Palava is a small but bold clothing brand that puts purpose before trends. Now, with its most ambitious project yet – The Hatchery – it’s creating a rural hub for making, learning and sustainable innovation. Home to the Palava Lab, The Hatchery will pilot new approaches to production that prioritise quality, transparency and care over scale and speed. Read more below…

UKFT member Palava is a small but bold clothing brand committed to doing things differently. Based between London and North Yorkshire, the brand makes joyful, long-lasting clothes using natural fabrics, hand-drawn prints, and small-scale UK production. “We don’t follow trends,” explains founder Bryony Richardson. “We follow purpose.”

“Our mission is to make less, but make it better. That means no fast fashion, no disposability, and no cutting corners. Instead, we focus on craftsmanship, creativity, and producing in small batches. Our dresses, knitwear, and accessories are designed to last for years, not just seasons. And yes, they all come with pockets.”

Palava works closely with a network of brilliant UK-based factories and suppliers across Leicester, Barking, and the Scottish Islands. Its knitwear is made using certified organic cotton in Turkey, and wherever possible, the brand champions British manufacturing and knows the people who make its clothing.

The company is currently creating a series of small documentaries following its journey as a company about how to do things better. developing a way to localise materials and manufacturing.

The biggest project yet is The Hatchery: a converted rural building the company is working to transform into a micro-factory, learning space, and hub for sustainable innovation. As part of the Hatchery is the Palava Lab: a space to pilot new ways of working. Where we look at creating more by creating less.

The first of many projects to come out of the Palava lab, with the catalyst funding of Innovate UK, is a pilot project to transform unwanted wool blankets into coats.

Community is at the heart of Palava, and The Hatchery is designed to bring people into the process – through workshops and skill-sharing events.

The films and Palava Lab are working towards the company’s long-term vision to build a working model for small-scale, transparent, sustainable clothing production.

“We hope that from the films we create a debate about how we produce  our fibres and manufacture in the UK,” says Bryony. “This isn’t about fast growth. It’s about deep, meaningful change that supports creativity, circularity and long-term impact.

“The clothing at Palava carries meaning, tell stories and make people feel visible and empowered. That is the thread running through everything we do. At Palava, we believe clothing should do more than just look good.”

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Why Palava joined UKFT:

We joined UKFT to connect with others who care about the future of UK fashion and manufacturing. Their support and insight are invaluable – especially when it comes to navigating new legislation, staying up to date with industry standards, and understanding the shifting policy landscape.

UKFT helps us keep in touch with what’s happening across the wider sector, and gives us access to a community of like-minded makers, designers, and thinkers who are all connected through the clothing industry.

As a small brand with strong roots in British production, we hope that UKFT can help us reach a community of small SMEs that feel the same way. For a brand like Palava, that connection and context are essential.

Palava is a member of UKFT. Interested in UKFT membership?

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