Latest news with #CommunityClothing
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Patrick Grant named as Queen Margaret University's new Chancellor
Patrick Grant, the designer, entrepreneur, writer, and advocate for sustainability and sustaining communities, is to be the next Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, (QMU) Edinburgh. The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University, presiding over graduation ceremonies and performing an ambassadorial role. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A prominent figure in the British fashion industry, Patrick has become a household name through his role as a judge on one of BBC One's favourite shows, 'The Great British Sewing Bee'. However, his TV success is based on extensive recognition of his dedication to traditional craftsmanship and sustainable practices. As founder of the social enterprise Community Clothing, Patrick is an advocate for sustainability and building strong communities through entrepreneurship. Brought up in Edinburgh, he has developed an international reputation as a champion of UK textile manufacturing, supporting local communities while producing high-quality, long-lasting garments. His book 'Less', which was published in 2024 and is a Sunday Times Bestseller, details his commitment to reducing consumption and embracing circular, regenerative fashion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Over the past two decades, Patrick has built a distinguished career in the fashion industry – working with global brands including Cartier, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Barbour, and Alexander McQueen, and always advocating for craftsmanship and quality. He revitalised Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, relaunched men's tailoring brand E. Tautz - winning Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards - and led Debenhams' most successful designer collaboration with Hammond & Co. Patrick Grant His passion for British manufacturing took a new turn in 2015 when he rescued the historic Blackburn-based clothing factory Cookson & Clegg from closure. This experience inspired him to launch Community Clothing in 2016, a pioneering initiative that has earned him widespread recognition for revitalising the UK garment industry. Community Clothing's mission is to sell exceptional quality everyday clothing at a fraction of the price of other premium brands and, by making all its clothing in the UK, sustaining and creating jobs and helping to restore local economic prosperity and pride. Beyond fashion, Patrick is a familiar face on television. In addition to the 'The Great British Sewing Bee', which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2022, he has presented the award-winning documentary 'Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King'. He has appeared on BBC Radio 4's 'Desert Island Discs', won BBC One's 'Celebrity Mastermind', and written extensively for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, and GQ Magazine. Patrick has strong connections with Edinburgh, where he grew up and where Queen Margaret University is based. With family still living in the city, he continues to be a regular visitor to the Scottish capital. Having been educated in both Edinburgh and Barnard Castle, Patrick went on to study a degree in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Leeds, followed later by an MBA from the University of Oxford. He holds honorary fellowships at a number of universities. He is an ambassador for The King's Foundation, which works globally to create sustainable communities through placemaking projects and practical education programmes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pamela Woodburn, Chair of the Court of Queen Margaret University said: 'Patrick's career and achievements resonate strongly with the University's strong social justice ethos, and with our commitment to building strong communities and acting as a force for good. He is someone who uses his intellect, skill and passion to solve problems, most notably in his work building community wealth through revitalising the UK garment industry, and in his promotion of sustainable consumption. Taking up his post during Queen Margaret University's 150th anniversary, his story mirrors that of our founders, who, to quote an old motto of our institution, acted 'with head, heart and hand' in creating our institution to deliver practical solutions tackling social and economic problems.' Patrick's example of combining entrepreneurialism, skill and people-focused thinking to build thriving communities aligns with QMU's purpose of shaping a better society through teaching and research in health and rehabilitation, education and social science, the creative industries, and sustainable business. Patrick will be installed as Chancellor at the first of QMU's 2025 graduations on 7 July 2025 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
Fashion United
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Patrick Grant's Community Clothing to launch crowdfunding campaign
Community Clothing, the brand owned by Great British Sewing Bee's Patrick Grant, has announced its intention to launch a crowdfunding campaign. In a post on its website, the company said that it has partnered with the platform Crowdcube on the initiative, with which it intends to 'give everyone the opportunity to become shareholders'. The brand's crowdfunding page currently allows those interested in investing to gain early access to the campaign and submit the amount they hope to invest once it begins. In its profile, Community Clothing said its mission 'is to change the narrative around what we wear', while also 'supporting and creating local jobs' to 'help restore prosperity in communities across the UK'. It is exactly this that has been at the heart of the brand's mission since it was founded nine years ago. According to its website, the company has 'created well over 400,000 hours of skilled work' in the UK, but it wishes to do more. Over the past three years, meanwhile, its sales and impact has grown 400 percent. Community Clothing's story began in 2015 when Grant, a cloth merchant, purchased Lancashire clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg. The company found a partner in Selfridges by 2017 and continued to collaborate with other brands and firms, including the Homegrown/Homespun project, which launched growing flax and natural dyes. Community Clothing now has partner factories in Ayrshire, Bolton and South Wales.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ask the Style Doctors: ‘Which British fashion brands should I buy?'
