Filtrer par genre
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing. In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses. With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British. Never has there been a more critical time to get behind 'made in Britain'.
- 493 - A Visit to Halley Stevensons to Find out How Waxed Fabrics are Made
Come with me on a tour of the Halley Stevensons mill in Dundee, where I’m shown around the mill by production director Billy and sales administrator Ria.
Halley Stevensons has been making fabric in Dundee since 1864. It started out as a jute mill and is now the last textile mill of its kind in a city that was once full of them. Today it’s known around the world for its waxed cotton, supplying brands including Barbour and shipping to over 50 countries.
We follow the fabric all the way through the mill, from the raw loom state cotton arriving on 500 metre rolls to the final inspection, where every metre is checked by hand.
In this episode you'll discover:
The history of textiles in the Dundee area and why Halley Stavensons have survived.All of the processes the fabric goes through to transform it from it's raw state to Halley Stevensons' iconic weatherproof fabricsHow the business is becoming more sustainable and is the first mill of its kind to be Bluesign certified.Why waxed cotton jackets get handed down through generations making them a superb long term investment.If you care about UK manufacturing and how British mills are investing in the future, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About Halley Stevensons
Halley Stevensons is a textile mill in Dundee, Scotland, specialising in waxed and coated cotton fabrics. All dyeing, waxing and finishing is done in house, with around 60 people working across the site. They work with brands of all sizes, with minimum orders starting from 100 metres.
You can find Halley Stevensons at:
Website: www.halleystevensons.co.uk
Instagram: @halleystevensons
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Fri, 09 Oct 2026 - 34min - 492 - Kate's Sunday Journal 27 Sept 26: London Fashion Week - Who actually makes in the UK?
If you're interested in finding out how I can help you to start or scale your British-made brand, I'm hosting a free Q&A on Tuesday 6th October.
Apply to attend the Q&A:makeitbritish.co.uk/qa
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Register for Make it British Live! here
Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
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Sun, 27 Sep 2026 - 07min - 491 - Getting Factory Ready - How to Transition from Maker to Manufacturing
Want to transition from making everything in-house to outsourcing to a factory? This episode is for you!
We cover:
How to know when you're ready to outsource to a factoryWhy working with a factory can actually cost you less than paying a local seamstressHow to get your pricing right before you outsourceWhat you need to preapre before you approach a factoryHow to approach a factory so your enquiry doesn't get ignored.Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 25 Sep 2026 - 26min - 490 - Kate's Sunday Journal 20 Sept 26: A Visit to 10 Downing StreetSun, 20 Sep 2026 - 03min
- 489 - A visit to the Waring Brooke Micro Factory with Samantha Thomas, Waring Brooke
In this episode I take a trip to rural Nottinghamshire to the micro knitwear factory owned by Samantha Thomas, founder of knitwear brand Waring Brooke.
Sam was originally a designer for other brands like Alberta Feretti in Italy, but then 10 years ago she started her own knitwear label and took the brave decision to invest in her own knitting machine to create it.
When I had Sam on the podcast 5 years ago she was a one man band - she now has a team and big plans for the future.
In this episode we cover:
How having her own machine allows her to offer personalisation to her customers, which gives the brand it’s USPWhat her customers really think about Made in UKThe challenges Sam faced getting to grips with production and keeping the machine busyWhy she's now opening up her factory to other brands for sampling and small production runsAbout Waring Brooke
Waring Brooke is a knitwear and accessories brand made entirely in its own micro factory in rural Nottinghamshire. Founder Samantha Thomas designs, programmes and knits everything in-house on a single industrial knitting machine, which allows her to make to order and offer personalised monogram patterns knitted into scarves, snoods, hats, headbands and socks.
You can find Samantha and Waring Brooke at:
Website: waringbrooke.com
Instagram: @waringbrooke
Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 18 Sep 2026 - 25min - 488 - Kate's Sunday Journal 13 Sept 26: Reflecting on a talk by Paul Smith and a visit to
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Paul Smith's book Threads
Sun, 13 Sep 2026 - 05min - 487 - How to pivot an existing brand with fashion designer Emily Millichip
Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode I'm joined by Emily Millichip, a fashion designer based in Edinburgh who is relaunching her eponymous brand of 15 years after deciding it no longer aligned with where she is now.
In this episode we cover:
Why Emily decided to pivot after 15 yearsHow she took her existing customers and Instagram followers with her through the rebrandCollaborating with local craftspeople on small limited edition batchesHow every piece in the collection is made within an hour of her studioAbout Emily Millichip
Emily Millichip is a fashion designer based in Edinburgh who also has a parallel career in farming. Her new collection, Pagan, is made from natural materials and everything in the collection is manufactured within an hour of her studio.
You can find Emily and Emily Millichip at:
Website: www.emilymillichip.com
Instagram: @emilymillichip
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Fri, 11 Sep 2026 - 36min - 486 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 6 September 26: Celebrating 120 years of Hackney’s oldest haberdashers 🧵
Find out more about William Gee at williamgee.co.uk
2a Forest Road, London, E8 3BY
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Sign the Open Lettercalling on the government to source military and NHS uniforms from UK manufacturers
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Sun, 06 Sep 2026 - 04min - 485 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 30 August 2026: Help Onshore Our Uniforms
Book a place at The British Made Showcase here
Thursday 1st October 6-8pm
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Sun, 30 Aug 2026 - 03min - 484 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 23 August 2026: A Trip to Leicester to Visit Manufacturers
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Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
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Sun, 23 Aug 2026 - 03min - 483 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 16 August 26: My take on wholesale
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Sun, 16 Aug 2026 - 05min - 482 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 9 August 26: Demand for UK clothing manufacturers up 90%
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Sun, 09 Aug 2026 - 05min - 481 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 2 August 26: Sharing a secret I’ve been keeping a while…Sun, 02 Aug 2026 - 04min
- 480 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 5 July 2026: Save the Date
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Sun, 05 Jul 2026 - 05min - 479 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 28 June 26: Update on my goal to visit 100 manufacturers in 2026
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Sun, 28 Jun 2026 - 03min - 478 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 21 June 26: Scottish Textiles Tour
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Manufacturers Mentioned:
woolkind.com
caledoniahosiery.com
johnstonsofelgin.com
halleystevensons.co.uk
kcmanufacturing.co.uk
aeroleatherclothing.com
houseofcheviot.com
teviotknitwear.co.uk
wonkywoolies.com
Sun, 21 Jun 2026 - 09min - 477 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 14th June 26 – Marketing with zero budget
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Sun, 14 Jun 2026 - 03min - 476 - From Burberry to British Wool with Frankie Davies, Charl Knitwear
Hello and welcome to episode 323 of the Make it British Podcast. I'm back with another episode in my Women in Wool series, this time chatting to knitwear designer Frankie Davies from Charl Knitwear.
Frankie spent years designing knitwear for Burberry and Benetton and has spent much of her career inside knitwear factories, so it was only ever a matter of time before she founded her own brand. In this episode, Frankie talks about her use of British wool, the benefits of working with UK factories and how that differs from working with manufacturers in Italy, as well as the challenges of running your own business when you have small children, which I'm sure many of you listening can relate to.
In this episode we cover:
About Charl Knitwear
Charl Knitwear is a British knitwear brand founded by Frankie Davies, a designer with over 20 years of experience working for luxury fashion houses including Burberry and Benetton. Inspired by the Norfolk fisherman's Gansey, the brand combines heritage stitch traditions with a contemporary approach to British fibre and manufacturing.
You can find Frankie and Charl Knitwear at:
Website: charlknitwear.co.uk
Instagram: @charlknitwear
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 12 Jun 2026 - 31min - 475 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 7 June 26: How Many Products is Too Many?
