UKFT member Blackhorse Lane Atelier is working with UAL’s Business Fashion, Textiles and Technology, to set up the UK’s first state-of-the-art, R&D washing facility within its factory building in London.

The denim wash-lab will facilitate the development of an authentic UK denim aesthetic and build a new ‘craft-form’ skill-set and expertise within this field, which is currently only available in industrial form and in a few countries off-shore.

Founder Han Ates said: “When we started six years ago, our aim was to make the best jeans in the world. We used our experience and know-how as tailors and looked back through history to create finely-crafted garments and while we are now confident in our making skills, we realise that there is still so much about denim that we don’t know.

“Denim fabric is a blank canvas and it can be styled and interpreted in so many ways. Here in the UK, we have expert denim designers and garment-makers but we are still missing expertise in washing and finishing techniques.

“In line with our core values, our washing and finishing lab will be a space where students, small start-ups and larger heritage brands will be able to research and develop new and more sustainable ways of working with denim washes.”

The denim specialist is also inviting customers and friends to become a ‘Community member‘ to join and support the firm on this pioneering journey. In return, BLA will offer generous benefits including an invite to the launch of the Wash R&D lab and exclusive meet events to be confirmed in the Summer.

Through a pre orders initiative, BLA will also launch existing as well as new styles using exclusive fabrics from the finest mills in the world.

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Blackhorse Lane Ateliers is a UKFT member. Interested in UKFT membership? Find out more here.