In this episode I chat to Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley - the oldest operating factory in the world.

John Smedley are one of the finest knitwear manufacturers in the world. The company was established 235 years ago, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and they still operate out of the same factory in Matlock in Derbyshire.

In the interview Ian talks about the challenges that come with operating out of such an old mill, and how he is making his manufacturing more sustainable by investing in upgrades to the mill which will save energy and allow the company to survive for another two hundred years.

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More about John Smedley

John Smedley Website

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Make it British website

Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

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Are you thinking of starting a brand that is made in the UK, or developing a new product?

In this episode I cover the 10 mistakes that people make when launching a new product, and give tips on how to avoid them.

Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing 

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

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 Instagram

Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

Today I am interviewing Edward Sexton from Glencroft Countrywear, a company that have been members of Make it British from the very early days. Glencroft is a family business selling British wool and sheepskin products, as well as traditional country wear such as tweed hats. The business was started by Edward’s father, Richard Sexton, who still to this day trims all of the sheepskin rugs himself by hand.

Discover

- Why it's important to support local independent stores.

- Why testing a product before it is launched is so important

- Advice on how to source manufacturers

Glencroft Countrywear Trustworthy British Clothing established North Yorkshire 1987 Retail: www.glencroftcountrywear.co.uk Trade: www.glencroftwholesale.co.uk 

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

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 Instagram

Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

In this episode I look at how UK textile manufacturing fared in 2018, and what I think the future holds for 2019 and beyond.

- Was it a good year for the industry?

- Who were the winners and losers?

- And what are the challenges going into 2019?

UK Manufacturing Review

This podcast is a summary of an article that I've written for the UK Manufacturing Review, a publication covering the key events, achievements and challenges across Britain's biggest manufacturing sectors.

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

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 Instagram

Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

What are the benefits of manufacturing locally if you are a small clothing brand?

In this interview with Katya Wildman, founder of Bombshell, I talk to her about why she chose to reshore the production of her dresses back to the U.K. and the impact that's had on her business.

Recorded inside the busy factory in North London where Katya's garments are made, you'll get a glimpse behind the scenes as I also speak to Raif Ali, the owner of the factory.

4 years ago Katya was making most of her dresses outside of the U.K.

Plagued by late deliveries, which can cripple cash flow for designers, Katya wanted to move her production back to the U.K. I introduced her to this manufacturer in North London...and she hasn’t looked back.

She visits the factory almost weekly, often popping in at weekends to chat to the staff. It’s clear that there’s a great bond between designer and manufacturer. 

Because of this close partnership she has with her factory she can literally turn around dresses in a few days. And the factory are happy to make small quantities for her because they know that she is committed to them. 

It’s the perfect partnership. 

Discover

- The advantages of making locally

- How to build a good relationship with a manufacturer

- The one most important thing that a designer can do to become a manufacturer’s favourite client

- The biggest challenge facing London garment manufacturers right now

- Why she brought her production back from Romania to the UK

More Bombshell

bombshellhq.com

Bombshell on Instagram

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

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 Instagram

Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.