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Smaller/ethical/British/other lesser known brands thread

121 replies

Sasuma · 28/12/2020 13:37

Through various threads on here I’ve been introduced to some amazing brands.

So I thought it would be good to start a thread to let each other know about our best lesser known brands - I’m thinking for those of us trying to buy less and focus on good quality items, as well as a environmental friendly products (so this might be sustainable, recycled and/or vegan brands for example) and avoid support those companies that have poor working conditions (Boohoo I’m looking at you....) I’d love to know more small producers which focus on single products, hand made items, or niche British heritage brands (or heritage brands from anywhere else!)

So here are a few finds of my own:

The Knotty Ones: knitwear (obviously!) made by women in Lithuania, fair conditions, focus on quality over quantity. Expensive but I love the organic cotton jumper I have from them and will wear it for years and years. www.theknottyones.com/

Genevieve Sweeney: small knitwear company based in the UK. Amazing sparkly socks, great little gifts. www.genevievesweeney.com/

Bhava: US brand but with some UK stockists, non-leather shoes and boots, amazing quality, beautiful designs. bhavastudio.com/

Angela Roi: non-leather bags, simple classic designs. US brand but shocked at Naturismo and Shop Treen in the UK. www.angelaroi.com/

Wills Vegan Shoes: as the name suggests, non-leather shoes and boots, really good quality. Environmentally friendly practices and produced in fair conditions in Europe. wills-vegan-shoes.com/

Mackintosh: British brand, hand made coats (inventors of the Macintosh), very expensive but would last a lifetime, and can pick up coats with a good discount in the sales. www.mackintosh.com/gb/woman

Hiut: denim, made in Wales, gorgeous jeans! hiutdenim.co.uk/

Girlfriend collective: activewear, made from recycled materials. www.girlfriend.com/

ImparfaitParis: vintage/second hand site, bit like eBay. Some gorgeous stuff. www.imparfaiteparis.com/en/ see also Depop and Vestaire.

I think those are my best finds. Please share some of yours Grin

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 29/12/2020 09:29

lucyandyak.com/

Some of their clothes are made in Yorkshire Grin

BikeRunSki · 29/12/2020 09:29

Sadik I think we may have very similar wardrobes!!

Sadik · 29/12/2020 09:34

I reckon so! (admittedly I'm currently wearing Dickies Eisenhower trousers with a wool jumper my mum knitted that is older than me & feel a bit of a fraud on S&B Grin )

Divebar · 29/12/2020 09:40

roake.studio/shop

I haven’t purchased anything from here but I’ve got my eye on the quilted jacket and the wrap tops.

BikeRunSki · 29/12/2020 09:45

Sadik sounds right up street!

Ten Tree and Two Thirds keep appearing on my FB feed, as ethical clothing - does anyone have any experience of them?

Also, a bit more technical, but Alpkit British company, based in Derbyshire,make technical outdoor kit - ethical down, recycled plastic etc, support community initiates with their foundation.

Divebar · 29/12/2020 09:47

Another one I haven’t tried myself - but men’s jeans / shirts etc made in the north of England... (sorry not trying to lump the North together.). They’re modelled by regular looking guys too who I imagine are their friends.

hebtro.co/

MojoMoon · 29/12/2020 10:24

I bought underwear q few months ago from www.phaein.co.uk/

Made in UK, (Nottingham, I think).

Fits really well - measure yourself following their guide to get the right size. I am FF/G and found a a good fit

MojoMoon · 29/12/2020 10:26

Not cheap but I have a pair of Cheaney&Sons boots which I have been stopped and complimented on. Ageing well, they will repair if needed.

Coffee4Queen · 29/12/2020 10:34

What a great thread!

www.soapnuts.co.uk/
Soap nuts for laundry and toiletries like shampoo bars, soaps, skincare, etc. Lovely stuff

GertrudeKerfuffle · 29/12/2020 11:00

@BikeRunSki

Sadik sounds right up street!

Ten Tree and Two Thirds keep appearing on my FB feed, as ethical clothing - does anyone have any experience of them?

Also, a bit more technical, but Alpkit British company, based in Derbyshire,make technical outdoor kit - ethical down, recycled plastic etc, support community initiates with their foundation.