In this advice series, Telegraph fashion experts Lisa Armstrong and Stephen Doig answer readers' what-to-wear dilemmas. This week, they advise on how the best British brands to shop now and the return of the waist. Dear Stephen, I'm increasingly keen that when shopping for clothes I help feed into our economy and secure jobs for UK craftspeople. So how can I make sure to buy British? – Charles Dear Charles, This is an issue that's become increasingly thorny in today's fashion landscape – like 'greenwashing', the practice of claiming to be eco-friendly while doing no such thing, there can be a fair amount of 'localwashing'. This means that a brand proudly claims to be ' Made in Britain ', but that involves some zips or finishing being applied in Blighty while the majority of the work is done elsewhere. If you're interested, it's a topic tackled nobly by Patrick Grant, the tailor and The Great British Sewing Bee judge in his book Less, which urges us to stop our over-consumption. Grant writes about companies who are swaggeringly British in their branding, but do little to support the local economies from which they sprang. Cotton pique polo, £120, Private White VC For instance, Aquascutum and Hunter are just two 'British' brands that don't make in the UK. Grant includes an excellent glossary of pieces that are genuinely 'Made in Britain' from start to finish, including his own initiative Community Clothing, which is excellent (great socks), as well as Barbour, Begg & Co, Margaret Howell, Private White VC and many others that produce in a way that feeds into the UK economy, creates jobs and safeguards skills. Ribbed cotton socks, £8.50, Community Clothing From my own experience, I've been lucky enough to visit many factories that are based in the UK: Sunspel in Northampton, for example, which makes expensive but very, very good T-shirts, as well as Johnstons of Elgin, Emma Willis shirts in Gloucestershire and the many shoemakers based in Northampton. One thing to note is that this is a more expensive way to buy clothes than ordering from a fast-fashion retailer, where the products will likely be pumped with plastics. But I'd rather buy less and better, and little items – like Rooska socks made by a local family-run company in Leicestershire – that aren't pricey considering they're properly made. – Stephen Dear Lisa, Is there any sign of the waist coming back anytime soon? All those empire lines make everyone look seven months pregnant. – Yvonne Dear Yvonne, You're in luck. The waist is emphatically back, on the catwalks, on the red carpets (think Demi Moore's series of drastically cinched-in gowns during this winter's award season, although she was far from the only one), and it's in the stores too. A good starting place is Jasper Conran, who has made a speciality of the shirt dress in various natural fabrics and weights (from £350). Bubble hem dress, £115, Cos Anthropologie is always worth a look. Cos has beautiful bubble-hem sleeveless dresses – that sounds weird, but they look subtly different in a not-too-artsy, sophisticated way and come in soft neutral shades, although you may not go for the 100 per cent recycled polyamide sell… in fact waisted dresses are everywhere. Nothing like the constricted gowns Moore et al wore, but more gentle and comfortable for a 16-hour stint. Separates are another route to stylish contouring. My eye is on a bubble skirt and matching top from M&S in a beautiful cherry red cotton that should hit the stores in a few weeks. – Lisa
The Guardian
02-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
The best spring jackets for women: 14 favourites for every occasion, from barn jackets to blazers
