The best of British
The British clothing manufacturing industry is going through a renaissance. Marks & Spencer, in partnership with the British Fashion Council, has launched a Best Of British range, while Topshop offers a Made In Britain capsule collection, too. Respected British brands have never looked so good.
Here are some of our favourites…
0191-455 4444, www.barbour.com
01637-871605, www.celticandco.co.uk
01491-352600, www.reallywildclothing.co.uk
Another favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Moloh is celebrating its 10th birthday. The brand is one of the best new examples of British-designed and made couture. Clothes – inspired by 1960s icons Julie Christie, Ali MacGraw, Lauren Hutton – are produced in short runs from British mills. The family-run business’s flagship store is in Pimlico.
01666-500889, www.moloh.com
Joules Tom Joule sold colourful country clobber in the 1990s at outdoor events. He designed 100 pink wellies, which sold like hot cakes and Joules was born. Joules’s tweed is still made in Britain: 0845-250 7152, www.joules.com
Michael Ross Knitwear Established in 1979, the traditional Shetland knits are made on hand-framed knitting machines: 020-8813 7766, www.michaelrossknitwear.com
The Cambridge Raincoat Company Established in 2010, the company offers super-stylish rainwear, all of which is made in England: www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk
Tusting A fifth-generation family firm specialising in leather products, based in the English countryside: 01234-712266, www.tusting.co.uk
Here are some of our favourites…
Barbour
Founder John Barbour opened J Barbour & Sons in South Shields in 1894. Today the family-owned business remains in the Northeast. Barbour’s classic wax jackets are still manufactured by hand in the factory in Simonside. The company received its first Royal Warrant, from the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1974.0191-455 4444, www.barbour.com
Celtic & Co
Established in Cornwall in the 1970s, with a range of handmade sheepskin boots and leather goods, Celtic & Co has grown into one of the largest suppliers of sheepskin footwear, luxury clothing and soft furnishings in the UK. The company still makes boots and slippers by hand in the Newquay factory.01637-871605, www.celticandco.co.uk
Really Wild Clothing Company
Really Wild was created in 2002 and sprang from designer and founder Natalie Lake’s desire to create stylish shooting clothes for women. From the beginning, Really Wild selected to work with tweed mills manufacturing in the UK, and uses long-established traditions of weaving to produce a range of exclusive Scottish tweeds. The Duchess of Cambridge is a fan.01491-352600, www.reallywildclothing.co.uk
Moloh
Another favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Moloh is celebrating its 10th birthday. The brand is one of the best new examples of British-designed and made couture. Clothes – inspired by 1960s icons Julie Christie, Ali MacGraw, Lauren Hutton – are produced in short runs from British mills. The family-run business’s flagship store is in Pimlico. 01666-500889, www.moloh.com
PS: MORE GREAT BRITISH BRANDS
David Nieper The company has made luxury women’s clothing in Derbyshire for more than 50 years: 01773- 836000, www.davidnieper.co.ukJoules Tom Joule sold colourful country clobber in the 1990s at outdoor events. He designed 100 pink wellies, which sold like hot cakes and Joules was born. Joules’s tweed is still made in Britain: 0845-250 7152, www.joules.com
Michael Ross Knitwear Established in 1979, the traditional Shetland knits are made on hand-framed knitting machines: 020-8813 7766, www.michaelrossknitwear.com
The Cambridge Raincoat Company Established in 2010, the company offers super-stylish rainwear, all of which is made in England: www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk
Tusting A fifth-generation family firm specialising in leather products, based in the English countryside: 01234-712266, www.tusting.co.uk