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Sat, 06 Jun 2026 - 04min - 474 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 31 May 26: Britwashing
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Sun, 31 May 2026 - 11min - 473 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 24 May 26: A Visit to Manufacturers in Ayrshire
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Sun, 24 May 2026 - 05min - 472 - Kate’s Sunday Journal 17 May 26: UK-made T-shirts
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Sun, 17 May 2026 - 05min - 471 - Weaving Wool in Yorkshire with Laura Watts at Marton Mills
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Laura Watts, managing director of Marton Mills, 3rd generation family weaving business based in Otley, Yorkshire.
Marton Mills was founded in 1931 and has built its reputation on uniform fabric - supplying school wear, military contracts for the Navy and the RAF, and fabric for the King's Coronation.
Now, alongside its core uniform work, Marton Mills is launching its first fully traceable British wool collection in autumn 2026, with yarn sourced just down the road from Laxton's and fabric finished at Roberts Dyers in Keighley.
In this episode we cover:
How Laura went from advising heart surgeons at Johnson & Johnson to running a nearly 100-year-old weaving mill.Why uniform fabric is the backbone of the business and how the mill weaves 18 to 20,000 metres of fabric a week.Why so much British-woven fabric still goes offshore for garment production.What a genuine British procurement policy for military uniforms could look like.The challenge of recruiting the next generation into textiles.About Marton Mills
Marton Mills Co Ltd is a family-owned textile mill established in 1931, nestled in the Wharfedale valley in West Yorkshire. The mill produces premium fabrics across a range of end uses, from school and military uniforms to film and television, with a reputation built on consistent quality and traditional Yorkshire values.
Website: martonmills.com
Instagram: @martonmills
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 15 May 2026 - 17min - 470 - A Visit to Laxtons Spinning Mill with Carly Smith & Rochelle Tracey
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I visited Laxtons Yarns in Baildon, Yorkshire, a fourth generation family spinning mill that is now employee-owned.
I was given a full tour of the mill floor by commercial director Carly Smith and national accounts manager Rochelle Tracey, before sitting down with them to talk about British wool, the future of the business and the exciting relaunch of their hand knitting range.
Laxtons spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving. Their Sheepsoft yarn is a blend of Blue Faced Leicester and Masham British wool and travels less than 50 miles from fleece to finished yarn.
Almost the entire workforce is women.
In this episode we cover:
Behind the scenes of how the fibre is spun into yarn.How Laxtons became employee owned in 2024 and what that means for the future of the business in Yorkshire.Why 52% of everything Laxtons spins is now British wool, and how that has grown.The relaunch of their hand knitting range as Bramble & Fleece.The shift happening across Yorkshire mills, with more women now leading businesses in what has traditionally been a male dominated industry.About Laxtons
Laxtons Yarns is a fourth generation family spinning mill based in Baildon, Yorkshire. They spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving, with over 52% of their yarn made from British wool. In July 2024 the business became employee owned, securing its future in Yorkshire. Their hand knitting range is relaunching as Bramble & Fleece in 2026.
Website: laxtons.com | bylaxtons.com
Instagram: @laxtonsyarns
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 01 May 2026 - 23min - 469 - For the Love of Knitting with Genevieve Sweeney
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I take a trip to the beautiful Essex countryside to visit knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney in her micro factory, where she designs, programmes, knits, and finishes her collection in house.
We talk about the realities of owning your own industrial knitting machine - from learning to keep the yarn and machine happy, to breaking needles in tears and coming out the other side.
We also hear about Genevieve's mission to revive the almost forgotten art of hand Intarsia, a knitting technique synonymous with Scottish knitwear.
About Genevieve Sweeney
Genevieve Sweeney is a knitwear designer and maker based in Essex. Known for her distinctive use of colour, texture and geometric patterning, Genevieve works with natural fibres including Lambswool and naturally-dyed Merino.
You can find Genevieve and Genevieve Sweeney at:
Website: genevievesweeney.com
Instagram: @genevievesweeney
Genevieve forst appeared on the Make it British Podcast in Episode 39 in March 2019.
You can listen to that episode here
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 - 26min - 468 - 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode I'm sharing the recording of a recent webinar I ran - 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer.
Learn my signature 5 Step Factory Readiness Method™ which has helped hundreds of small business owners to get their products made in the UK.Find out why manufacturers don't get back to you (and how to make sure you get a reply).Why sampling costs can spiral out of control and how to avoid it.What a tech pack is, why you need one and how to create a tech pack quickly and easily without using a designer.If you are trying to get a product made in the UK and want a clear, practical framework to follow without making costly mistakes, this episode will give you exactly that.
In this episode you will also hear me mention a cost price calculator that I have developed.
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Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 46min - 467 - The Great British Wool Revival with Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys, Fashion Roundtable
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys from Fashion Roundtable.
Harriet is the project lead for The Great British Wool Revival and is also working with the King's Foundation on an event in May 2026 to promote the use of British wool.
If you're a designer, maker or brand wanting to work with British wool but not sure where to start, the Great British Wool Revival is the resource you need to know about. It maps the entire wool supply chain from sheep to spinning, dyeing, knitting and weaving and Harriet is here to walk us through exactly how to use it.
In this episode we cover:
What The Great British Wool Revival is and how to use it to find farms, spinners, dyers and manufacturers near youHow to plan a traceable British wool supply chain from scratch, and why you should allow a full year from first conversation to finished productHow to get around minimum order quantities by pairing up with other small designersWhy the website is already being used in 80 countries and what that tells us about the global shift towards homegrown fibresThe two-day wool summit at Dumfries House in Scotland bringing together farmers, designers, makers and policymakers, and how to get involvedIf you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About the Great British Wool Revival
The Great British Wool Revival is a free online platform built to make British wool more accessible, from farmer through to finished product. Launched in September 2024 in collaboration with the King's Foundation and funded by Yoox Net-a-Porter, it maps the entire wool supply chain and includes a terminology guide, a directory of mills, spinners and dye houses, and step-by-step guidance for designers wanting to work with British wool.
The Great British Wool Revival Website
Instagram: @greatbritishwoolrevival
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 03 Apr 2026 - 29min - 466 - Building a British Tweed Tailoring Label in Yorkshire with Isabelle Randall
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Isabelle Randall, a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, who has been running her own label for over 21 years.
Isabelle works in British tweeds and wool fabrics, making everything bespoke in her atelier. We talk about the Yorkshire mills she loves working with, her tailoring process, and why her bespoke approach keeps customers coming back again and again.
We also get into what it feels like, as a designer who makes everything herself, to hand over the responsibility of production to a manufacturer for the first time.
In this episode we cover:
- Which Yorkshire mills Isabelle works with and why she chooses British tweeds and wool fabricsHow her bespoke tailoring process works from initial consultation to finished garmentWhy her made-to-order approach builds long-term customer loyaltyWhat it's really like to hand over production to a manufacturer when you've always made everything yourselfWhy holding out for customers who understand and value the work is better than chasing every sale
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About Isabelle Randall
Isabelle Randall is a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, with over 21 years of experience running her own label. She works exclusively in British tweeds and wool fabrics, creating bespoke garments from her atelier.
You can find Isabelle and her label at:
Website: isabellerandall.com
Instagram: @isabellerandall
🚀Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 20 Mar 2026 - 29min - 465 - How British Wool Helps Brands Source Local Fibre with Louisa Knapp, British Wool
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Louisa Knapp, Marketing Executive at British Wool.
Based in Bradford, British Wool operates as a farmers' cooperative that collects, grades, and auctions fleece for around 35,000 sheep farmers across the UK.
Whether you’re a designer wondering how to source British wool or you’re just curious about what happens to a fleece after it’s sheared, you’re going to love this episode.
In this episode we cover:
- How the British Wool cooperative operates and makes it easy for brands to use traceable wool.The British wool supply chain and how new digital systems making it easier to track wool back to the farm.Why wool is a wonderful fibre and how British Wool are pushing up the price the farmer's receive for their fleece.Launching new regional labels to guarantee Scottish and Welsh wool traceability.
