abandon the industry. Esther aimed to revolutionise not only the production of garments but also the way we buy, wear, and consume clothing. By collaborating with recycling plants and building relationships with key charities, she established Fanfare Label, a circular fashion brand dedicated to promoting sustainable and ethical practices.
SIRPLUS
SIRPLUS is based on a simple idea: that throwing away fabric that’s no longer wanted or isn’t “cool” anymore isn’t trendy anymore. Henry Hales, the founder, discovered that London’s shirt-makers often ended up with surplus fabric after making their garments. Usually, that fabric was just thrown away, considered no longer sellable or useful. So, SIRPLUS was born. ‘Around half of our collection is still made from surplus fabrics. Unlike high street fashion brands who pump out tens of thousands of the same garments using artificial materials, our materials come from limited sources with only handfuls made in some occasions – so when they are gone, they are really gone.’
WE ARE KIN
WE ARE KIN is an emerging sustainable label founded by Ngoni Chikwenengere. The brand is focused on creating pieces with a sense of sartorial refinement, aided by strong silhouettes, clean lines and statement pieces that will elevate any closet. WE ARE KIN design approach is one of functionality but with a carefully considered and conceptual approach to form, design and fabrication. This is a slow fashion label e.g they seek to create garments that are void of trends and fads which in turn makes pieces timeless, wearable and help to reduce waste. They work with end-of-line fabrics, sustainable fabrics and their local factory in London.
Nicole Zisman
Nicole Zisman is an artist and designer based in London. The label and its products take form through contemporary reflections of ethnicity, memory, migration and mysticism. Judeo-Latin and Hasidic spirituality mold together to showcase the designer’s cross-disciplinary creative approach, combined with creating high-impact visual narratives. She says “My business practices in the area of storytelling, material and labour sustainability are informed by my work in these arenas within: the luxury fashion sector; within niche and/or underserved London communities; in my past and present work with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion; and within my lecturing at Central Saint Martins.” The final outcome is a burst of colour, creativity, and mindful thinking. We’re convinced.
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers is London’s only craft jeans maker. Denim garments made in London E17. Raw, selvedge and organic denim. They have a strict moral code: not working with suppliers unless they have visited the production facility. Seeking organic textile materials wherever possible and following the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen e.g creating achievable and realistic daily improvements.
Nobody’s Child
Nobody’s Child is a brand on a mission to bring beautiful fashion to every woman, everywhere, without costing the Earth. Designed in-house at their London-based studio, the collections favour lower-impact materials, including organic, recycled, or responsibly sourced alternatives to their conventional counterparts. Their goals encompass introducing circular design principles, developing a responsible fabric mix that consistently favours organic, recycled, and responsibly sourced alternatives to conventional key materials, and continually reducing climate impact through science-based targets. They are proud signatories of the Low Carbon Transition Programme, an initiative that supports London-based fashion in moving towards circularity.
Not Another
Not Another is a conscious brand—conscious of the planet and people. Eradicating seasons and trends, quality is key, and the garments are built to last. If clothing does get tired, they offer the chance to repair and recycle. Founder Jyoti Sheath told me, “I am proud that our T-shirts use recycled cotton, which saves over 3,000 liters of water per T-shirt from developing countries. In addition, 50% of the energy used to make the fabric comes from solar power. Our labels are made from bamboo, which means the plants are never cut down, preventing deforestation. Bamboo is a fast-growing material.”
non
non is a UK-based label that offers raw selvedge denim jeans, jackets, and accessories that are designed to last. “Our organic cotton is grown without toxic chemicals or GMOs, reducing CO2 emissions by 60% compared to conventional cotton. Certified by the Organic Cotton Standard, it ensures high labour standards and maintains ecosystem health through natural farming processes.”