Make it British Podcast

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I visited Laxtons Yarns in Baildon, Yorkshire, a fourth generation family spinning mill that is now employee-owned. I was given a full tour of the mill floor by commercial director Carly Smith and national accounts manager Rochelle Tracey, before sitting down with them to talk about British wool, the future of the business and the exciting relaunch of their hand knitting range. Laxtons spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving. Their Sheepsoft yarn is a blend of Blue Faced Leicester and Masham British wool and travels less than 50 miles from fleece to finished yarn. Almost the entire workforce is women. In this episode we cover: About Laxtons Laxtons Yarns is a fourth generation family spinning mill based in Baildon, Yorkshire. They spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving, with over 52% of their yarn made from British wool. In July 2024 the business became employee owned, securing its future in Yorkshire. Their hand knitting range is relaunching as Bramble & Fleece in 2026. Website: laxtons.com | bylaxtons.com Instagram: @laxtonsyarns 🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I take a trip to the beautiful Essex countryside to visit knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney in her micro factory, where she designs, programmes, knits, and finishes her collection in house. We talk about the realities of owning your own industrial knitting machine - from learning to keep the yarn and machine happy, to breaking needles in tears and coming out the other side. We also hear about Genevieve's mission to revive the almost forgotten art of hand Intarsia, a knitting technique synonymous with Scottish knitwear. In this episode we cover: If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About Genevieve Sweeney Genevieve Sweeney is a knitwear designer and maker based in Essex. Known for her distinctive use of colour, texture and geometric patterning, Genevieve works with natural fibres including Lambswool and naturally-dyed Merino. You can find Genevieve and Genevieve Sweeney at: Website: genevievesweeney.com Instagram: @genevievesweeney Genevieve forst appeared on the Make it British Podcast in Episode 39 in March 2019. You can listen to that episode here

🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply In this episode I'm sharing the recording of a recent webinar I ran - 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer. If you are trying to get a product made in the UK and want a clear, practical framework to follow without making costly mistakes, this episode will give you exactly that. In this episode you will also hear me mention a cost price calculator that I have developed. Try the Cost Price Calculator Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Harriet Fletcher-Gilhoys from Fashion Roundtable. Harriet is the project lead for The Great British Wool Revival and is also working with the King's Foundation on an event in May 2026 to promote the use of British wool. If you're a designer, maker or brand wanting to work with British wool but not sure where to start, the Great British Wool Revival is the resource you need to know about. It maps the entire wool supply chain from sheep to spinning, dyeing, knitting and weaving and Harriet is here to walk us through exactly how to use it. In this episode we cover: If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About the Great British Wool Revival The Great British Wool Revival is a free online platform built to make British wool more accessible, from farmer through to finished product. Launched in September 2024 in collaboration with the King's Foundation and funded by Yoox Net-a-Porter, it maps the entire wool supply chain and includes a terminology guide, a directory of mills, spinners and dye houses, and step-by-step guidance for designers wanting to work with British wool. The Great British Wool Revival Website Fashion Roundtable website Instagram: @greatbritishwoolrevival 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Isabelle Randall, a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, who has been running her own label for over 21 years. Isabelle works in British tweeds and wool fabrics, making everything bespoke in her atelier. We talk about the Yorkshire mills she loves working with, her tailoring process, and why her bespoke approach keeps customers coming back again and again. We also get into what it feels like, as a designer who makes everything herself, to hand over the responsibility of production to a manufacturer for the first time. In this episode we cover: If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About Isabelle Randall Isabelle Randall is a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, with over 21 years of experience running her own label. She works exclusively in British tweeds and wool fabrics, creating bespoke garments from her atelier. You can find Isabelle and her label at: Website: isabellerandall.com Instagram: @isabellerandall 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Louisa Knapp, Marketing Executive at British Wool. Based in Bradford, British Wool operates as a farmers' cooperative that collects, grades, and auctions fleece for around 35,000 sheep farmers across the UK. Whether you’re a designer wondering how to source British wool or you’re just curious about what happens to a fleece after it’s sheared, you’re going to love this episode. In this episode we cover: About British Wool British Wool is a member-led organisation that handles the collection, grading, and marketing of UK fleece to support 35,000 farmers. They work with brands and manufacturers to provide traceable supply chains and increase the global demand for British wool. You can find out more about British Wool at Website: www.britishwool.org.uk Instagram: @britishwool 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Kate Stalker, founder of OUBAS Knitwear. Kate runs a knitwear micro factory in the Lake District, where she designs and manufactures fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres, including British wool. After studying knitwear at Winchester School of Art, she returned to Cumbria and started the business with a single hand flat knitting machine in her parents’ utility room. Today OUBAS produces knitwear on industrial knitting machines, with everything knitted, linked and finished in house by a small team. The business combines design, manufacturing and small batch production all under one roof. If you’re interested in British wool, knitwear manufacturing or what it takes to run a small clothing factory in the UK, this episode gives a real behind the scenes look at how it works. In this episode we cover: If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About OUBAS Knitwear OUBAS Knitwear is a British knitwear brand and micro factory based in the Lake District. The business produces fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres including British wool, with garments knitted and finished in house. Alongside its own collection, OUBAS also works with other brands and designers, offering knitwear sampling, development and small batch production. You can find Kate and Oubas Knitwear at: Website: www.oubasknitwear.co.uk Instagram: @oubasknitwear 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