About British Wool
British Wool is a member-led organisation that handles the collection, grading, and marketing of UK fleece to support 35,000 farmers. They work with brands and manufacturers to provide traceable supply chains and increase the global demand for British wool.
You can find out more about British Wool at
Website: www.britishwool.org.uk
Instagram: @britishwool
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 13 Mar 2026 - 31min - 464 - The Reality of Running a Knitwear Micro Factory with Kate Stalker from OUBAS Knitwear
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Kate Stalker, founder of OUBAS Knitwear.
Kate runs a knitwear micro factory in the Lake District, where she designs and manufactures fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres, including British wool. After studying knitwear at Winchester School of Art, she returned to Cumbria and started the business with a single hand flat knitting machine in her parents’ utility room.
Today OUBAS produces knitwear on industrial knitting machines, with everything knitted, linked and finished in house by a small team. The business combines design, manufacturing and small batch production all under one roof.
If you’re interested in British wool, knitwear manufacturing or what it takes to run a small clothing factory in the UK, this episode gives a real behind the scenes look at how it works.
In this episode we cover:
- How Kate started OUBAS with one knitting machine and began selling at local markets and craft fairsWhy she chose to base the business in the Lake District rather than moving to LondonWhat it takes to run a knitwear micro factory with industrial knitting machinesWhat “linking” is and why fully fashioned knitwear is so labour intensiveHow knitwear is finished after it comes off the knitting machineThe reality of pricing knitwear when every garment takes hours to produceHow made to order production helps reduce waste and allows a wider size rangeWhy small batch knitwear manufacturing is becoming increasingly important for emerging brands
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About OUBAS Knitwear
OUBAS Knitwear is a British knitwear brand and micro factory based in the Lake District. The business produces fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres including British wool, with garments knitted and finished in house.
Alongside its own collection, OUBAS also works with other brands and designers, offering knitwear sampling, development and small batch production.
You can find Kate and Oubas Knitwear at:
Website: www.oubasknitwear.co.uk
Instagram: @oubasknitwear
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 29min - 463 - Launching a Brand with Traceable British Wool with Dee McGilvray, CLÒ FOLD
In this first episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Dee McGilvray, founder of CLÒ FOLD.
Dee has launched a womenswear brand built entirely around 100 percent British traceable wool. In just five months, alongside a full time job, she has taken an idea rooted in farming and the British countryside and turned it into a finished product made entirely in the UK.
Her first piece is a wool gilet woven in Yorkshire using traceable wool sourced through British Wool. Every part of the supply chain, from farm to finished garment, has been kept in Britain.
This isn’t just a story about launching a fashion brand. It’s about supporting farmers, restoring value to British wool and building a genuinely local supply chain.
In this episode we cover:
- Why so much British wool goes to waste and why farmers are often paid very little for itHow Dee built a fully traceable supply chain starting with British WoolWhat traceable wool actually means and how customers can scan a QR code to see which farms their garment came fromWorking with UK mills, manufacturers and suppliersWhy launching with one product was a smart moveThe reality of starting a brand quickly and testing demand in small batchesWhy wool is one of the most underrated fibres in British fashion
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About CLÒ FOLD
CLÒ FOLD is a British womenswear brand built on the principle of land led living. Every garment is made using traceable British wool, with full transparency from farm to finished product.
You can find Dee and CLÒ FOLD at:
Website: www.clofold.com
Instagram: @clofold
Make sure you join her mailing list to hear about upcoming launches including traceable British wool welly socks and future outerwear pieces.
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 27min - 462 - Series 8 Trailer: Women in Wool
Series 8 of the Make it British podcast is here!
After many of you asked, “Where’s the podcast gone?”, it's coming back with a brand-new themed series: Women in Wool.
Over the past few months, I've been recording interviews behind the scenes. As the conversations unfolded, a clear thread emerged. Every guest was a woman. And every one of them was working with the same fibre - Wool.
This new series shines a spotlight on the women driving innovation, craftsmanship and revival across the UK wool supply chain – from farming and spinning to weaving, knitting and manufacturing.
🐑 Why Wool? Why Now?
The UK textile industry was built on wool. Entire towns, trades and skills grew around it, yet over recent decades, wool has been pushed aside by cheaper synthetic fibres.
Now, the tide is starting to turn.
Recent cultural moments have helped bring wool back into the spotlight:
- The 'Traitors effect' with Claudia Winkleman’s tartans, tweeds and knits dominating headlines.The Princess of Wales visiting Welsh mill Melin Tregwynt and wearing Welsh wool.Growing attention on natural fibres and fully traceable supply chains.The launch ofThe Great British Wool Revival, a platform dedicated to strengthening British wool supply chains.
At a time when brands are preparing for Digital Product Passports and increased traceability requirements, wool stands out as one of the very few fibres we can genuinely grow and process here in the UK.
👩🦰 Why Women in Wool?
While the textile industry has historically been male-dominated, more and more women are now leading businesses across every stage of the wool supply chain.
From micro-factories to knitwear brands, from farming to finishing, female founders are shaping the future of British wool. This series celebrates them.
🎙️Be My Guest
If you work in wool, or know a woman who does, and would like to be featured in the Women in Wool series, email kate@makeitbritish.co.ukwith the subject line Women in Wool.
🧡 Love the Podcast?
If you’re a regular listener and this show has helped you, please take a moment to leave a review. Reviews help more people discover the amazing prhttps://www.instagram.com/makeitbritish/oducts still being made and manufactured in Britain.
Want to start or grow a British-made brand?
There are several ways that we can work together depending on what stage your business is at.
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Fri, 20 Feb 2026 - 09min - 461 - BONUS: The 3 Part Framework for Developing Profitable UK-Made Products
🚀 Want to join British Brand Accelerator?Apply here: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Got a question before applying?
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Tue, 25 Nov 2025 - 1h 23min - 460 - SOS: Stop Wasting Time Contacting the Wrong Factories 🏭
Not all factories are created equal!
And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way.
In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product.
You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer.
I’ll also share why I took down my free directory of UK manufacturers and the surprising truth about what manufacturers really said about being in it.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
🏭 Why not every factory with a sewing machine is right for your product
🧵 What kind of research you really need to do before reaching out
🛑 The red flag that means a manufacturer isn’t a good fit
🍷 What looking for a factory partner and choosing a wine having in common!
Get a copy of myUK Manufacturers List
▶️ Watch all 5 episodes of MANUFACTURING SOS on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 17 Oct 2025 - 12min - 459 - SOS: Why Ordering Too Much Stock is a Costly Mistake
In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake.
You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs.
If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss this one.
▶️Watch this episode on YouTube
🎧 Listen now to find out:
📦 Why ordering big on your first run is rarely a good idea
🧪 How to treat your first production like a product test
👚 How to avoid ending up with stock you can’t sell
⭐️ Why less really is more when you're building a UK-made brand
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
Get my Range Plan Template Here
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 10 Oct 2025 - 12min - 458 - SOS: What’s the REAL Cost of Skipping Tech Packs? 📐
Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"?
Think again.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.
You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials.
I’m also busting the myth that you need to spend thousands on a designer to create one – and showing you what to include (in plain English).
Whether you’ve been told you don’t need one, or you’ve been avoiding it because it sounds too techy, this episode is your wake-up call.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
🧵 What a tech pack actually is and why it matters
💸 How skipping it costs you money, time, and control
🧠 Why pay £100s to get one made
📋 What to include in a tech pack (and how to keep it simple)
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
Get my Tech Pack Template Here
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 03 Oct 2025 - 11min - 456 - SOS: Never ask a factory for the price until you do THIS 💷
What UK Manufacturers Really Think When You Ask About Price
If the first thing you ask a factory is “How much?” — you’re not alone.
