Welcome to episode 300! Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us. Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode: Episode 102…

Join me on a tour round a factory! In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers. Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoil…

I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry. You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers? I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintos…

The title says it all. Listen to find out what it is! HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand. Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK Make it British Website YouTube InstagramBy Kate Hills

Join me on a visit to KC Manufacturing (previously Kalopsia Collective) in Dumferline, Scotland to meet with husband and wife team Adam Robertson and Nina Falk. KC Manufacturing is a social enterprise specialising in small batch manufacturing. Discover: How Adam & Nina met and ended up setting up their business. What it's like to run a factory toge…

Regular listeners to this podcast will know that I am all about encouraging brands to manufacture locally. But in some cases, it might not make good sense to do so. In this episode I explain the 4 reasons why you might NOT want to make in the UK. Want my advice on whether your product should or could be made here? Reach out to my with a direct mess…

One of the questions that came up on one of our recent British Brand Accelerator group coaching calls was so good, I thought I'd bring it to you on the podcast this week. The question was about whether a small business that makes in the UK should be offering a discount when someone opts in to their newsletter, and whether this strategy works. It op…

This week I’m bringing some very sad news - that the UK’s only cotton spinning mill, English Fine Cottons, which brought cotton spinning back to Greater Manchester in 2018, has very sadly gone into administration. In case you don’t know about the history of English Fine Cottons, it was set up by the technical textile spinners Culimeta-Saveguard, wh…

Today's guests are Andrea and David Courtney from Courtney & Co buttonmakers Back in 2012 I was contacted by someone who was trying to save the UK’s last remaining horn button maker - Grove & Sons. He was looking for investors to buy up the machinery and pattern books from the business so that the art of natural button making in the UK was not lost…

This episode celebrates 15 years since I registered the domain makeitbritish.co.uk and busts some of the myths about UK manufacturing. You'll find out: Why I started Make it British and why I'm such a firm believer in UK manufacturing. The current UK manufacturing landscape. How the UK fashion and textile industry is made up of 1,000s of micro fact…

Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it…

In this episode of the Make it British podcast, Karen McCluckie, the director of Bealies Adaptive Wear, shares her inspiring journey of creating adaptive clothing for wheelchair users and disabled individuals. Motivated by her son's disability and the lack of suitable clothing options in the market, Karen embarked on a mission to design stylish and…

This week I’ve been in the Midlands visiting factories, which is always one of my favourite things to do. I’d planned to take my podcast mic with me and get an episode to you today with an interview with one of the manufacturers, but sadly I was in such a rush when I set off early Sunday morning that I left my mic behind! So on today’s episode inst…

Today's episode is all about selling and sales, and how it's closely linked to product development. A lot of creative business owners say that they aren't any good at selling, so the natural tendency is to drop their prices or default back to making more products. I'm going to give you a different way of looking at sales, so that selling doesn't ma…

Hear from 21 business founders as they give their tips on starting and growing a British-made brand. These snippets were taken from 21 different guest interviews on this podcast. If you want to listen to the full episodes you can find them as follows: Ep.142 Julie Deane, Cambridge Satchel Company Ep.076 Jack Millington, Billy Tannery Ep.143 Kath Wh…

On today’s episode I’m chatting with Catherine Bedford, founder of Dashel Cycle Helmets Catherine had the idea for an innovative and stylish cycle helmet whilst watching the London 2012 Olympics. She set about creating her vision, and it took 5 years to develop and launch the Dashel helmet. All Dashel helmets are made in the UK, and in this episode…

Welcome to Episode no.284! Circularity is the buzzword on everyone's lips right now. It's no wonder, when you hear that 350,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Something needs to be done to stop the mass-consumption that the UK in particularly seems to be pretty bad at! The United Repair Centre, a collaboration between out…

Today's guest is Lydia Bolton, a slow fashion designer tackling textile waste by upcycling unwanted fabrics and garments and turning them into one-off pieces. As well as having her own label, Lydia also teaches others how to upcycle with workshops that she runs and in her partnerships with big brands such as Lidl, Nike, Adidas and Lime bikes. We ch…

