Features

Vegan Leather or Real Animal Leather? Sustainability and making fashion more responsible and better for the planet have been on the global environmental agenda for a number of years now. The current pandemic has...

What a phenomenal time to be alive. There has been no other time in the history of humankind when so much has changed in such a short period of time. When the opportunities we...

While we are going through these unprecedented times caused by Covid-19, many fashion start-ups and independent fashion brands might be thinking about how the industry will change and what the future of the fashion...

The future of the fashion manufacturing supply chain is hanging in the balance. A time bomb ticking quietly unnoticed. The current situation of worldwide quarantine, a result of the COVID19 Corona Virus pandemic will...

The end of January saw the release of a new fashion competition TV show series - Next In Fashion on Netflix. The premise of the 10-episode show Next In Fashion was – win $250 000...

Sustainable fashion terminology can be confusing to most. Like many other industries, fashion is shaped by economic and political forces. It is like a living organism – always evolving and changing. I'm sure –...

The rise of cruelty-free fashion and beauty brands is apparent and all around us. Over the last few years, keen followers of fashion, no doubt would have noticed a sharp increase in consumers seeking...

True entrepreneurs are often driven by a resilient sense of mission. They don't start businesses out of a desire, but out of need and want to change the world in their own small or...

Graduating with both a degree in Accounting and Apparel Design, it is no wonder that Natalie Smith married her love for exactness and passion for fashion and creativity. "Points of Measure" was the result...

Buying ethical clothing and talking about ethical fashion has become the "in" thing of our generation. But what does it mean? What makes clothes ethical? Few ask the question let alone look into the...

Gul E Raana is the founder and creative force behind the hand embroidery London based brand - Wenlin Studio. Though only a couple of years old, the brand has a clear mission that resonates...

How marketers can employ colours to affect customers’ emotions and behaviour. Let's find out how colours affect consumer buying behaviour. Almost 93% of people decide whether or not they should make a purchase based on...

Working with clothing manufacturers overseas is a natural progression for many fashion brands. The move is often necessitated by two main factors - a need for larger volume production or a necessity to reduce...

If you’re looking to become a jewellery designer, there are plenty of ways to go about achieving your goal. While there’s no one “right” way to ensure success, there are several early career options...

Social media videos are a successful and professional way of delivering messages and keeping your network informed of what you are doing. Creating viral video content is on every marketer's priority list. If you make...

We can’t all afford the designer styles we see on celebrities and runway models. So, we often settle for cheap alternatives. Unfortunately, there’s a price to pay for affordable clothing – and we’re not...

Tom James - the  London based founder of Parasel - a bespoke hardware development and sourcing company speaks to Fashion Insider & Co and lifts the lid on a fashion industry segment not much...

To grow your fashion business you need to not only be visually creative but also be creative with how you conduct business, your strategy, marketing and all aspects that cumulatively contribute to the success...

The terms "ethical (fashion) manufacturing” and “sustainability” have become the buzz words of our generation. But are they just a marketing gimmick or do brands and customers really care about the issues? One of the...

Have you heard people blame all their troubles on Mercury retrograde? I used to think it was just a phrase people used until I looked into it a little more and learnt there was...

Starting a business on one's own is never easy. But starting one in the fashion arena is a particularly steep hill to climb, full of lessons and paved with expensive mistakes. After a long...

Who Made My Clothes Movement was [and still is] a powerful event in the history of fashion. It compelled various brands, designers and the industry to think about the repercussions of their actions.

Can a business fulfil every demand put across by consumers? These days consumers have become creators as well as critics and it has put a good load on small businesses. Find out what consumer personalisation means for businesses.

In the past, we have covered haute couture designers through the ages: 1900's-1950's. In this post, we will cover the present day haute couture designers, how it is surviving, who is buying it and how it has changed.

We all need mentors in some point in our lives. Whether it's our own business or a 9 to 5 job, these top tips will definitely help us find the right mentors for us and get the best out of them.