In this first episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Dee McGilvray, founder of CLÒ FOLD. Dee has launched a womenswear brand built entirely around 100 percent British traceable wool. In just five months, alongside a full time job, she has taken an idea rooted in farming and the British countryside and turned it into a finished product made entirely in the UK. Her first piece is a wool gilet woven in Yorkshire using traceable wool sourced through British Wool. Every part of the supply chain, from farm to finished garment, has been kept in Britain. This isn’t just a story about launching a fashion brand. It’s about supporting farmers, restoring value to British wool and building a genuinely local supply chain. In this episode we cover: If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About CLÒ FOLD CLÒ FOLD is a British womenswear brand built on the principle of land led living. Every garment is made using traceable British wool, with full transparency from farm to finished product. You can find Dee and CLÒ FOLD at: Website: www.clofold.com Instagram: @clofold Make sure you join her mailing list to hear about upcoming launches including traceable British wool welly socks and future outerwear pieces. 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram

Series 8 of the Make it British podcast is here! After many of you asked, “Where’s the podcast gone?”, it's coming back with a brand-new themed series: Women in Wool. Over the past few months, I've been recording interviews behind the scenes. As the conversations unfolded, a clear thread emerged. Every guest was a woman. And every one of them was working with the same fibre - Wool. This new series shines a spotlight on the women driving innovation, craftsmanship and revival across the UK wool supply chain – from farming and spinning to weaving, knitting and manufacturing. 🐑 Why Wool? Why Now? The UK textile industry was built on wool. Entire towns, trades and skills grew around it, yet over recent decades, wool has been pushed aside by cheaper synthetic fibres. Now, the tide is starting to turn. Recent cultural moments have helped bring wool back into the spotlight: The Great British Wool Revival At a time when brands are preparing for Digital Product Passports and increased traceability requirements, wool stands out as one of the very few fibres we can genuinely grow and process here in the UK. 👩‍🦰 Why Women in Wool? While the textile industry has historically been male-dominated, more and more women are now leading businesses across every stage of the wool supply chain. From micro-factories to knitwear brands, from farming to finishing, female founders are shaping the future of British wool. This series celebrates them. 🎙️Be My Guest If you work in wool, or know a woman who does, and would like to be featured in the Women in Wool series, email kate@makeitbritish.co.uk with the subject line Women in Wool. 🧡 Love the Podcast? If you’re a regular listener and this show has helped you, please take a moment to leave a review. Reviews help more people discover the amazing prhttps://www.instagram.com/makeitbritish/oducts still being made and manufactured in Britain. Want to start or grow a British-made brand? There are several ways that we can work together depending on what stage your business is at. ➡️ Let's Work Together! Follow Kate on Instagram @makeitbritish

🚀 Want to join British Brand Accelerator? Apply here: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Doors close December 7th - don't wait! Got a question before applying? DM me on Instagram: @makeitbritish

Not all factories are created equal. And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way. In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product. You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer. I’ll also share why I took down my free directory of UK manufacturers and the surprising truth about what manufacturers really said about being in it. Listen now to find out: 🏭 Why not every factory with a sewing machine is right for your product 🧵 What kind of research you really need to do before reaching out 🛑 The red flag that means a manufacturer isn’t a good fit 🍷 What looking for a factory partner and choosing a wine having in common! Get a copy of my UK Manufacturers List ▶️ Watch all 5 episodes of MANUFACTURING SOS on YouTube 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake. You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs. If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss this one. 🎧 Listen now to find out: 📦 Why ordering big on your first run is rarely a good idea 🧪 How to treat your first production like a product test 👚 How to avoid ending up with stock you can’t sell ⭐️ Why less really is more when you're building a UK-made brand 🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series Get my Range Plan Template Here ▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"? Think again. In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials. I’m also busting the myth that you need to spend thousands on a designer to create one – and showing you what to include (in plain English). Whether you’ve been told you don’t need one, or you’ve been avoiding it because it sounds too techy, this episode is your wake-up call. Listen now to find out: 🧵 What a tech pack actually is and why it matters 💸 How skipping it costs you money, time, and control 🧠 Why pay £100s to get one made 📋 What to include in a tech pack (and how to keep it simple) 🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series ▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

