Make It British

I spent two days last week at ‘Make It British’ at The Old Truman Brewery in East London. Officially it was a business to business show but that makes it sound incredibly dull and fusty. It was far more exciting than that with the aim to put together design and creativity with skill and craft. This was a dynamic networking event that created a distinct sense of possibility. I like that because without possibility there is nothing.

I have tried to find British factories in the past to develop my own line of children’s wear but it hasn’t been easy. Far from it - it has been more like looking for a needle in a haystack. Until now there hasn’t been a directory or a central body flying the ‘Make It British’ flag but things are set to change. The international shows that do exist are mobbed by factories from far flung places. What these factories make up for in delivering cost effective solutions they lose hand over fist in other ways. They have been instrumental in the demise of our home grown manufacturing industry, the loss of skills and of course we now acknowledge that they contribute towards global pollution. In the worst case scenario they are breeding grounds for unfair and unsafe working conditions.

Debut ventures always run the risk of being a flop but this initiative was different. The queue to get in could have been tedious but it was conversational and added to the excitement. Once inside the aisles were buzzing. The atmosphere was intoxicating and was more like a bazaar than any trade event I have ever been to.

I sat in on the conference and listened to awe inspiring stories from some of the rising stars of British manufacture. Just as exciting were tales from established brands that gave an insight into the history of British manufacture. The one thing they all had in common? They were all offering unique products and had a very clear vision - to produce in the UK. The open discussion was alive with questions about the value of having a made in Britain brand. It was progressive and exciting and evoked the general feeling that we are ready for the next Industrial Revolution.

I am excited about the potential of exploring British production for my own label Olive Loves Alfie. There is something wholesome and manageable about doing business with a factory in the UK. In a previous life I spent a decade travelling the globe racking up more air miles that I knew what to do with. I made the most out of every trip but could things have been different? Quite apart from working with Alfred Sargent on catwalk collections, UK factories weren’t given serious consideration. Price was always a factor but could some of the brands that I worked for have supported British manufacture? If not entirely in some small way?

Today I run my own show and despite numerous offers I won’t take production to the Far East. I want to keep it local if I can. The challenge will be in making it work. It won’t be easy but I have a focus and one more box to tick off my ‘To Do’ list. There - said it.

Simon Middleton from The Great British Banjo Company, Ian Maclean from John Smedley, Harriet Barford & Polly Wilkinson founders of Draw In Light (my favourite new label) and Daniel Harris founder of London Cloth Company, Eve Pollard withher own label for women of a certain age Eve Pollard Designs…and everyone else who has conquered British manufacture - I salute you all.