The "couture" of the past - what it means - history and origins, who did it, who bought it, couture techniques that make couture - couture. Here we talk about the period 1930s-50s part 2

The "couture" of the past - what it means - history and origins, who did it, who bought it, couture techniques that make couture - couture. Here we talk about the period 1930s-50s.

Let's look at the factors contributing to the fragmentation of retail.

Is the Retail vs E-commerce battle, really worth fighting over? Can't they both live in harmony and both the worlds coexist? Read the author's view in this article.

Women's Sewing Groups formation is an age-old concept that London Fashion Manufacturing Industry has taken on with full force. Read what it's about, how these groups work and what are the living conditions of women here.

Silent Goods is a brand that asks the question - Is it really possible to go against the grain and to create a fledgeling, sustainable and transparent brand that’s distributed through online sales only?

A small design studio has set out to help brands realise their creative potential through a variety of services aimed at startups and larger brands. The future of fashion is being multi-skilled and versatile.

I "made my wardrobe" is not something you often hear someone say. There are many motivations behind the decisions to make your own clothes. Utelier meets Lydia Higginson who did just that and in the process turned her passion into a business.

Brands with any integrity have been thinking of ways to build their businesses with a sustainable advantage for a while now. Below are 7 Eco-friendly practices that a fashion business can do to contribute to sustainability in the fashion industry.

It has never been so easy or so hard to start a fashion brand. Read what clothing manufacturers wish fashion startups do less of and how to best present yourself to suppliers if you want to work with them.

Sprezzatura is an effortless dress and lifestyle movement that doesn't require you to liquidate your stocks so you can invest in accessories, suits and grooming aids. Learn what it is and how to introduce into your style.

Hand and Lock is one of the few, if not the only, hand embroidery studio to whom military, Royal and diplomat officials, as well fashion designers, rely upon for the finest hand embroidery.

To find a factory happy and willing to work with you is a whole challenge in itself. But that was until Fabrika opened its doors. Meet the new friendly UK clothing manufacturer.

Read about Fashion Enter, the British Garment Manufacturing social enterprise making a positive impact on the manufacturing industry.

Unlike ready-to-wear which is about predicting the future, couture while expensive is an altogether more relaxed affair. The point of haute couture fashion is that it symbolizes the present for future generations to learn about the past. Learn the history here.

We are all aware that the fashion industry is saturated with product. Yet many factories all over the world produce products one can argue there is enough of. But then again - appearances can...

Every day newcomers enter the fashion industry. While they may bring new ideas and enthusiasm, their lack of knowledge of how the industry works, development and sourcing know-how and process often leaves them exhausted and with depleted funds.

Every industry has its own way of expressing technical might and glamour. Car manufacturers have supercars that showcase their expertise. In fashion - it is the Haute Couture collections that showcase a designer’s most...

Fashion trend forecasting agencies are the “archaeologists of the future”. Read what they do, how they do it and why are they important.

Through its 8 decades of experience in silk garment manufacturing and block printing technique, it has won many clients over with its exceptional design philosophy. We talk to the designer cum manufacturer of Inheritance...

An interview with the founder of Swat Valley Guild, whose mission is to support local artisans, weavers and producers access global markets.

Tushar Handworks is an Indian garment manufacturer, not afraid of experimentation and who takes new challenges in their stride. The designer cum manufacturer- Tushar, talks to Fashion Insiders openly about the changes he has implemented to adapt to the competitive times, sustainable fashion and qualities that make a good a customer.

If you are a denim-wearing eco-warrior then perhaps you are more fashion and less eco-conscious! Read below and get the basics of why the current denim manufacturing has a negative environmental impact. 

Maes London may not be a name you recognise right now, but if you're a fashion designer based in London, soon you will. Diana, the bubbly and energetic founder behind it is not someone who mulls over ideas. Instead, she springs into action and does the impossible.