What UK Manufacturers Really Think When You Ask About Price If the first thing you ask a factory is “How much?” — you’re not alone. But it might explain why you’re not getting the response you hoped for. In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m unpacking what actually happens when you lead with price, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to put off the best manufacturers. You’ll learn how to work backwards from a realistic retail price, how to spot when your margins just don’t add up, and what to do before you ever ask for a quote. You’ll also get a reality check on what it really costs to make something in the UK — and why bartering isn’t a strategy. If you want to be taken seriously by UK factories and avoid wasting everyone’s time (including your own), this episode is for you. Listen now to find out: 💸 Why asking for price too soon makes you look unprepared 🧮 How to calculate a realistic target cost price 🧵 Why most founders get their garment costings completely wrong 📉 What happens when you treat manufacturing like price shopping 🔁 What to say to a factory instead of “how much is this to make?” 🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series ▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

If your inbox is full of unanswered emails to factories, it's not personal. It's a sign you're making critical mistakes that scream 'newbie'. In this first episode in this special series MANUFACTURING SOS I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations I hear from founders - that they've contacted manufacturers and no one got back to them. Sound familiar? Before you assume UK manufacturers are just ignoring you, you need to hear this. I’m sharing the real reasons factories hit delete, including vague enquiries, missing tech packs, and the one thing they’ll always check before replying to you. You’ll also hear a cautionary tale about what happens when you work with a so-called UK manufacturer that turns out to be a middleman. Spoiler: it nearly cost one founder £30k. If you want to stop wasting time and make sure you’re actually factory-ready, this episode is for you. Listen now to find out: What red flags instantly tell a manufacturer you're not ready The mistake that gets your enquiry ghosted 75% of the time Why your email address and Instagram feed matter more than you think How to avoid falling for middlemen posing as UK factories What to do before you ever send that first email 🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don't miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series. ▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube 🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

Brand New Mini Series Coming Soon: Manufacturing SOS After a year-long hiatus, the Make It British Podcast is coming back! Series 7 is currently in the works, but while you wait, I’ve got something special for you… Introducing a brand new mini series called Manufacturing SOS. This special series is for anyone who’s starting or scaling a clothing, accessories or homeware brand and wants to get their products made in the UK without wasting time, money or losing their mind in the process. Each episode is short and straight to the point. And in my usual no-nonsense style, I’ll be breaking down the most common manufacturing mistakes I see brands make, and how to avoid them. These are the things I hear the same mistakes I hear again and again during the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with brand founders over the last few years. They’re also the things I know UK manufacturers wish more brands understood before they reached out. Some of the mistakes I’ll be sharing might already be painfully familiar. But hopefully by hearing them now, you’ll avoid making the same ones, and potentially save yourself thousands in the process. Whether you’ve: This Manufacturing SOS series is for you. 🎬 First episode drops very soon. Make sure you're subscribed to the Make It British podcast on your favourite podcast platform and to my YouTube channel if you’d prefer to watch the video version. 🎓 Want my full step-by-step framework? If you're ready to get serious about developing and manufacturing your product in the UK, watch my FREE masterclass: The 3-Part Framework for Growing a Profitable UK-Made Brand 👉 Get instant access at makeitbritish.co.uk/masterclass

Finding a UK manufacturer doesn’t have to be a challenge! In this bonus episode, I share the recording of my recent webinar, where I break down the 5 essential steps to finding your perfect manufacturing partner. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Resources & Links Mentioned: Join Get Set for Manufacturing

Welcome to episode 300! Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us. Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode: Episode 102 - David Collinge | John Spencer Textiles Episode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel Company Episode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown Northampton Episode 193 - Ian Maclean | John Smedley MBE Episode 55 - Lance Mitchell | Mitchell Interflex Episode 113 - Ruth Masson | Harris Tweed Episode 290 - Christopher Nieper | David Nieper OBE Episode 96 - Richard Ince | Ince Umbrellas Episode 004 - Jo Ashburner-Farr | Red Dragon Flagmakers Episode 254 - Chris Childs | Contrado Episode 21 - Jenny Holloway | Fashion Enter Episode 31 - Mick Cheema | Basic Premier Episode 299 - A visit to Vagabond bags with Simon Michelson Episode 118 - David Williams | Stoll GB Episode 203 - Saed Saleh | Mars Knitwear Episode 060 - Diana Kakkar

Join me on a tour round a factory! In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers. Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoiler - it's quite a lot! HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand. Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK Make it British Website YouTube Instagram

I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry. You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers? I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on? So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is your opportunity to hear the full discussion if you missed the live. My guests are: Tamara Cincik from think tank Fashion Roundtable Mustafa Fuat from Gosha London Diana Kakkar from Maes London Some of the keys points we discussed: Watch the original Instagram live here