But it might explain why you’re not getting the response you hoped for.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m unpacking what actually happens when you lead with price, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to put off the best manufacturers.
You’ll learn how to work backwards from a realistic retail price, how to spot when your margins just don’t add up, and what to do before you ever ask for a quote.
You’ll also get a reality check on what it really costs to make something in the UK — and why bartering isn’t a strategy.
If you want to be taken seriously by UK factories and avoid wasting everyone’s time (including your own), this episode is for you.
▶️ Watch this video on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
💸 Why asking for price too soon makes you look unprepared
🧮 How to calculate a realistic target cost price
🧵 Why most founders get their garment costings completely wrong
📉 What happens when you treat manufacturing like price shopping
🔁 What to say to a factory instead of “how much is this to make?”
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 - 08min - 455 - SOS: Why UK Manufacturers are Ghosting You 👻
If your inbox is full of unanswered emails to factories, it's not personal. It's a sign you're making critical mistakes that scream 'newbie'.
In this first episode in this special series MANUFACTURING SOS I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations I hear from founders - that they've contacted manufacturers and no one got back to them.
Sound familiar?
Before you assume UK manufacturers are just ignoring you, you need to hear this.
I’m sharing the real reasons factories hit delete, including vague enquiries, missing tech packs, and the one thing they’ll always check before replying to you.
You’ll also hear a cautionary tale about what happens when you work with a so-called UK manufacturer that turns out to be a middleman. Spoiler: it nearly cost one founder £30k.
If you want to stop wasting time and make sure you’re actually factory-ready, this episode is for you.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
🚩 What red flags instantly tell a manufacturer you're not ready
👻 The mistake that gets your enquiry ghosted 75% of the time
💌 Why your email address and Instagram feed matter more than you think
👬 How to avoid falling for middlemen posing as UK factories
🤓 What to do before you ever send that first email
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don't miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series.
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Fri, 19 Sep 2025 - 12min - 454 - Introducing Manufacturing SOS
Brand New Mini Series Coming Soon: Manufacturing SOS
After a year-long hiatus, the Make It British Podcast is coming back!
Series 7 is currently in the works, but while you wait, I’ve got something special for you…
Introducing a brand new mini series called Manufacturing SOS.
This special series is for anyone who’s starting or scaling a clothing, accessories or homeware brand and wants to get their products made in the UK without wasting time, money or losing their mind in the process.
Each episode is short and straight to the point. And in my usual no-nonsense style, I’ll be breaking down the most common manufacturing mistakes I see brands make, and how to avoid them.
These are the things I hear the same mistakes I hear again and again during the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with brand founders over the last few years. They’re also the things I know UK manufacturers wish more brands understood before they reached out.
Some of the mistakes I’ll be sharing might already be painfully familiar. But hopefully by hearing them now, you’ll avoid making the same ones, and potentially save yourself thousands in the process.
Whether you’ve:
Contacted a factory and not heard backReceived disappointing samplesOr you’re doing your homework before you begin…This Manufacturing SOS series is for you.
🎬 First episode drops very soon.
Make sure you're subscribed to the Make It British podcast on your favourite podcast platform and to my YouTube channelif you’d prefer to watch the video version.
🎓 Want my full step-by-step framework?
If you're ready to get serious about developing and manufacturing your product in the UK, watch my FREE masterclass:
The 3-Part Framework for Growing a Profitable UK-Made Brand
👉 Get instant access at makeitbritish.co.uk/masterclass
Wed, 10 Sep 2025 - 02min - 448 - Bonus: How to Find a UK Manufacturer
Finding a UK manufacturer doesn’t have to be a challenge!
In this bonus episode, I share the recording of my recent webinar, where I break down the 5 essential steps to finding your perfect manufacturing partner.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why manufacturers don’t respond to emails—and how to fix it.The biggest mistakes small businesses make when looking for a factory.How to prepare before reaching out to a manufacturer to save time and money.The 5 steps you need to follow to confidently approach the right manufacturing partner.Why finding a manufacturer isn’t just about Googling names—and what to do instead.Resources & Links Mentioned:
Join Get Set for Manufacturing: In just 4 weeks, learn exactly how to get your products made in the UK and find your perfect manufacturing partner.Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 24 Jan 2025 - 1h 08min - 447 - 300 - Words of wisdom from UK manufacturers featured on this show
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 - David Collinge | John Spencer Textiles
Episode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel Company
Episode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown Northampton
Episode 193 - Ian Maclean | John Smedley MBE
Episode 55 - Lance Mitchell | Mitchell Interflex
Episode 113 - Ruth Masson | Harris Tweed
Episode 290 - Christopher Nieper | David Nieper OBE
Episode 96 - Richard Ince | Ince Umbrellas
Episode 004 - Jo Ashburner-Farr | Red Dragon Flagmakers
Episode 254 - Chris Childs | Contrado
Episode 21 - Jenny Holloway | Fashion Enter
Episode 31 - Mick Cheema | Basic Premier
Episode 299 - A visit to Vagabond bags with Simon Michelson
Episode 118 - David Williams | Stoll GB
Episode 203 - Saed Saleh | Mars Knitwear
Episode 060 - Diana Kakkar | Maes London
Episode 252 - Maxine Wells | Intimate Apparel Samples
Episode 080 - Mustafa Fuat | Gosha London
Episode 054 - Peter Philips | Abbey England
Episode 292 - David Courtney | Courtney & Co
This episode also marks the final episode of series 6. I'll be taking a break from podcasting for a while. Whilst there won't be making any new episodes for you to listen to, there are over 150 hours of previous episodes to catch up and re-listen to.
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 - 30min - 446 - 299 – A Visit to Vagabond Bags
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. Spoiler - it's quite a lot!
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 - 18min - 445 - 298 – What’s going on with UK manufacturers? [with special guests]
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 Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on?
So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is your opportunity to hear the full discussion if you missed the live.
My guests are:
Tamara Cincik from think tank Fashion Roundtable
Mustafa Fuat from Gosha London
Diana Kakkar from Maes London
Some of the keys points we discussed:
How the Matches collapse has impacted local manufacturers.The financial instability of fashion brands.Why the industry needs to be regulated.How other countries support their local production.How public procurement buying British could help the entire industry.The grants and tax credits needed to make local production more affordable.Why lobbying for changes in government policies is essential.The need for STEAM education, putting creativity back on the curriculum.Watch the original Instagram live here
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 07 Jun 2024 - 42min - 444 - 297 – The Biggest Mistake Made by Product Businesses
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 31 May 2024 - 14min - 443 - 296 – Behind the Scenes at KC Manufacturing with Adam Robertson and Nina Falk
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 together as husband and wife.Why 'made in Scotland' is so important.How KC Manufacturing are supporting other UK textile firms.The challenges of working with deadstock materials.Where Adam & Nina got the funding to set up their factory.How they get young people to work in the industry.About KC Manufacturing
Episode 51 - Small Batch Manufacturing with Adam Robertson, Kalopsia Collective.
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 24 May 2024 - 28min - 442 - 295 – 4 Reasons NOT to Make in the UK
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 message on Instagram @makeitbritish here
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 03 May 2024 - 19min - 441 - 294 – How to get people onto your mailing list
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 opened a whole discussion amongst the group about the pros and cons of discounting and other ideas for getting potential customers to sign up to your newsletter.
So if you are wondering the same thing about discounting, this episode is for you!
Sign up the the British Brand Accelerator waitlist here - www.makeitbritish.co.uk/waitlist
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 12 Apr 2024 - 22min - 440 - 293 – Save English Fine Cottons
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, who invested £4.8m of its own money, £2m of which was a loan from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to regenerate a former Victorian cotton mill and install new technology to create luxury yarn. A further £1m was awarded as a grant by the N Brown Textile Growth Programme.
