Why My Bags Are Made In The UK

I can’t quite believe that I have just launched my second makeup bag collection within 12 months, proudly designed by myself and made in the UK 🇬🇧. When I started on this creative journey I knew very little about how I would take my passion for textile and print design and turn it into a product based business, producing colourful joyful items. Whilst I love the process of painting and designing artwork and patterns, I was frankly unable to sew myself the accessories and homewares that I had in mind. So I had no choice but to seek out a seamstress or company who could produce the items for me.

Very early on in my business journey I knew that I wanted to be a UK brand, known for designing and producing high quality colourful, bold accessories and homewares made in the UK, therefore supporting UK manufacturing. And that’s where the wonderful Kate Hills from Make It British helped me. I have admired Kate for a while and love her passion, enthusiasm and support for British business and brands, so when I decided to increase my product volume, I knew that I needed her help, so I joined her British Brand Accelerator programme.

Through Kate, I found a factory less than 2 hours drive away from me who were able to produce my new collection of makeup bags in my colourful printed fabrics.

Visiting the factory

Back in August I visited the small factory in Wiltshire, UK to see my new makeup bags being made. I’d never been to a factory before, so it was exciting to see how the skilled seamstresses took my printed fabrics and turned them into my vision of lovely bold, colourful cosmetic bags and toiletry bags that bring joy to everyday life. It was also fascinating to see the machinery and materials use in textile manufacturing.

I had some spare Midsummer fabric left over so Simon, the factory owner suggest I have two hot water covers with ribbon made up as samples. The results are very cute! I can’t decide yet whether to add them to my product range for winter.

Whilst I was watching them work; cutting out the patterns, adding the interlining, sewing in the YKK zips and binding the raw fabric edges, it struck me that if businesses like mine don’t make our products and sell them, these skills will be lost forever. We will lose the tradition of high quality British textile manufacturing.

In fact a recent report in the summer, found that Britain has now fallen out of the top 10 manufacturing nations for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. This is a shame for a country that used to make high quality products with expert craftsmanship and export them to the rest of the world.

There are lots of small independent businesses like mine who are selling great products made in the UK.

With Christmas approaching consider buying a unique UK gift for your friends and loved ones or treat yourself and support a small business.

Explore the full collection of small and large makeup bags and toiletry bags below.

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