The UK has many high quality manufacturers, so why are brands still seemingly unaware?
Also this week: Listen to our podcast interview with British designer Wayne Hemingway
Make It British founder Kate Hills gives us her view
This week, I was flabbergasted to read an interview in The Guardian where Samantha Cameron, a former British Prime Minister’s wife, was quoted saying she could not find "high quality" factories in Britain for her womenswear brand, Cefinn.
Statements like this from high-profile brand owners, regardless of their intent and without additional information, undermine the work of the fantastic garment manufacturers we have in the UK.
I founded Make it British over a decade ago to highlight the brands that manufacture here and the UK manufacturers that make for them. Knowing that the best manufacturers often keep a low profile, I even ran a trade show for six years to help bring the industry together and spotlight UK factories.
It therefore saddens me when I hear from brand owners who believe there are no high-quality UK factories, forcing them to manufacture their clothing elsewhere .
Over the years, I’ve consulted with many major brands and retailers, including helping M&S to find factories for their Best of British collection in 2012, and I understand why some of them are reluctant to manufacture in the UK.
Read our latest article, "5 Reasons Brands Hesitate to Manufacture in the UK and Why They Should Reconsider" to discover what these reasons are and why there is a strong case for manufacturing locally.
In Conversation with Wayne Hemingway
For this episode of the Front Row to Front Bench podcast, Tamara Cincik speaks with designer Wayne Hemingway MBE about his bi-annual event the Classic Car Boot Sale, which returns to Kings Cross on 27th & 28th April.
The weekend will give the public a last chance to see Paul McCartney's iconic 1972 Wings Tour Bus before it is auctioned to find a new home as well as celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. The festival includes quality sustainable shopping, entertainment, street food and DJ’s. Buy tickets to the event here
Wayne founded the hugely successful British fashion brand Red or Dead in the 80’s, which went on to win the British Fashion Council's Street Style Award in 1995, 1996, and 1997.
He is the founder of Hemingway Design, and partners with Maria Chenoweth CEO of TRAID to bring you Charity Super.Mkt, where they are taking charity fashion to the next level. Maria also pops on for a few minutes at the end of the episode!
Listen on Spotify, Apple or Substack
Imagining Possibilities Festival - Cherishing: From Radical Act to Practical Reality
Come & join Fashion Roundtable’s CEO Tamara Cincik at the Cherishing: From Radical Act to Practical Reality Panel Discussion + Q&A at this week’s Imagining Possibilities Festival.
Last few tickets remaining for Friday’s panel discussion, hosted by Dilys Williams. Friday 19th April 2pm - 4pm, tickets are FREE - don’t miss out!
Fashion Crimes, the latest report from Earthsight, exposes how clothes sold by H&M and Zara are linked to dirty cotton
Earthsight’s Fashion Crimes report reveals that Brazilian cotton is linked to land grabbing, deforestation, and human rights violations.
Agribusiness giants are causing havoc and destruction in Bahia state - with swathes of the Cerrado destroyed, land taken away from the traditional communities who have lived there for over 200 years, and rivers poisoned with pesticides. The report also highlights the failings of Better Cotton, the scheme that had certified the 816,000 tonnes of cotton traced by us. These findings once again prove the need for stronger regulation in consumer markets including the EU and UK.
UN Global Compact Network UK launches their new Business Sector Exchanges, which takes a sector–focused approach to sustainability
Sustainability is a non-negotiable for business success, but to make purpose go beyond profit, businesses need to anticipate major challenges and adapt accordingly. The UN Global Compact Network UK will help to put that ambition into action.
Applications for this year’s FWN mentoring programme close at midnight on 21 April 2024!
Just 6 days left to apply for this year’s Fabian Women’s public life and political mentoring programme
To be considered for this programme, you need to:
have contributed in some way (big or small) to political or public life
be willing to share your skills
be a member of the Fabian Society
be able to commit a total of six days to attend sessions over the ten-month programme.
As you rightly pointed out, Mrs Cameron is talking nonsense. Maybe she's using an excuse to move her operation overseas, leading to cheaper labour. Social value is as important now as it has ever been.