English Fine Cottons was the start of something very exciting in UK manufacturing, and for this to have happened is tragic. The collapse into administration is caused by the parent group Culimeta-Saveguard going down, and unfortunately that has taken the cotton spinning down with it. Something needs to be done to save our only cotton spinning mill, otherwise this is history repeating itself.
So today's episode is a remastered version of a visit that I did to English Fine Cottons in 2019, along with an interview with Andy Ogden, who was the general manager at the time.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 05 Apr 2024 - 45min - 439 - 292 – Reviving the UK Button Making Industry with Courtney & Co Button Makers
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.
Well it turns out that the investor that this guy eventually found was someone called David Courtney, who saw an ad to buy the machinery and patterns, and decided that he wanted to help.
But things are never as easy as the seem, and this initial investment took David Courtney down a very long and winding path to bring button making back to the UK.
Over a decade later and David Courtney now has an amazing button-making factory in the Cotswolds, with state of the art machinery, producing buttons from 3 different types of materials. He’s also enlisted his lovely wife Andrea to head the factory up, and they now supply the most beautiful buttons to brands and designers wanting an authentic UK-made button, still made using the original patterns that David saved from Grove & Sons.
This interview was recorded onsite in their factory in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, and Andrea and David recount the full tale of how Courtney & Co buttons got to where they are today.
About Courtney & Co
FURTHER RESOURCES
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 29 Mar 2024 - 32min - 438 - 291 – Micro Factories & Supply on Demand: UK Manufacturing at its Best
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 factories.How many garment factories there really are in the UK.The benefits of making in the UK.And why supply on demand is best done locally.To see the video recording of this talk, go to makeitbritish.co.uk/microfactories
Want to work together? Fill in this form so I can find out more about your business goals, and I'll get back to you with ways I can help.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 22 Mar 2024 - 47min - 437 - 290 – From the archive: Why UK Manufacturing is More Sustainable with Christopher Nieper OBE
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's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production.
In this episode you can hear about the research Christopher commissioned from Nottingham university looking at the greenhouse gas emissions produced to make clothing at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire. The study then compared these findings to the emissions produced by making garments in China, Turkey and Bangladesh and then shipping them to the UK. It makes for very interesting insights into how making in the UK can be quantified as more sustainable. A big advocate for slow fashion, Christopher has also found that his customers keep and wear his clothes 10 times longer than average. Listen to this episode to discover:
How the David Nieper factory uses 'just-in-time' manufacturing to achieve a 98% sell-through on their garmentsChristopher's plans to make the David Nieper factory the greenest factory in Europe, recovering the heat generated by the factory to use as renewable energyHow he's changing the attitudes of young people in his local town by giving them a taste of what it's like inside a real manufacturing environmentThe charity that the business has set up to help rebuild a local secondary school that was in the bottom 2% of schools in the UK and make it over-subscribed for the first time in 30 yearsChristopher's idea for a labelling scheme for clothing that ranks the environmental sustainability of every garmentThis episode is the recording of a talk that Christopher did at Make it British Live! Online event in October 2020.
About David Nieper
Watch my Instagram reel showing behind the scenes at the David Nieper factory.
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 - 37min - 436 - 289 – Creating Adaptive Clothing with Caron McLuckie from Bealies Adaptive Wear
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 functional joggers tailored to the needs of wheelchair users. From the initial idea to overcoming challenges and securing funding, Karen discusses the process of bringing her innovative designs to the market while juggling her role as a social worker.
With a commitment to UK manufacturing and a vision for expanding her product range, Karen's story highlights the power of innovation and determination in creating inclusive fashion solutions.
About Caron McCluckie
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 08 Mar 2024 - 31min - 435 - 288 – Why You Should Visit Your Factory
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 instead I'm discussing one of the amazing factories I went to see, and also sharing a recording from the archives - which is to encourage you to get out there and visit factories yourself!
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 01 Mar 2024 - 16min - 434 - 287 – How To Sell Your Products
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 make you feel like a used car salesman.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 23 Feb 2024 - 13min - 433 - 286 – 21 Tips for Building a Great British Brand
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 Whitworth, Celtic & Co
Ep. 41 Paul Smithers, Halycon Blue
Ep 179 Rebecca J Mills
Ep 171 Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior, Usual Objections
Ep 23 Sian Reekie, Hettie Co
Ep 78 Katie Walker Furniture
Ep 27 Matt Booth, Both Barrells
Ep 139 Rachael Attwood, Britannical
Ep 108 Steff McGrath, Something Wicked
Ep 82 Joel, Chudleigh, Made to Last
Ep 96 Richard Ince, James Ince & Sons Umbrellas
Ep 120 Emma Willis
Ep 39 Genevieve Sweeney
Ep 129 Samanth Brooke, Waring Brooke
Ep 88 Chris Woodford, Crown Northampton
Ep 141 Emma Mathews, Socko
Ep 153 Gillian Tusting, Tusting
Ep 86 Pippa Dziubinski, The Little Art Collection
Ep 183 Brant Richards, HebTroCo
Here you will find a list of all of the episodes of this podcast, which you can filter by guest, subject and topic
So I hope that has inspired you to make in the UK if you aren’t already!
If you'd like to launch or grow a British-made brand, I'm here to help. Reach out to me via Instagram DM @makeitbritish or drop me an email and I will get back to you with ways that I can help.
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 16 Feb 2024 - 23min - 432 - 285 – I Never Looked at Manufacturing Anywhere Else with Catherine Bedford, Dashel Cycle Helmets
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 Catherine talks about:
How she set about developing a new and innovative product.How she found factories to then make the helmetsSome of the safety testing that bike helmets have to go through. How she got PR and found stockists when she first launched.How she got her first stockists.And how the bike industry has been affected by Brexit.Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 09 Feb 2024 - 35min - 431 - 284 – Repair Is The New Cool with Thami Schweichler, United Repair Centre
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 outdoor brand Patagonia, social enterprise Makers Unite, and the Amsterdam Economic Board, is a much needed resource for the clothing industry. And they've opened one up in London!
On this episode I chat with one of the United Repair Centre co-founders, Thami Schweichler.
We chat about how the URC repair process has combined technology with sewing skills to make repair and circularity available to all, and how any brand can get involved in offering a repair service to their customers.
ABOUT UNITED REPAIR CENTRE
United Repair Centre Instagram
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - My mentoring programme
Kate's Sunday Journal - My newsletter
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 02 Feb 2024 - 34min - 430 - 283 – Tackling Textile Waste as a Slow Fashion Designer with Lydia Bolton
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 chat about:
How Lydia started out in fashion and textiles and where she learnt to sew.The challenges of upcycling and making one-off pieces.Where she sources her raw materials from and how deadstock can be a misleading term.Her decision to only rent and not sell her garments going forward.How she collaborates with big brands to spread the word about upcycling.How she is teaching people to sew with her upcycling workshops.ABOUT LYDIA BOLTON
HANDY LINKS
Fri, 26 Jan 2024 - 36min - 429 - FAQ: Where’s The Best Place To Source Fabrics?
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
Fri, 19 Jan 2024 - 08min - 428 - FAQ: How Many Factories Should I Sample WIth?
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
Thu, 18 Jan 2024 - 06min - 427 - FAQ: Do I Really Need To Provide The Factory With A Tech Pack?
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
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
Wed, 17 Jan 2024 - 05min - 426 - FAQ: Should I Get My Manufacturer To Sign An NDA?Tue, 16 Jan 2024 - 05min
- 425 - FAQ: How Do I Approach A Manufacturer?
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
Why manufacturers aren't getting back to your emails
HANDY LINKS
Mon, 15 Jan 2024 - 06min - 424 - FAQ: How Much Does It Cost To Start A 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?
HANDY LINKS
Fri, 12 Jan 2024 - 06min - 423 - FAQ: How Do I Find The Right Manufacturer For My Brand?
