Whether they manufacture in the UK or overseas, UKFT’s members are committed to sustainability (being kind to the planet) and ethical manufacturing (being kind to people). The Fashion Revolution campaign is well supported by the industry as it challenges consumers to consider the impact of the products they buy on the planet and the people who make them. Although it is an international movement, like so many things, it was created in the UK.

Transparent and ethical production is often an intrinsic part of the business model of UKFT’s manufacturing members but they are increasingly committed to sharing more about processes and raw materials used in production. From #whomademyclothes to #whatsinmyfabric, UKFT members are at the forefront of making the right long-term decisions. They could make it cheaper and more profitably for themselves but they choose not to as they are committed to protecting planet and people (PPP).

There is no Planet B.

John Smedley launches ‘Choose Slow’ campaign

John Smedley’s ‘Choose Slow’ campaign encourages customers to take the time to understand how, where and by whom their clothing is made and the brand hopes that by delivering several educational programmes on these topics, customers will be able to make a better, more informed choice about how they invest in their clothing.

Having surveyed their customer base, John Smedley can reveal that 78% of its customers already keep their John Smedley garments for 5-15 years and see their garments as quality investment pieces that do not need to be renewed or discarded each season. The ‘Choose Slow’ campaign is designed to encourage 100% of customers to be able to achieve this.

The campaign has five key phases: Choose Slow, Invest in Iconic, Take Care, Repair& Re-Wear and Close the Loop. In addition to the five pillars of the campaign, John Smedley is continuing work on crafting a more sustainable future by –

• Launching a cotton bag to replace traditional retail packaging promoting less bag usage
• Removing all non-essential plastics from their product packaging
• Launching collections that are undyed to promote the beauty of natural fibres
• Reducing fibre waste and building waste management into new yarn development under their new ‘Eco-Cashmere’ collection
• Continuing to reduce their energy and water usage
• Removing all palm oils from their care products

Find out more: Visit the John Smedley website

Boardies launches capsule collection with RÆBURN

Boardies founder Nick Crook says: “Boardies® is constantly striving to improve our product’s sustainability and reduce our environmental impact on earth.  As a brand intrinsically linked to the ocean, we have seen first hand the damage that single use plastic does to nature and the waterways. For SS21, Boardies® has partnered with friends at fellow London brand RÆBURN to create a unique responsibly designed capsule collection featuring swimwear made from regenerated plastics, using sustainable trims and packaging.  We also made some matching shirts and towels from Tencel® featuring ethically sourced buttons and labels. 10% of profits will be donated to charities focusing on clearing up plastic in waterways around the world.”

Find out more: Visit the Boardies website

Peregrine: ‘Brands need to take responsibility for what they make’

Peregrine Clothing managing director Tom Glover says: “I don’t really see myself as being in fashion, but more a manufacturer of quality British products. I think sustainability and free trade is so important in today’s world.

“All brands need to take responsibility for what they make and the social and physical impact it has on the community and the environment. For me I like having a fully traceable production line, where we can trace the raw material all the way back to source, it’s simple and easy to relate to.”

Find out more: Visit the Peregrine website

Jardin Living: ‘Sustainable fashion is so important for future generations’

Kavita Basi, founder of Jardin Living Ltd which offers the Reflexione and Ration.L brands, says: “I have been doing talks and interviews for universities – on how to produce more ethically and how to market accordingly. I spoke to Cambridge third-year students and recently Liverpool University joining their fashion summit round table of circular economy. This is really close to my heart that sustainable fashion is a huge influence for our future generations.”

Find out more: Visit the Ration.L website and the Reflexone website.

Gosha London: ‘There are human beings behind the clothes we wear’

Gosha London says: “Ethical fashion is the recognition that there are human beings behind the clothes we wear. We must know who is making our garments. We must care about that. We must ask questions, plea for a better way to create a sustainable environment for us all. What makes clothing ethical?

• Sustainable materials and production
• Animal cruelty free
• Human ethical, fair wages
• Production that doesn’t harm or put its workers at risk.”

Find out more: Visit the Gosha London website

Begg x Co: ‘We’re working on the traceability of our fibres’

Begg x Co CEO Ian Laird says: “It is vitally important for us to understand our full supply chain, so in addition to working close to home on aspects such as reduction in chemical, plastic and water use, we go further back to the source of the fibres. For several years, we have been working on establishing traceability of our fibres back to sustainable farming practices, and working with local NGOs as well as the farming communities. The visit pictured above was to a cashmere dehairing facility in Mongolia with some of our partners.”

Find out more: Visit the Begg x Co website

Lochcarron: Showing who made your fabric

“At Lochcarron our highly skilled weavers help create our authentic tartans in our mill in the Scottish borders town of Selkirk, which is a town steeped in rich textile history and heritage. At one time, around 7000 people in the town were employed within the textile industry.”

Find out more: Visit the Lochcarron website

GH Hurt: What’s in my shawls

GH Hurt is offering more insight into some of the yarns it uses to make its products.

“When it comes to sourcing yarns for our products, animal welfare, sustainability and transparency are of key importance. Our yarn suppliers work in partnership with approved farmers, encouraging sustainable herding and grazing practices, promoting high standards of animal welfare and work to protect this traditional way of life within nomadic communities.”

Find out more: Visit the GH Hurt website

Berjoan: Highlighting sourcing and production values

Berjoan is outlining what goes into its collections, including buttons from fellow UKFT member Courtney & Co, sustainably-sourced viscose, British wool yarns from Laxtons, organic cotton and more.

Find out more: Visit the Berjoan website

About Fashion Revolution Week

Fashion Revolution Week is the time to come together as a global community to create a better fashion industry. It centres around the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which killed 1,138 people and injured many more on 24 April 2013. This year, as we mark eight years since the tragedy, Fashion Revolution Week will focus on the interconnectedness of human rights and the rights of nature. The campaign will amplify unheard voices across the fashion supply chain and harness the creativity of our community to explore innovative and interconnected solutions.

Visit The Fashion Revolution Week website for more details.

• How brands and retailers can get involved: https://issuu.com/fashionrevolution/docs/fr_2021_getinvolved_brands
• How producers and suppliers can get involved: https://issuu.com/fashionrevolution/docs/fr_2021_getinvolved_producers
• Who Made My Fabric campaign page https://www.fashionrevolution.org/whomademyfabric/
• Tune into fashionopenstudio.com events.
• Find press releases and press imagery at https://www.fashionrevolution.org/resources/press/