Signal Stitch

In this episode, Gareth heads across Birmingham to meet three independent makers exploring very different sides of sustainable and alternative fashion, from community-led repair and clothes swaps, to punk leather accessories and historically inspired corsetry.

Part 1:

We visit The Old Printworks in Balsall Heath before heading to Digbeth’s Alternative Artisans event to discover how traditional skills, subculture and independent making continue to shape alternative fashion.

Gareth visits Kirstie Trew at Birmingham’s Grade II listed Old Printworks to explore how small changes in the way we buy, repair and use clothing can make fashion more sustainable.

Small Changes, Big Impact: Why sustainable fashion doesn’t have to mean completely changing your lifestyle — and how repairing, reusing and simply buying less can make a difference.

Making and Mending: Why traditional sewing and repair skills still matter, and how reconnecting with fabrics and garment construction can help us value clothing differently.

Building a Circular Community: Inside The Old Printworks’ community sewing room, sustainable fashion socials, clothes swaps and involvement with Sustainable Fashion Week.

Part 2:

At the Alternative Artisans event in Digbeth, Gareth meets Shay from Absolutely Leathered, whose work draws heavily on the style of late-1970s and early-1980s punk.

Keeping Old-School Punk Alive: Exploring the influence of classic punk, goth and deathrock aesthetics on contemporary accessories.

Bootstraps, Bondage Belts and Hardware: Shay talks through signature pieces including studded cuffs, chokers, belts and bootstraps designed to transform otherwise simple clothing and footwear.

Selling Beyond Traditional Markets: Why underground club nights, gigs and alternative events can sometimes provide a better home for independent subculture brands than conventional craft markets.

Part 3:

Finally, Gareth meets Ricky from RC Battle Designs, whose work combines historical pattern-cutting techniques with contemporary alternative fashion.

Traditional Pattern Cutting: How techniques used hundreds of years ago can still provide the foundation for modern garments.

From Underwear to Outerwear: Reworking historical stays, chemises and other pieces originally worn as undergarments into clothing designed to be seen today.

History Meets Alternative Fashion: Taking inspiration from museum archives, historical garments and medieval woodcuts while adapting old designs for modern comfort, movement and style.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:17 Kirstie Trew – The Old Printworks
10:27 Shay – Absolutely Leathered
13:43 Ricky – RC Battle Designs
17:36 Outro

Guest Links:

Kirstie Trew IG @kirstietrew, The Old Printworks IG: oldprintworks.org, Sustainable Fashion Brum IG: @sustainablefashionbrum, Daily Thread Brum IG: @dailythreadbrum

Absolutely Leathered IG: @absolutelyleathered666

RC Battle Designs IG: @r.c.battle w: rcbattledesigns.com

Signal Stitch: signalstitch.co.uk

In this episode, host Gareth goes on the ground in Digbeth, Birmingham, to meet the innovators who are completely rewriting the rules of physical retail and alternative artistry. We explore what happens when you step away from the digital noise to focus on real-world community, connection, and independent grit.

Part 1: The Offline Retail Revolution with The Goths Playground

First up, Gareth sits down with Curtis and Jordan, the driving forces behind Goths Playground in the Zellig Building, Digbeth.

• Filling the Void: How they evolved from a roaming popup market into a permanent home for over 40 independent alternative traders following the demise of Birmingham's historic Oasis Market.

• The Power of Offline: Why they are fiercely committed to staying off eCommerce to protect the magic, mystery, and physical experience of brick and mortar shopping.

• Nurturing Independents: The retail and visual merchandising advice they offer small alternative brands to help them scale without dropping their price points.

Part 2: Weird and Wonderful Natural Art with Ricochet Entomology

We shift gears to the delicate world of ethical insect preservation with Sam, the creator behind Ricochet Entomology.

• Beauty After Death: Inside the world of ethically sourced, beautifully framed butterflies, beetles, and arachnids from around the globe.

• From Buyer to Creator: How visiting alternative markets and taking workshops inspired Sam to embrace the dark aesthetic and start her own creative business.

• Evolving the Craft: Facing down a fear of spiders and expanding a niche brand from box frames to high-end glass domes.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:16 Curtis and Jordan from The Goths Playground

16:33 Sam from Ricochet Entomology

20:14 Outro

Guests Links:

• Goths Playground IG: @thegothsplayground
• Ricochet Entomology IG: @ricochetentomology w: ricochetentomology.sumupstore.com
• Signal Stitch: signalstitch.co.uk

In this episode, host Gareth goes on the ground in Digbeth, Birmingham, to meet the innovators who are completely dismantling the traditional clothing model.