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
HANDY LINKS
Thu, 11 Jan 2024 - 08min - 422 - FAQ: Can A Manufacturer Source My Fabric For Me?
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's the difference?
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
HANDY LINKS
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 - 06min - 421 - FAQ: How long does it take to launch a brand?
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
HANDY LINKS
Tue, 09 Jan 2024 - 05min - 420 - FAQ: How Do I Go From Idea To Prototype?
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
HANDY LINKS
Mon, 08 Jan 2024 - 07min - 419 - 272 – Happy New Year! What’s coming in 2024?Fri, 05 Jan 2024 - 05min
- 418 - 271 – 3 Things I Learnt This Year
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 Podcast will be back on 5th January 2024.
See you then!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Plan Your Year - My annual planning workshop is the one thing you need to get your vision, goals, projects and tasks mapped out for 2024.
British Brand Accelerator - The best way to work with me in 2024. Apply now!
Reels Rockstars - The Instagram Reels course that I took that I highly recommend if you want to up your Instagram marketing next year.
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 22 Dec 2023 - 26min - 417 - 270 – Sustainability Insights for Small Businesses with Mark Shayler
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 Cheerful, a platform for spreading good cheer and hope in a world that can sometimes feel bereft of both.
We discuss the environmental cost per wear of a garment; why wool is such a great fibre; which is better - recycled polyester versus cotton ( the answer may surprise you); and what other fibres we could be growing in the UK to be more regenerative.
About Mark Shayler
Mark is a sustainability consultant, author of You Can't Make Money From A Dead Plant, and one of the founders of publishing and events company Reasons to be Cheerful.
Buy Mark's Book - You Can't Make Money From A Dead Planet
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 08 Dec 2023 - 1h 05min - 416 - 269 – Stop Winging it & Have Your Best Year Ever!
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 episode I give you tips on how to stop winging it and start planning.
And if you need someone to hold you accountable to making that plan, I have an offer for you.
I am hosting my ever-popular online planning party very soon. It’s my Plan Your Year workshop, and you’re invited!
In this pre-Christmas online workshop, we'll get goals set, projects planned and tasks mapped out for your coming year.
I’ll be showing you how to make planning easy and fun, and you’ll walk away with a completed plan of action for the coming year.
Sound good?
If you want to join us, you can secure your spot by going to makeitbritish.co.uk/planyouryear
Everyone with a ticket will also receive the recording and a special workbook.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Plan Your Year- My Online Planning Party
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 - 10min - 415 - 268 – From Start-Up to Export Champion with Laura Ward from Exeat
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, and the brand has been feature in Vogue, Forbes, The Financial Times, and Vanity Fair.
In this episode, she's going to give you tips on how to export your brand globally and how she's managed to get such amazing press in such a short space of time.
ABOUT EXEAT
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Made in the UK, Sold to the World
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Apply now to work with me to launch or grow your British-made brand.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 24 Nov 2023 - 40min - 414 - 267 – Insights from my Houses of Parliament meeting with the APPG for Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion
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 in the fashion industry. In which I highlighted the challenges faced by UK manufacturers, the need for skilled workers, and the potential for a thriving local manufacturing supply chain.
You'll gain insight into the current British manufacturing landscape and discover how small businesses are leading the way in ethical and sustainable production.
The meeting was chaired by John McNally MP and the secretariat for the APPG is Fashion Roundtable, led by Tamara Cincik.
The other speakers were:
Mary Creagh CBE - Chair of the Ethical Trading Initiative, Former MP and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee.Patrick Grant - Founder of Community Clothing and presenter on The Great British Sewing Bee.Professor Dilys Williams - Fashion Roundtable Board Member and Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion.Sam Ludlow-Taylor - Head of Human Rights at John Lewis.Anna Bryher - Policy Lead at Labour Behind the LabelWatch the Speech on YouTube here
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 17 Nov 2023 - 28min - 413 - 266 – The Business-Transforming Benefits of Investing in Yourself
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'll explore the risks of not investing in yourself, and the importance of matching your personal development with your business goals. Plus, I'll share some practical tips on how to make time for self-investment, even if you are super-busy.
HANDY LINKS
Fri, 10 Nov 2023 - 29min - 412 - 265 – Mastering the Art of Selling at Pop-ups with Pip Chawner, Philippa London
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 manufacturer in India; and how she has had great success selling her products at pop-ups and live events.
So if you've ever thought about doing a live event, but you're a little bit nervous about how to do it and how to sell at these events, then Pip has got some great advice for you.
ABOUT PIP CHAWNER
Pip Chawner is the founder of Philippa London, a luxury brand, sustainably and ethically sourced within the UK.
Pip previously worked for many years in sourcing and production for Nichole Farhi, French Connection and Gap Inc in London and San Francisco.
HANDY LINKS
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 03 Nov 2023 - 37min - 411 - 264 – 12 Manufacturer Red Flags and How to Avoid Them
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 I provide valuable tips on how to spot these red flags and avoid potential pitfalls.
So join me as I uncover the secrets to finding a reliable manufacturer for your product, here on the Make it British Podcast!
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Checklist: 12 Questions to Ask a UK Manufacturer
HANDY LINKS
Fri, 27 Oct 2023 - 26min - 410 - 263 – The Joy of Partnering with UK Manufacturers with Clare Winton, Grow Wild Outdoorwear
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 a frustrating two years trying to develop her collection in China.
She then stumbled across Make it British, and I introduced her to factories in the UK who she's been partnering with ever since.
Clare provides valuable advice on conducting customer research, navigating the challenges of garment production and the importance of face-to-face interactions with your manufacturer.
ABOUT CLARE WINTON
Clare Winton is the founder of Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a range of outdoor clothing and accessories for pregnancy and early motherhood.
After a semi-feral childhood growing up in West Ireland, she now lives in wild West Wales. She has spent 15 years working as a Quality Assurance Auditor, has a PhD in population genetics and is a volunteer trained Samaritans "Listener". Her outdoor passions include exploring local mountains and camping with her family.
Grow Wild Outdoorwear on Instagram
HANDY LINKS
Fri, 20 Oct 2023 - 41min - 409 - 262 – Nailing Your Pricing Strategy
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 gain invaluable insights and advice to help you nail your pricing for once and for all!
HANDY LINKS
📺 YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 13 Oct 2023 - 20min - 408 - 261 - When is the Right Time to Make Big Changes in Your Business?
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 yourself before you do so.
HANDY LINKS
📺 YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 06 Oct 2023 - 27min - 407 - Series 6 Coming Soon!
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 much everyone loved and missed them.
A lot has changed at Make it British since I last recorded an episode of the podcast. And it's been so long since I recorded one that I almost forgot how to do it! But I've dusted the old mic off and will be bringing you an episode weekly (usually on a Friday) for the foreseeable future.
In the new series I'll be sharing tons of tips and advice for making in the UK, and getting into the nitty gritty of running a small business that is made in Britain. With lots of special guests who have been there, done it and are wearing the British-made T-shirt to prove it!
You'll also hear from UK manufacturers in the fashion and textile sector and there'll also be a few surprise guests from other sectors sharing useful advice that I think you'll want to hear.
Some of the episodes will also be recorded as videos and shared on my YouTube channel.
So if you want to make sure that you don't miss an episode, subscribe to the Make it British podcast in your favourite podcast app and also over on YouTube.
In the meantime, you can find a whole back catalogue of over 260 episodes of this podcast on my website at makeitbritish.co.uk/podcast or in the app that you are listening to this in now.
And if you want to contact me about anything you hear on the podcast please drop me an email to kate@katehills.me that way your message will go into my VIP folder.