I love a jacket. Almost more than any other garment, it can transform an outfit. A denim jacket instantly makes a get-up more casual; a blazer, more smart. It can add a practical layer to an otherwise quixotic look or a hint of frivolity to a serious ensemble. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The other thing I love about jackets is that – unless it's a tailored one you want to fit just-so on the shoulder – you can often be a touch more footloose and fancy-free with fit than you can with other garments. This makes shopping for them a more fun affair than, say, hunting for trousers. It also makes them easier to source secondhand or online. I've tried to include something for everyone in this guide, and searched far and wide in the process: trying on, touching and turning inside out a range of lovely – and some not-so-lovely – jackets. Yet the funnest thing is that an array of jackets can be right for any one person. So, here's a host that will make you feel smart, studious or ready for a picnic; I hope you discover something that fits the jacket-shaped hole in your wardrobe. Bahareh utility denim jacket £119 at Aligne Denim jackets and spring go together like salt and vinegar crisps and chocolate. Most people likely have a classic denim jacket by now. So perhaps this season it's time to add a more unexpected iteration to your roster, whether via cut, colour or an unexpected detail. That doesn't have to mean rewriting the rulebook: take this collarless but otherwise simple denim jacket from Aligne, a female-led, London-based brand that makes timeless clothes that also somehow feel right for the moment. A-line funnel-neck jacket £145 at & Other Stories £145 at Asos If you want a jacket that will instantly signal that you know your Jil Sander from your Jacquemus, opt for a funnel neck. Call it the Phoebe Philo effect, call it what you like, but this one from & Other Stories is bang on trend, and comes in beige, dark blue and khaki green. The buckle at the neck adds a utilitarian twist, and the oversize fit will allow you to wear a layer – or two – underneath on those spring days that look hot but still feel cold. Chore jacket £95 at Community Clothing French mechanics and Harry Styles don't lie: the chore jacket is wildly and widely popular with good reason. It's an easy style to wear across multiple outfits, plus the number and depth of pockets are a dream. This one from Community Clothing, cut and sewn in Lancashire out of cotton twill, comes in classic light blue, tan, cream, a very pleasing bottle green and several other colours. Finisterre's take on the chore also makes a convincing case. All that being said, the best chore jackets don't just look like the kind of thing Picasso might have worn, but also look old enough that Picasso could have worn them – good news for the planet, as well as your pocket. Etsy, eBay and Depop are full of them – simply search for 'chore jacket'. However, if you'd prefer yours to look a little less lived-in, narrow your search by 'condition' and opt for those a little less Picasso; fraying and paint-splattered. Find one that's right for you – whether that's the classic cobalt blue above, an understated duck brown, herringbone or linen. Lapwing insulated jacket £165 at Finisterre If you're looking for something cosy but also light and squidgy enough to pack down into a bag when the sun comes out, the Lapwing jacket is just that. Made from recycled materials, it's insulated but down-free, and also feels lovely to the touch. The dark ochre is particularly nice, and the olive is undemanding. OG Detroit jacket £115 at Huh Store The barn jacket has taken fashion firmly by the hand. It was great for autumn, and it's perfect for spring. The workwear brand Carhartt is the look's equivalent of a mother ship, making jackets that will last for years, though the high street is also rich with options: you could try Everlane, or even Whistles. To my eye, though, this is a jacket that's best made by a workwear brand, durable enough to last for years and which will only get better with age. Better yet, get one with a bit of patina by buying secondhand – search 'barn jacket' on eBay, Depop or Vinted; narrow your search to the likes of Carhartt, LL Bean or Woolrich for something fairly classic; and sift by size/condition. Stormwear cotton-rich canvas hooded parka £65 at M&S The summer of Oasis is nearly upon us – you could call this our Definitely Maybe spring – and parkas are big news again. This M&S iteration has been receiving a lot of love, and rightfully so. It might not scream 'mad fer it', but it's practical – water-repellent and hooded – as