Films - be it documentaries, short or feature-length movies hold the power to make us laugh or cry in equal measures; they can educate and above all - inspire us to dream.

Batik is not a very difficult art form, but a painstakingly slow one. Entirely done by hand, it often is a skill handed down from generation to generation.

Launching your own fashion business is not a piece of cake, as we have said many times. You cannot and shouldn't have to do it alone. Maristella Colombo, with her business Ebooks4Fashion, helps women to become independent and have their own fashion business.

Yang is the epitome of the new generation of Chinese independent women. She is well educated, she has travelled and worked abroad and now, she has set up her own business.

The founder of Mariko Plus shares his experience in starting his factory and how to get the best of manufacturing in India.

Rossella Ramanzini grew up in an Italian family of artists. But her art led her to silk scarves and her struggles turned her into a manufacturer. Read about her art and journey in fashion.

Introducing alternative textiles is just one and a relatively small step in creating a sustainable environment and it may be the answer to the sustainable fashion quest.

Handloom weaving is an art form practised by few but appreciated by many. Krishna Wool, is one such Indian manufacturer trying to preserve its beauty.

Before embarking on production for your fashion start-up, you will no doubt research the differences between manufacturing locally or offshore. Costs will surely be at the forefront of your mind, but there are so many other things to consider.

Foreign brands that work in Asia often do so with the help of buying agencies. Ayushi Nath, a fashion designer at Impulse buying agency based in India, shares the inner working of a design and manufacturing agency.

Ever wondered how top fashion designers manage to create multiple collections per year? Season after season, year after year, seemingly never running out of ideas. Fashion inspiration is behind it all.

A successful business owner, fortune 500 executive, marketing enthusiast, Vera V Wang, the founder of Viviona fashion manufacturing talks talk to Utelier about her journey and working in fashion.

Fashion archives allow new designers to delve into a past that was very different to the present. It can be used in order to gain some insight into the brands DNA.

Working for yourself may sound interesting but people rarely understand the challenges. Nazli Karakoc - a freelance fashion designer explains it all to us.

Discovering Qiviut & Co So - a new brand, yet to be discovered, over-exposed and over-commercialised, feels strange and special, both at the same time.

The story of two women meeting at a marathon, becoming fast friends and deciding to change girls lives - one ethical underwear garment at a time.

ZAAZEE is an award-winning British women's sportswear brand. Founded by Deborah Todd - a bubbly and buzzing "force of nature" kind of a woman, the brand is focused on creating stylish feminine designs that feel good while you exercise. 

Vitasta, an Indian leather handbags brand, was started by Aditi Dhar in 2011. She talks about her experiences as an entrepreneur, challenges in Indian manufacturing industry and also gives startup tips.

Fashion manufacturing locally is not a new concept. It has been done by brands large and small for as long as manufacturing has existed. But with advances in technology that helped make the world more reachable, many have tried their fortunes far afield hoping to improve prices, leadtimes or quality.

There is a new wave of networking and community building events taking place all around us. Events that focus on the overall experience and longer lasting benefits on our life. The latest one to emerge is The Collective conference retreat - an all-inclusive, tech-free, retreat-style conference, where communities are forged and experiences created.

The Collective is the first all-inclusive, tech-free, retreat-style conference in Europe, that aims to forge communities and create experiences.

India based Meenal Malhotra caught the fashion bug post her MBA stint in Finance and Marketing. After gaining some insights into the fashion industry whilst working with Masaba, the well-known fashion designer from India, she decided to set up a factory of her own - R and M Enterprises.

Out with the old guard and in with the new. The appointment of Edward Enninful as the next Editor of British Vogue is a bold move for the British fashion industry.

Working remotely can cause major communication issues for your business but luckily there are plenty of tools to help you and your team out.

For any budding fashion entrepreneurs, podcasts are essential listening. Whether you want to teach yourself a new business skill (saving the money you might have paid for a course), or you're just in search of a bit of inspiration, we can promise there is a podcast out there for you.