How to find fabrics, leathers and other raw materials for your brand, and avoid the most common mistake that many people make when sourcing fabric. FURTHER RESOURCES UK Fabric Mills on the Make it British website HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate This Podcast…

Sampling with UK manufacturers can be quite a different ball game to sampling with manufacturers overseas. Here's why you might not want to sample with lots of different factories. FURTHER RESOURCES Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram…

Tempted to skip this step? Find out why that might be a bad idea, and how having a tech pack can save you money in the long run. FURTHER RESOURCES Tech Pack Bundle Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate This Podcast…

A Non Disclosure Agreement is a legal document you might ask a manufacturer to sign in order to protect your designs. Find out what the pros and cons are of asking a manufacturer to sign an NDA, and what the alternatives are. FURTHER RESOURCES How to find a UK manufacturer HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instag…

What are the secrets to getting a response from a manufacturer when you reach out to them? I explain how to word your approach and why you might not be getting a response. FURTHER RESOURCES How to get manufacturers to respond to your emails How to find a UK manufacturer Why manufacturers aren't getting back to your emails HANDY LINKS British Brand …

What are the main costs that you will incur to start a brand, and how can you save money by making your product in the UK? FURTHER RESOURCES 25 Hidden Costs of Starting a Brand How Much Does it Cost to Start a UK-Made Fashion Brand? How to Start a UK Made Brand HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate Thi…

Discover the best ways to the ideal UK manufacturers for your brand, and how to ensure that they get back to you every time. FURTHER RESOURCES Make it British Manufacturer Directory 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer How to Start a UK Made Brand HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate This Podcast…

You might think that having the factory source your fabric for you sounds like the easiest option, but that's not always the case. In this episode I explain what your options are when it comes to fabric sourcing, and why many UK clothing manufacturers operate on what is known as a CMT basis. FURTHER RESOURCES CMT or Full Service Manufacturer: What'…

Find out how long on average it might take to launch a brand and what the main variables are that will affect it. FURTHER RESOURCES 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer How to Start a UK Made Brand HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate This PodcastBy Kate Hills

Discover the essential steps to turn your idea into a successful prototype. Get practical advice on how to bring your concept to life efficiently and cost-effectively and how to common pitfalls. FURTHER RESOURCES 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer How to Start a UK Made Brand HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube I…

Welcome to Episode 272 of the Make it British Podcast Starting off the new year with something a bit different. This episode explains everything. Looking out for my special FAQ series, starting on Monday 7th January. HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator Make it British Website YouTube Instagram Rate This Podcast…

Hello and Welcome to Episode 271! As 2023 draws to a close, and for my last podcast episode of the year, I reflect back on the 3 biggest lessons that I've learnt this year. I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has listened to this podcast over the last 12 months. I cannot believe I am now at episode 271! The Make it British Podca…

Welcome to episode 270! In this episode I'm chatting with the fascinating Mark Shayler about all things sustainability. Mark is the author of You Can't Make Money From a Dead Planet, he consults with businesses big and small to help them do better when it comes to their environmental footprint, and he is one of the co founders of Reasons to be Chee…

Hello and welcome to episode 269 of the Make it British podcast! At the time of recording this we are just a month away from the start of 2024, and that can only mean one thing - time to start planning! If that idea fills you with dread, because you are a 'wing it and see' type of person, maybe next year needs to start a little differently. In this…

Welcome to Episode 268 of the Make it British Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Laura Ward, founder of the luxury British tennis brand Exeat. Exeat is the UK's most exported luxury tennis apparel brand, and Laura herself is the winner of many awards, including Global Startup of the Year. She's also one of the government's UK export champions…

Welcome to episode 267 of the Make It British Podcast! In this episode, I share my recent experiences at the All Party Parliamentary Group for ethics and sustainability in fashion at the Houses of Parliament, organised by Fashion Roundtable. You can hear the full speech that I gave on the importance of localism, transparency, and ethical practices …

Welcome to Episode 266 of the Make it British Podcast! In this episode I discuss how and why investing in your own personal development can dramatically transform your business. I share insights from my own personal development journey and provide valuable advice on how investing in yourself can make a massive difference to your business growth. We…