well as a cut above; the ties at the waist make a usually shapeless garment a little more shapely. Repurposed Ikat Kantha jacket £175 at Toast I have known this to be worn as a 'house jacket' but, for my two cents, it's so special that it deserves to be seen. One-of-a-kind, it's stitched in India in collaboration with two Fairtrade organisations and made out of repurposed cotton saris. The only hitch is that it's so spectacular you may want to keep the rest of your outfit subdued. It is reversible, though. Boucle jacket £99 at John Lewis I take plagiarism seriously, but I am nicking this suggestion from my colleague Jess Cartner-Morley, who shouted out the classic Coco Chanel-inspired little boxy jacket in a recent column. As Jess put it: 'This is the jacket equivalent of a classic bob haircut: chic, effortless polish, vaguely French.' It's a boon to any wardrobe and perfect for this time of year. Monroe check quilted jacket £169 at Next Barbour makes good-quality clothes and, while it may be more famous for its wax jackets, this quilted gingham one is worth a look. It might be quilted, but it's not overly substantial. Beautifully cut and A-line in silhouette, it will fit layers neatly underneath it without feeling claustrophobic. The deep front pockets are a dream – ideal for dog poo bags, snacks or even a thin book. Rain jacket £55.30 at Asos£79 at Rains The proof's in the name: this jacket from wet-weather Scandinavian brand Rains is unfussy in style and unfussy in substance, too. Windproof, lightweight and washable, it is also a practical choice and comes in a range of colours – the green is fun, the butter-yellow 'gleam' is of-the-moment and the sand will suit the season while going with anything. Cotton-linen blazer £189 at Arket Blazers are arguably the most boring type of jacket. Yet they're also useful, smart and, done right, chic. This is a blazer done right. Made from a blend of cotton and linen, the burgundy colour is more interesting than navy but still wearable, while the cut elevates it beyond the everyday. I take it back: blazers are great. Fjord flannel shirt £66 at Patagonia £71.50 at Cotswold Outdoor I'm reluctant even to type the word 'shacket', but a shirt/jacket is a staple few wardrobes should be without. Since Kate Moss walked the Bottega Veneta catwalk in a plaid shirt in 2022, it also has high fashion's seal of approval. This one from Patagonia is organic cotton brushed flannel and should keep out a chill on a spring day. You can always size up if you want to wear it over a heavier layer. You can also try other outdoorsy brands, such as Cotopaxi, Passenger and Ayacucho. Finisterre does a respectable one too – particularly pleasing in sage green. However, the best, and most Kurt Cobain-coded, are plaid rather than plain. I swear by Pendleton wool shirts, and secondhand websites are brimming with them, such as this design on Depop. Secondhand sites are well stocked beyond Pendleton, too. Be warned, though, that while there are a lot of high-street overshirts in good nick secondhand, most will be heavy on polyester. Heritage brands, such as Woolrich and Pendleton, are likely to offer better-quality fabrics. If you're after something a little lighter, narrow your search to cotton or flannel. And don't be afraid to ask sellers about moth holes – these woolly overshirts are a particularly tempting snack. Hemp-blend shirt-jacket £59.95 at Muji This jacket from purveyors of Japanese snacks and very nice bedsheets, Muji, is perfect for days when a T-shirt is too little but much more is too much. It's cleanly cut and made from a breathable mixture of hemp and cotton. The ivory-striped one is stylish if a little see-through; the black one is classic and just as good for the office as for a brunch or even a wedding. Organic workwear jacket £120 at Colourful Standard Classed as a chore, this jacket from Colourful Standard is available in 23 shades and will leave the purists curling their toes. Yet, with so many pretty colours to choose from, perhaps you're too preoccupied with the electric ultraviolet one to mind. Excellently made, in Portugal from organic cotton, this is a versatile beast.
