Hi Reader,

We're now officially in Fashion Revolution Week, so a great time to encourage each other in our quest for a just fashion industry. Through the years I've met many designers from various arenas who've shared a similar feeling, yet described it in different ways.

Some said they felt disconnected from production.
Others felt pressured to move faster than their ideas could develop.
Many wished fashion could work differently but didn’t know where to begin.

Why do I feel alone?

Often, these designers assumed they were alone in thinking this way. Which isn't so surprising because fashion can feel strangely isolating at times, especially for independent designers or small studios.

I remember back in art college days this great camaraderie, sharing ideas, all-nighters together in the studio before a deadline ... sneaky wine may have been involved 🤭, swapping horror stories of lost fabrics ... Ahem! ... My own weaving ... that I may, or may not, have left on the back of the N29 London bus 😵‍💫 In it all many friendships are forged that last way beyond the final degree show.
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Yet, once in the profession, the contrast can be stark. Decisions are made quickly, expectations are high, and there is rarely space to explore process thoroughly, ask how things are made, or even get to share much with other designers ... secrecy is a thing.

But over the years, something interesting has happened.

We are on the move!

Designers from very different places, the UK, Denmark, South Africa, India, Belgium, Australia, the US, and beyond, are now arriving with similar curiosity. I believe it's prompted by dynamic movements like Fashion Revolution, The OR Foundation, Re/make Our World, Redress, Fashion Declares, and more. Designers want beautiful materials, yes, but they also want understanding. They're searching for ways to design that feel aligned with their values and creatively energising. The awareness raised by these movements is reaching those who can make a difference from the inside.

Designers are recognising we're not alone.When we meet each other, a quiet recognition appears.

Conversations shift from guarded to open. Challenges become shared rather than private. And, ideas expand because people have different perspectives to share.

What I love most is how much confidence grows simply from connection. Seeing others experiment with fabric-first thinking or collaborative making, makes new approaches feel possible rather than risky.

Gradually, a growing community is forming, designers and makers learning from one another. Nothing announced loudly, just a group of kindred spirits asking better questions together.

I wonder: Who's someone you've met who changed the way you think about your work simply by sharing their process?

I read and respond to every reply, and am really looking forward to yours 🥰

Here's to making things, all things, better together! 🙌🫶🙌