Welcome to Episode 265 of the Make it British Podcast! In this episode I'm chatting with Pip Chawner, who is the founder of womenswear brand Philippa London. Pip has got some fantastic tips to share about her experiences of setting up her brand; some of the challenges she's had along the way, including a bit of a tricky experience with a manufactur…

Welcome to Episode 264 of the Make it British Podcast! What are the red flags to watch out for when searching for a manufacturer, particularly if you're starting your search on Google or another search engine? From misleading claims of being a UK manufacturer to refusing to sign NDAs and the importance of visiting the factory floor. In this episode…

Welcome to Episode 263 of the Make it British Podcast! Today I'm chatting to Clare Winton from Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a new brand for women in pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood. Clare had the idea to develop her maternity brand three years ago, and started, as many start-ups do, by searching Google to find a manufacturer. This led her to…

Welcome to episode 262 of the Make it British Podcast! In this episode, l explore the factors that go into setting the perfect price, from understanding your customer and competitors to considering the cost of alternatives. Join me as we unravel the secrets behind pricing strategies for product-based businesses that make in the UK. Get ready to gai…

Welcome to episode 261 of the Make It British Podcast! In this episode, you get the lowdown on why I ended up taking a 6 month break from podcasting. And why I've decided to make some big changes in my business. There's also some valuable advice on knowing when it's time to make changes in your own business, and the questions you need to ask yourse…

Hello and welcome to Series 6 of the Make it British podcast. After a 6 month break the Make it British Podcast is coming back! The first episode will be released on Friday 6th October 2023. I have so much to fill you in on! Thanks to everyone that has requested more podcast episodes. It wasn't until I stopped doing them that I truly realised how m…

In this episode I discuss some of the hidden costs of manufacturing, and offer tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're starting a new brand, or growing an existing one, there's typically five common areas where costs can spiral out of control, but the good thing is, they are all easily avoidable. Topics covered in this episode: The five hidden co…

In this episode I'm joined by Tamara Cincik, founder of think tank Fashion Roundtable to discuss the impact of Brexit on small UK textile businesses. We delve into the challenges of supporting and promoting heritage brands, the need for trade associations to refocus their agendas, and the importance of heritage manufacturing in the textile industry…

We get a lot of people contacting us at Make it British asking if we can put them in touch with a sustainable or ethical factory to make their brand. So in this episode I define ways in which a factory might meet this criteria. I also talk about the launch of Primark's new circular denim collection, which has had mixed reviews in the media, with ma…

24th April 2023 marks the ten year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,000 workers and injured 2,500 more. To mark the occasion, I look back on this episode of the podcast with Dominique Muller from Labour Behind the Label, in which we discuss the issues around fast fashion, and what effe…

Do you know what the no.1 reason is that product businesses fail? It's not legal problems, it's not finance problems, it's not even marketing problems. In this episode, you'll find out what it is, and how to avoid it. You'll learn: Why everything starts with the customer [03:47] The reasons why getting your target customer right will help your busi…

Download my Selling Price > Profit Calculator that goes with this episode here. Recently Bentley Motors announced their financial results for 2022, which revealed they'd had their best year ever. This is a luxury car brand, made in the UK, having a phenomenal year during a cost of living crisis. In this episode I discuss what small business can lea…

If you love factories, then today I have a little treat for you, as we are going on a factory tour with Contrado, who are a print on demand company. Contrado are a truly impressive UK manufacturer. They not only print fabric, leather and other surfaces like glass and pottery, in their huge facility in West London, but they also stitch bags, clothin…

When you run a UK-made brand you need to wear a lot of different hats! In this episode we explore all of the different jobs you need to do and the skills you need to have, on top of producing fantastic products. You'll learn: Why being the chief executive officer of your business is your first title [03:08] How managing marketing content plays a vi…

On today’s episode I am chatting to Maxine Wells, who is the founder of Intimate Apparel Samples, a small lingerie studio in North West London. Getting lingerie made in the UK can be challenging. Whilst the UK once had thousands of machinists making underwear for the likes of Marks & Spencers, sadly there are only now only a handful of lingerie man…