I've had a look at Ten Tree in the past, but they use a lot of recycled nylon/polyester, which I can't get behind. Apart from the fact that synthetic fabrics aren't great to wear, they will shed micro plastics when you wash them, and then what do you do with the garment at the end of its life? I don't know if they can be further recycled, and they certainly won't biodegrade in the way natural fibres do. However, they do some stuff with natural fibres, but I've never actually tried any of it.

Sasuma · 29/12/2020 12:41

Wow so many amazing recommendations - thank you! Going to make a cuppa and sit down and have a browse.

I don’t need anything - and part of shopping ethically for me is buying less - but I’m going to be bookmarking for future reference and for gifts etc.

Good to see there are some other fans of Genevieve Sweeney and Knotty Ones! And some brands keep popping up and great to get feedback from those who have used them. Keep em rolling!

I’ve just thought of another brand I like, Wilby- they make lovely bags and accessories out of cork: www.wilbyclutch.com/collections/primrose-hill-set-sustainable-vegan

OP posts:
GertrudeKerfuffle · 29/12/2020 13:36

Ooh slippers...I've got some from Giesswein - not vegan, but they are an Austrian family business using ethically produced wool (no mulesing etc) and sustainable production methods to make slippers and even trainers. They can be machine washed, and worn without socks due to the anti microbial properties of wool. I've not needed to wash my boot slippers since I got them last winter yet. I also got a ballet pump style for summer 😁

uk.giesswein.com

BikeRunSki · 29/12/2020 14:05

Old Town - simple styles, hand made in Norfolk, using British made fabrics as much as possible.

Carrier Company also have made clothes/bags/other stuff, hand made in Norfolk from natural fibres.

ZaraW · 29/12/2020 14:07

Izzy Lane wool comes from sheep rescued from slaughter. I've been shopping with them for years. Excellent quality.
Mirta amazing handbags from Italy.
&Daughter they have a sale at the moment expensive but worth it.
Article Green someone mentioned it on the Toast thread. Clothes are simple and made by costume designer in Bristol as a source of income during Covid.

waltzingparrot · 29/12/2020 14:27

Great thread OP!

www.wearethought.com/women/

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/12/2020 15:09

I have recently happened upon Nu-In which looks quite reasonably priced clothes with a contemporary vibe.

thetrees · 29/12/2020 15:40

I love this thread! I'd second

Community clothing
Finisterre
Protected Species
Kemi Telford
Gruum

And add Naomi Purkiss Boutique

naomipurkissboutique.co.uk/the-garments-all

XingMing · 29/12/2020 16:52

Anyone who knits should check out Blacker Yarns - The Natural Fibre Company. They sell real wool and other natural fibre yarns pretty much direct from the mill. There are also occasionally one-off garments, normally samples made for shows. I've bought yarn for DM to knit.

GertrudeKerfuffle · 29/12/2020 18:02

@XingMing

Anyone who knits should check out Blacker Yarns - The Natural Fibre Company. They sell real wool and other natural fibre yarns pretty much direct from the mill. There are also occasionally one-off garments, normally samples made for shows. I've bought yarn for DM to knit.

Thanks, this looks great!

Jemimapuddleduk · 29/12/2020 18:14

Moshulu slippers.
Scamp and dude.
The tartan blanket co- use recycled wool.

Jemimapuddleduk · 29/12/2020 18:15

And Rew- I love the felted wool scarves/neck pieces.

Sadik · 29/12/2020 19:41

I really love Old Town @BikeRunSki - have you got any of their clothes? Their Unity Jacket & trousers looks like something I could just live in all the time.

BikeRunSki · 29/12/2020 19:53

@Sadik - not yet, its a lifetime's ambition though!

CalmConfident · 29/12/2020 20:09

Love this thread. I treated myself to a bag, recycled fire-hose

www.elvisandkresse.com/

Smaller/ethical/British/other lesser known brands thread
parrotonmyshoulder · 29/12/2020 20:38

I am loving this thread so much. Don’t feel like I’ll be buying from anywhere except these sites again. I’ve spent a long time on re-fashion!

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