Over the last couple of decades, as the online shopping has steadily increased at a fast and furious pace, countless boutiques closed their doors and larger department stores sales suffered - many wonder what is the future of fashion wholesale?

Now, more than ever, we should be thinking about sustainable fashion. But what is sustainable fashion? And is fashion sustainable?

With Brexit looming over us and the louder voiced opinions and encouragements to keep as much as possible "Made in Britain", we look at what that means.

Within the industry, the roles of designer and pattern cutter are mutually exclusive. This is really strange, as without the Pattern Cutter, the designer's vision can’t be realised.

Hawthorn works with a mixture of start-up and established brands, helping those who are new to the industry understand how best to progress on their journey.

Fashion tech and apps monthly round-up, highlighting what is most exciting and new in the industry, from counterfeit goods to recycled fibers.

At a recent Fashion Insiders trip to India, we pay a visit to Kartik Kraft Vision design studio. A handbag manufacturing studio located in the charming Pitampura district of the Indian capital.

Making a choice between fast fashion vs slow fashion may seem like an obvious choice, yet it is not an easy choice for many to make. One has moral implications while the other is more practical and economical. So what is it to be?

The landscape of fashion has become increasingly democratized, and the formula of offering limited edition pieces designed in collaboration with another brand or person has proven to be extraordinarily lucrative.

Team Fashion Insiders swaps continents and goes to India for a week packed with exploring a new market, forging new contacts, connections and absorbing new experiences and lessons.

Fashion industry professionals including small business owners, students and representatives from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) were among the crowd at the sell-out event in Manchester yesterday evening (Wednesday 29 July)

Years ago, the seasonal selling formula for a designer was pretty simple and straight forward. Fast forward to 2017 and this no longer is the case.

Magda Daniloaia's recently launched a brand that stands out with its truly unique design aesthetic. She takes classic shapes and reinvents them by drawing inspiration from art, architecture and punk.

Victor Rosenberg has industry experience spanning four decades. With a knack for storytelling, meeting with him is always enjoyable and inspiring.

Simone Meentzen is a German artist, whos passion for art and painting and her love for fashion culminated in launching a limited edition fashion label.

Renée Lacroix is Canadian born, London based pattern cutter extraordinaire. Having originally studied back in Canada for over 6 years, focusing on womenswear design and technical/pattern cutting skills, she came to London and set up London Pattern Bureau in 2015.

Leathergoods designer Isla Simpson was fortunate enough to find out very early on in life what she was passionate about and make it a career choice.

Magda Daniloaia has learned 100 times more since she started her company than she would have learned in 10 years working for others, whilst having huge levels of satisfaction!

Caroline is growing her business slowly and organically, strategically orchestrating and ensuring professional longevity. "I want to create local employment and keep the business in the UK, building good relationships with the people I work with. I want to create something to be proud of and have as little impact on the environment as possible."

Eyewear Designer and Fashion Insiders Specialist Sandra Battistel met with Raffaele Ricciuti, the owner of 1955, a small, yet highly artisanal eyewear factory in the South of Italy, near Potenza and discussed the eyewear manufacturing business.

Utelier's visit to a NW London factory specialising in high end (ready to wear) ladieswear soft separates garment pattern development, grading, sampling and small run production.

We love talking to the designers and manufacturers on our platform, we recently caught up with Textile Designer, Rise Gluck to learn about her journey in fashion. She works on a freelance basis designing products like bedding, table linen and curtains.

Lorna Gilbey: An interview with the jewellery designer about her journey into business and the stories that inspire her work.

The Whale Company is an ethical brand making sustainable products for a mindful lifestyle. They make organic cotton bags and recycled tyre flip flops, and they pledge that 5% of their profits will go to support marine conservation. The founder of The Whale company, Carolyn Newton explained to Utelier what it is like to run an ethical fashion brand.

