Katwalk Kimberleys is a social enterprise that exists to train and employ recovering addicts, helping them to remain abstinent through employment opportunities.

It was founded by Abigail Fields in 2014, who lost a nephew in 2008 and a sister in 2010 to substance misuse. She decided to change career to help recovering addicts and ex-offenders while bringing back garment manufacturing to Middlesbrough.

Katwalk Kimberleys teaches sewing at Level 1 from a venue in Middlesbrough town centre and is making prototypes in pyjamas, baby box sets, hoodies and t-shirts from a facility at the Oakwood Centre at Eaglescliffe, with four employees (a tutor and three manufacturing operatives) and one volunteer.

The company has recently received a small contract from Elizabeth’s Embroidery in Stockton on Tees to manufacture 500 school skirts.

“When Covid-19 struck we were shut down from March until August and then we started to deliver the Level 1 sewing courses again,” explained Abigail. “Thankfully in October I was given a contract from Academy three:13 to teach unpaid workers how to use a sewing machine and make face masks and scrub bags, which in turn were donated to the NHS workers.”

“In future, we’re aiming to launch two fashion labels: Katwalk Kimberleys and Recover and we are in the process of purchasing new machines, materials to start manufacturing jeans and hoodies featuring our logo. We welcome more contracts to manufacture for other companies and this will enable us to employ those disadvantaged people that often far removed from the labour market.”

Follow KatwalkKimberleys on Instagram  –  @Katwalkkimberleys

Follow Recover on Instagram – @Recoverbrandclothing

Follow KatwalkKimberleys on Twitter – @kksfashion

Visit the Katwalk Kimberleys website