Thank you so much for listening to this little trailer. And I look forward to bringing you series 6 of the Make it British podcast!
www.makeitbritish.co.uk
Tue, 03 Oct 2023 - 03min - 396 - 260 – 5 Hidden Manufacturing Costs and How to Avoid Them
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 costs in UK manufacturing and how to avoid themHow you can minimise sample costsWhy it's easy to overspend on raw materialsHow to avoid buying too much stockWhy making in the UK eliminates some of your logistics costsResources mentioned in this episode
25 Hidden Costs of Starting a Brand
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock’.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock podcast here
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator – My group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture clothing, accessories and homeware in the UK.
Join Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 05 May 2023 - 18min - 395 - 259 - The Impact of Brexit on Small Businesses in the UK Textile Industry - Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable
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.
The conversation includes a discussion of the plight of Cluny Lace, the last manufacturer of Nottingham lace in England, and the negative impact of Brexit on small businesses.
Topics covered in this episode:
The challenges facing heritage manufacturers like Cluny laceImpact of Brexit on small businesses in the UK textile industryThe role of trade associations in the fashion industry Importance of traditional skills and machineryAbout Tamara Cincik and Fashion Roundtable
Tamara Cincik is the founder of Fashion Roundtable, an industry think tank established in 2017. With a background in the fashion industry as a stylist and editor, she founded Fashion Roundtable to give the fashion industry a voice in politics. With a British-Turkish background , Tamara has a strong connection to textiles and fashion through her family heritage. Fashion Roundtable is the secretariat for the All Party parliamentary group for ethics and sustainability and fashion and Cincik is an advocate for change in the political landscape to benefit the fashion industry as a whole.
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator – A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock’.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 28 Apr 2023 - 37min - 394 - 258 – How Do You Define an ‘Ethical Factory’?
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 many thinking it is greenwashing and an insult to small brands that are genuinely doing the right thing.
You can read some of the comments about the Primark collection on my Instagram Post here and on the chief exec of Primark's LinkedIn Post here.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why we need to question whether fast fashion brands like Primark are heading in the right direction or just greenwashing [01:10]How do you define ethical? [04:10]The types of questions you need to ask a manufacturer [04:53]What is an audit and which ones should you check a factory has? [08:16]Should you work with a factory which doesn’t have an audit? [10:26]Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 21 Apr 2023 - 16min - 393 - 257 – From the Archives: Labour Behind the Label Call out BooHoo for Using Unethical Garment Factories
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 effect it has had on the Leicester textile industry.
You'll learn:
Who Labour Behind the Label are and how the organisation came about [02:37]Why the organisation is focusing on the UK garment industry in particular [04:16]The reasons why Boohoo has been singled out in the report written by Labour Behind the Label [07:07]What local councils and other authorities can do to stop unethical factories [09:55]The worst discoveries that Labour Behind the Labour made when they looked into how garment workers were treated during the pandemic [13:36]Dominque’s thoughts on how the good manufacturers in Leicester would benefit from brands returning to the city [15:58]The work Labour Behind the Label does to educate brands and retailers on how to make sure their production is ethical [18:26]What distinguishes a brand or retailer that is ethical to its workers [20:05]What the consumer can do to make sure they aren’t funding unethical practices and companies [24:52]Why brands should be more transparent about where their products are made [27:31]What the government could be doing better in terms of positive changes being made in the fashion industry [30:27]How people can support Labour Behind the Label [38:34]About Labour Behind the Label
Boohoo & Covid 19 – The people behind the profits
Clean Clothes Campaign – improving working conditions in the global garment industry
Fashion Checker – find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wage
Why we need transparent supply chains
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 14 Apr 2023 - 37min - 392 - 256 – The No.1 Reason That Product Businesses Fail
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 business [06:09]How knowing your ideal customer can help to develop a good partnership with a UK manufacturer [08:01]Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 07 Apr 2023 - 12min - 391 - 255 – What can Bentley Motors teach British-made brands about selling in a downturn?
Download my Selling Price > Profit Calculator that goes with this episodehere.
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 learn from Bentley's recent success, especially when it comes to price positioning.
You'll learn:
Why Bentley Motors had a phenomenal year in 2022 [01:48]What you need to calculate before you discount your prices. [03:21]Why profit is vanity and turnover is sanity. [05:37]Two valuable lessons you can learn from Bentley's pricing strategy. [06:28]Read the Bentley Motors financial results for 2022 here.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 - 15min - 390 - 254 -From Idea to Product: Print-on-Demand with Contrado
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, clothing and accessories from their printed fabrics, and even make furniture as well.
Listen in on my tour around the factory with Chris Childs, co-founder of Contrado, and then a deep-dive into the story behind the business and where he sees the future of uk manufacturing going.
You'll learn:
What kind of capabilities the Contrado factory has in order to keep up with customer demand [02:44]How a small business could utilise Contrado's low MOQ's to test out different product types [05:51]How Chris and his wife Fran started the business from humble beginnings [10:05]Why technology plays such a big part in the business [15:14]How Chris manages his skilled workforce to create over 500 different products [18:10] What systems Contrado has in place to guarantee happy customers [22:34]How the business has tapped into multiple international markets [27:11]Where Chris sees the business going in the next 20 years [32:46]More from Contrado
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 24 Mar 2023 - 35min - 389 - 253 – 9 Job Skills that UK-Brand Owners Need to Have
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 vital role in running a business [05:47]Why you need to be in control of your production and why you can't rely on manufacturers to do this for you [07:01]How managing your finances can make or break your business [08:35]What role plays a crucial part in determining your environmental impact [12:25]How to decide which of these jobs you might outsource first [15:22]Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 17 Mar 2023 - 20min - 388 - 252 – Behind the Scenes of Lingerie Manufacturing with Maxine Wells
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 manufacturers left in the UK.
I took a trip to Brent Cross where Intimate Apparel Samples is based to ask Maxine why there aren't more lingerie manufacturers in the UK and the benefits of having a great relationship with your manufacturer.
You'll learn:
How Maxine set up Intimate Apparel Samples after she had her own lingerie brand [03:14]Why Maxine believes there is such a lack of lingerie and swimwear manufacturers in the UK [05:30]The main pitfalls when it comes to making lingerie, and Maxine’s advice for how to avoid them [09:49]Why having a great relationship with your manufacturer is so important [12:43]How Maxine ensures she gets the fit right for her clients [14:49]Why Maxine enjoys meeting the clients she works with to build a working relationship [23:40]More from Intimate Apparel Samples
Intimate Apparel Samples on Instagram
Intimate Apparel Samples Website
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 10 Mar 2023 - 31min - 387 - 251 – Can You Sell Your Products without Using Social Media?
Welcome to Series 5!
After taking a couple of months hiatus to focus on writing my book, I'm back with a brand new series.
I'll be answering all of your most commonly asked questions about manufacturing, marketing and selling products that are made in the UK, and have some fantastic guests lined up for this series too.
In this episode you'll hear a snippet from Selling Without Social- a workshop I ran recently, which covers all of the different ways that you can market and sell your UK-made products without using social media.
You'll learn:
What Make it British has been up to during the podcast break [01:29]Why you should look at other forms of marketing, other than social media [04:59]How UK brands and businesses are currently feeling about social media [06:26]Which other forms of digital marketing offer a higher return on investment [09:48]Why it's dangerous to rely on social media to build your business [13:40]Which marketing content has the longest lifespan [17:07]Selling Without Social
An online workshop covering 140 different ways that you can market and sell your product-based business without using social media!
Sign up at makeitbritish.co.uk/sws and you’ll also get a £10 discount as a podcast listener.
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 03 Mar 2023 - 25min - 386 - Series 5 Coming Soon!
Hello and Welcome to Series 5 of the Make it British Podcast.
The new series is coming very soon. The first episode will be released on Friday 3rd March.
In the meantime, I wanted to tell you about a few things we have coming up, that if you are a listener of this podcast you will probably be really interested to hear about.