Silvia Fado is an innovative Footwear Designer from Barcelona. She has recently worked on exciting projects that pushed the boundaries of fashion and led to her featuring in Dezeen – the magazine that architects love.

There are so many exciting roles that you can pursue in fashion, and there are countless types of fashion designers that you’ll encounter. One of which is a theater and costume designer.

Katy Parkes, 27, is the founder of the functional and fashionable London-based fashion brand Dereks Backpacks. She started her fashion business after moving back to her family home in summer 2013, to plan her future. She made a list of all of the things that she could do, and all the things that she loved doing in order to find her dream job.

BeTangible is a leathergoods and sample-making manufacturer, based in Ubrique, Spain, co-founded by ex-colleagues Pepe Montiel and Manuel Millan. They met during their careers at a larger fashion manufacturer, and both had grown tired of certain practices.

Amanda Overs, 29, is the founder of the innovative fashion business, I Can Make Shoes. Over the past five years, people from any background have been able to join a class to make a pair of shoes from scratch that they can keep.

Joanne Edwards was working as a designer when she felt the strong need to get back to making things with her hands. This led her to found her brand Joanne Edwards Millinery.

Charlotte Purvis is based in London and has been a Printed Textile Designer for 13 years. She is always using her creative business mind to find new inspiration, new opportunities and a new way to share her creativity with the world. She spoke to Utelier about how she operates for success, how a Pomeranian puppy influenced a new business idea, and what inspires her as a designer.

Nagma Giri is a Woven Textile Designer who develops fabrics for interiors and fashion garments. Originally from Nepal, she is now based in the Nottinghamshire town, Newark-on-Trent, where she has recently set up her own clothing boutique too. We caught up with the busy and talented Nagma, to find out more about her passions, triumphs and goals.

Wearable Technology has created quite a buzz as big products by big brands – like the Apple Watch - hit the market. But it’s not all watches and Twitter dresses there are a multitude of functional yet fashion-based products that are in development. We caught up with entrepreneur and founder of Made With Glove, Michelle Hua, to find out about her journey with Wearable Technology so far.

Sandra Battistel is an eyewear designer with more than 20 years of experience. She is also the editor of eyewear blog, EyeSpectacle where she shares her ideas and thoughts on eyewear, and celebrates independent brands. Here, she shares her excitement about an innovative solution for getting glasses to have the 'perfect fit'.

For those of you who sell online or are planning on doing so, we spoke to the people behind easy-to-implement eCommerce system, ShopRocket to find out more about what they do, and how they can help fashion start-ups.

Rebecca Hafenrichter, founder of minimalist handbag label Becca Haf London, is currently working on her first collection of handbags and small leather goods. All the manufacturing for the collection is completed in Ubrique, Spain, a small town famous for its 400-year-old leather industry. She recently went to visit her manufacturer for the first time.

It’s important to remember on this Fashion Revolution Day and two-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster that unethical treatment of factory workers lives on, and not just in Asian countries.

Pattern Cutter Laura Alice MacKay, spoke to Utelier about what her role means to the fashion industry and how she helps young fashion designers.

Hannah Stewart, a Product Account Manager at a London-based fashion company woke up at 5.30am recently, to travel two and a half hours from her London home to Northampton. She was attending the BLC Leather Technology Centre’s ‘Understanding Leather Course’, led by Barry Wood - a leather technician who has worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years.

Sandra Battistel, Eyewear Designer, hails from north-east Italy and has worked in the fashion industry for more than 20 years. She met us for a cup of tea to talk about her design experience and plans for the future, and offer advice for others wanting to join the industry. Read her top tips on adding eyewear to your line

Otis Ingrams, 25, (above left) and Max Hayter, 24, (above right) are university educated in literature and business respectively, and have known each other their whole lives. They make up the leather goods brand, OTZI London and operate from a shared workspace next to the bustling Ridley Road Market in Dalston, London.