From high energy warehouse takeovers to avant-garde streetwear rooted in military engineering, we explore what happens when you move away from mass production to look at fashion through the lens of community, grit, and live experience.

Part 1: Warehouse Takeover & Experiential Fashion with Kiilu & Dode

First up, Gareth sits down with Birmingham-based creator Kiilu to unpack his recent full-scale warehouse takeover alongside clothing brand Dode.

• Experiential: Learn how live screen printing, spray paint, and immersive storytelling turn everyday consumers into active co-creators.
• Flip the model: Moving away from mass production behind closed doors and leaning into high-energy creative workshops.
• Build Demand: The business mechanics of driving massive brand hype entirely through social media without a traditional retail storefront.

Part 2: High Performance Avant-Garde Design with Rags by Jak

In part two, we shift gears to high-touch, heavyweight streetwear with Jak and Lulu, the powerhouse duo behind Rags by Jak.

• From Ejection Seats to Streetwear: How Jak’s unconventional background engineering military ejection seats for the MoD and manufacturing protective motorcycle leathers shapes their design philosophy.
• 500 GSM: The reality of working with ultra-heavyweight, high-performance fabrics.
• Break the Bottleneck: How the brand transitioned from the operational constraints of strict made-to-order production to integrating small-batch factories without losing their creative grit.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:10 - Interview with Kiilu
• 12:53 - Interview with Jak and Lulu
• 21:07 - Outro

Guests Links:

• Kiilu IG: @Kii__lu TikTok: @by.kiilu
• Dode IG: @dodealreadywon
• Rags By Jak IG: @ragsbyjak w: ragsbyjak.com

Signal Stitch: signalstitch.co.uk

Whitby Goth Weekend is a sanctuary for craft, subculture, and the dark arts. In the second episode of our two-part special, we move from the workshop to the streets to explore heritage fashion, niche business scaling, and the alternative consumer mindset.

In this episode:

Mark Regan (Sunday Best Vintage): Why modern fast fashion is structurally built to fail, and the power of 100-year-old construction.

The Fans & Heritage: We sit down with Josie, Dan, Dave, and James to decode why alternative fashion thrives on upcycling and modification.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro

• 00:40 - Mark Regan of Sunday Best Vintage Clothes

• 10:49 - The Fans: Josie & Dan

• 14:36 - The Heritage: Dave & James

• 20:13 - Outro

Guests Links:

• Sunday Best Vintage: IG @sundaybestvintageclothes

• Signal Stitch: signalstitch.co.uk

Note: This is Part 2 of 2. Follow the show and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Whitby Goth Weekend is a sanctuary for craft, subculture, and the dark arts. In the first of our two part special, I meet three creators who are defining the modern gothic aesthetic.

In this episode:

1. Josh (Art of Arklin): How ancient Norse and Greek mythology became a premium streetwear brand.
2. Satu (DF Creations): The "Apocalyptic Eco-Punk" jewelry made from upcycled bike parts.
3. Dave (Alex Henry): The haunting process behind mixed-media raven and skeleton sculptures.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction: The Spirit of Whitby
• 01:12 - Josh of Art of Arklin
• 13:18 - Satu of D.F.Creations
• 19:10 - Dave of Alex Henry Mixed Media
• 26:44 - Outro

Guests Links:

• Art of Arklin: artofarklin.com, IG @artofarklin
• D.F.Creations: IG @d.f.creations, FB @D.F.Creations23
• Alex Henry Mixed Media: IG @alexhenrymixedmedia, FB @AlexHenrymixedmedia

This is Part 1 of 2. Follow the show to catch Part 2 next week!

What does it take to build and scale a UK fashion brand today?Master the business of fashion with Signal Stitch.

We connect creative innovation with retail reality for designers, founders, retailers, and industry pros. Each fortnight, we share honest conversations with UK fashion designers, brands, and experts—covering sustainability, digital growth, and scaling retail. Get the insights you need to navigate today’s fashion landscape and build a lasting business. Follow and visit signalstitch.co.uk.Visit us at signalstitch.co.uk and hit Follow to never miss an episode.