Selling Without Social
An online workshop that I will be hosting on Thursday 23rd February.
Covering all of the different ways that you can market and sell your product-based business without using social media!
Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/sws and you’ll also get a £10 discount as a podcast listener.
British Brand Accelerator
The doors for our group coaching programme, British Brand Accelerator, are opening at the end of this month (February 2023), but only for a very short time.
If you know you’re serious about launching or growing your business in 2023, then make sure that you sign up to the waitlist. We will then send you all the details ahead of the official launch, so that you can get first dibs on a spot.
Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/apply to save your spot on the waitlist
British Brand Bedrock Podcast
British Brand Bedrock is a private podcast feed covering over 30 of the most commonly asked questions that we get asked at Make it British.
Want to subscribe to this special, private podcast feed? Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/bedrock and you’ll be able to sign up.
Make it British - The Book!
Something really exciting that I wanted to tell you about, is that I am writing a book!
That’s part of the reason why I took a break from recording the podcast for a couple of months, as I wanted to focus on starting on the book.
The book will, of course, be about manufacturing products in the UK. And will include case studies on some of the very best UK manufacturers and British brands.
If you are interested in being one of the first to get hold of a copy of my book go to makeitbritish.co.uk/book to get more details :)
As always, I love getting your feedback about the podcast. Please do keep those comments coming, either as a review in your favourite podcast app. You can find a whole back catalogue of over 250 episodes at makeitbritish.co.uk/podcast
If you want to contact me about anything you hear on the podcast please drop me an email to kate@katehills.me that way your message will go into my VIP folder and won’t get lost in the Make it British inbox, which can be a very busy place at times.
Fri, 17 Feb 2023 - 11min - 385 - 250 – 11 Ways to Grow a British Brand in 2023
Having worked with hundreds of British brands over the last few years, and speaking to them about what is working for them right now, and what they see working in 2023, here are 11 ideas you can use for growing your British brand in 2023.
Discover:
02:31 Why being a small business means you're in a great position right now05:12 The 11 ways that you can grow your brand in 202329:35 How joining British Brand Accelerator can help to hit your goals in the next year30:27 Why now is a good time to reflect on the past few years of businessMentioned in this Episode
YouTube Live - How to Build a Brand in 2023
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Fri, 02 Dec 2022 - 32min - 384 - 249 – Luxury Silk Scarves Celebrating the Art of Science – Siwan Oldham, By Biology
Meet Siwan Oldham, the founder of ByBiology, a business that is giving to scientific research by creating the most beautiful luxury silk scarves. Siwan talks about how her business idea came about, the reason she decided to manufacturer in the UK, and her journey so far in building the brand. Discover:
03:59 What Siwan's background is and how the idea for her business came about05:10 Why Siwan knew she always wanted to print her silk scarves in the UK07:52 The challenges Siwan faced during the process of lauching her business10:58 How Siwan prepared for her launch to ensure it would be successful18:04 Why Siwan believes it's important to invest in the key parts of your business22:20 How working with UK manufacturers means Siwan can test the market with different productsMore By Biology
Mentioned in this Episode
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Luxury Silk Scarves Celebrating the Art of Science - Watch on YouTube
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 25 Nov 2022 - 26min - 383 - 248 – For the Love of Wool with Sarah Turner, Little Beau Sheep
Sarah Turner is the founder of Little Beau Sheep, a brand that celebrates the best of British wool through a unique range of hand-made laundry and body care products.
Flying the flag for British wool, the Yorkshire-based entrepreneur came up with the idea of eco-friendly laundry balls to help families save money on washing. In this interview we chat all about how British wool has influenced Sarah and her brand.
Discover:
04:01 Why Sarah invented her cute wool laundry balls.07:34 How's she's grown the business from being a maker to employing staff to help with the manufacturing.08:22 What the benefits are of using British Wool.More Little Beau Sheep
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Fri, 18 Nov 2022 - 19min - 382 - 247 – Attracting Customers & Creating Raving Fans
How do you attract the right peoplt to your brand, and keep them coming back for more?
In this excerpt from one of the sessions at the Make it British Virtual Forum, you'll hear the ways in which three successful business founders are marketing their brands - and some of the tips they share may surprise you! My guests are Justine Tabak, from womenswear brand Justine Tabak; Jack Millington, from leathergoods brand Billy Tannery and Rosie Macpherson, from dog travel brand Where's Winnie.
Discover:
06:10 What forms of marketing are working for these successful British brands right now.11:09 How Rosie built up her audience before even launching her first product.15:38 Why stories help these brands to stand out.19:26 How each of the brands come up with ideas for marketing content.22:50 Their thoughts on TikTok versus Instagram.29:46 What really works with their email marketing.33:15 Thoughts on Black Friday and why should avoid itEnjoyed this Episode Get Access to the full video recording of this session and all of the other sessions from the Make it British Virtual Forum.
More Justine Tabak
More Where's Winnie
More Billy Tannery
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British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
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Fri, 11 Nov 2022 - 38min - 381 - 246 – Made in London – Carmel King and Mark Brearley
There are around 4,000 manufacturers based in Greater London, making everything from bicycles, ballet shoes, military uniforms, neon signs, umbrellas, mannequins and paint. Photographer Carmel King and factory owner Mark Brearley have produced a stunning book showcasing 50 of the best manufacturers in London. In this interview I talk to them about London’s rich and diverse manufacturing heritage and how they selected their favourite factories to go into the book.
Discover:
02:11 How the idea of the book came about04:12 How the 50 factories and workshops were picked to be featured09:11 How Mark loved one factory so much that he bought it!12:16 Some of Mark and Carmel's favourite London factories.16:01 The biggest challenge facing the inner city's factories and workshops.22:13 Carmel's tips on how to take good quality photographs in factoriesMentioned in this Episode
More Carmel King
More Mark Brearley
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 28 Oct 2022 - 27min - 380 - 245 – How to Plan Your Production
When it comes to manufacturing a product, planning is critical! In this episode, I cover exactly what you need to have prepared before going ahead with your production.
You’ll also find out what a critical path is, why you need one and most importantly, how to keep it updated.
Discover:
01:27 Why you need to plan your production03:46 What is a critical path and why you need one 06:41 How to create your own critical path for your product development 11:48 How to avoid the common mistakes people make when planning their productionMentioned in this Episode
YouTube Live - How to Plan Your Product Development
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 21 Oct 2022 - 18min - 379 - 244 – Sharing Wellness Through Well-Made Bags – Oscar Boatfield, Bearmade
In this episode, I chat with Oscar Boatfield, who is one of the co-founders of bags and accessory brand BearMade who make all of their bags in the UK. If ever there was a great example of a business doing the right thing by both the planet and its customers, then BearMade is definitely it.
Discover:
02:27 What Oscar was doing before BearMade which led to the launch of his business07:00 How Oscar found BearMade’s niche market09:09 Why Oscar doesn't offer discounts on their products11:20 Why Oscar and his wife Nell set up The Wildish Club14:20 How BearMade sticks by their brand ethics20:14 Why Oscar has been so honest with their customers about raising the prices of their products22:20 How Oscar is able to retain good value on his well-made bagsMentioned in this Episode
YouTube Live - Sharing Wellness Through Well Made Bags with Oscar Boatfield, BearMade
Make it British Virtual Event - A one-day online event for British brand founders
More BearMade
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British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 14 Oct 2022 - 35min - 378 - 243 – Pricing Your Products
This episode answers some of your most commonly asked questions about pricing.
Discover:
02:12 What markup do retailers add?08:19 Should you raise your prices if the cost of your fabric and manufacturing has increased?13:06 Should you lower your prices if your customers only buy from you when you have a sale on?17:36 How do you set your prices if you're making everything yourself?Mentioned in this Episode
YouTube Live Q&A: Pricing Your Products
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Fri, 07 Oct 2022 - 23min
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