Naima F is a freelance Accessories Designer based in London, UK. She made time in her busy schedule to catch up with Utelier and share the journey of her career success, and top tips for survival in the fashion industry.

Natasha Hulse is the owner of Natasha LG Hulse Design and a graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design. She specialises in print design, and her womenswear collections feature bold colours and flowing, yet well-structured garments.

Tasha Markham is an imaginative print designer who graduated from Leeds College of Art with a degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design. Her unique and quirky style of printed kitchen utensils and vegetables with smiley faces is a niche within the childrenswear market. Here at Utelier we got the chance to find out about her current projects and what she has got planned for the near future.

Caterina Belluardo is a contemporary shoe designer with the ability to bring her inspiring vision to life in the form of her bright, flamboyant, shoe designs. Here at Utelier we got given the chance to speak to her about her plans for the future, as well as how she managed to launch her own footwear brand.

Nestled in south-east London, in an arch underneath rail tracks, is the creative home of Insley & Nash. Inside, the fashion duo specialise in printing techniques that many printers will not even consider undertaking.

One of the most respected welted shoemakers John Lobb, has been producing shoes since the mid-19th Century. Now, this Northampton-based £25m business is set to grow.

We delved into the embroidery world of Marie Berthouloux, founder of Ekceli, who specialises in designing embroidery on textiles, leather and furs for luxury and high-end sectors of footwear, handbags, hats, and wedding gowns within the fashion industry.

Bespoke shoemakers James Ducker and Deborah Carré, who make up the duo known as Carréducker create custom shoes for men, traditionally made and designed with a contemporary aesthetic to suit each client's individual style.

The inspirational designer Elie Tahari spoke at Manhattan's Fashion Institute of Technology last night, providing motivational advice for students with similar career goals and answering questions about how he made his way in the fashion industry.

Bundy & Webster are two friends who initially bonded over ambition and talent, when they spotted a gap in the fashion market to design a variety of t-shirts and sweatshirts for both men and women. They may be young, but these girls took the fashion world by storm with the launch of their spring/summer collection in 2014.

Lace has long been a treasured decorative element for fashion, interiors and hosiery. Yet when we talk about lace and the manufacture and making of it, we don't usually think of lace and British manufacture in the same sentence. But surprisingly, we should! MYB Textiles based in Scotland is a lace manufacturer success story worth sharing and we find out exactly why from Wendy Murray from MYB Textiles.

An interview with Lucie Beauvert a veteran within the world of textiles, she is the blood of new talent and a true weaving connoisseur.

As anyone who knows or follows the luxury goods industry will tell you - there are luxury goods companies and then - there is Hermes. The family owned leather goods maker is a true champion of "the art of craft". They continuously find new ways to educate and showcase what true craftsmanship means be it through pop up exhibitions, store demonstrations or videos. The latest new initiative paying respect to the true unsung heros behind the brand are a series of videos simple titled "No Comment".

Nick Robertson the CEO of ASOS, the world-renowned online fashion retailer for twenty-somethings, describes his journey of becoming the second largest online retailer on the planet as being 'luck at every junction'.

Pop-up shops are taking over the retail world but what exactly is a shop that pops up? Pop-up shops are temporary stores at a designated venue, the purpose of which is to attract the consumer with something exclusive and exciting. Layla Webster delves to find out more.

Is the digital imaging and re-blogging trend causing chaos in the fashion industry? In today’s digital and technology-driven world, using social media sites has become the norm where people can socialise and connect with one another.

British accessories designer, Heidi Mottram, has established a reputation for creating beautifully designed bags and purses made from eco sustainable leathers. In the accessories fashion business it is not often that we hear of designers making an effort to find and use alternative materials with the goodness of the planet in mind. Mostly we hear of the bigger brands like Stella McCartney or Edun, but hardly ever of the smaller emerging designers.