Make it British Podcast

123 – A pivotal time for UK retail

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s back to business this week for many retailers - but how will shopping change post-lockdown? And what effect will this have on businesses that m...

122 – The Importance of Quality – Maria Grachvogel

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview Maria talks abou...

121 – An update on PPE

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've had two pieces of good news this week so I thought I'd share them with you in this episode.The first is that the government has now officially ...

120 – The Bespoke English Shirt Maker – Emma Willis, Emma Willis London

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Willis founded her shirt making business in 1989. She has had a shop on London's famous Jermyn Street for over twenty years and all of her b...

119 – Are you seeking more UK-made products?

19 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Buying habits are changing and there is definitely a renewed interest in buying made in the UK products.At Make it British we've seen a 200% increase ...

118 – Supplying the UK Knitwear Industry – David Williams, Knit Design Centre

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Williams has been supplying the UK knitwear industry his entire career.He is the UK agent for Stoll knitting machines and the founder of the Kni...

117 – Pivoting your business to manufacture PPE – Paul Noble, Specialised Canvas

05 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

During the Covid_19 crisis many UK manufacturers have adapted their businesses to manufacture PPE.Specialised Canvas, based in Chesterfield, are one o...

116 – Where are we on PPE?

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 114 I asked 'PPE - can we make it in the UK?' and on today's episode I thought it would be good to update you.It has been 5 weeks since the...

115 – Does your business need a PLM system? Lucy Blackley, BombyxPLM

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode I talk to Lucy Blackley who founded technology company BombyxPLM to help fashion business owners manage their product developme...

114 – PPE – can we make it in the UK?

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Until a few weeks ago most people probably had no idea what PPE stood for. But during the Covid_19 outbreak PPE has regularly been in the news be...

113 – The History of Harris Tweed – Ruth Masson, Harris Tweed Hebrides

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Harris Tweed cloth is renowned the world over. Woven entirely in the Outer Hebrides, using wool from the local sheep, you could say it was the ultimat...

112 – How you can help manufacturers at this difficult time

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The number one concern for all manufacturers right now is how they are going to pay their staff. They need help to support the jobs of their workers a...

111 – Going Virtual

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was published on the day our Make it British Live! trade show was due to fling its doors open to 1,000s of visitors.Unfortunately, due to...

110 – How the coronavirus impacts supply chains – and what we can learn from it

10 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The coronavirus (Covid-19) is having a devastating impact on businesses all over the world. One of the industries likely to be hardest hit is manufact...

109 – Protecting your design rights – Dids MacDonald OBE, ACID

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we're covering a topic that I know bothers a lot of you - how can you protect your designs from being copied. Dids MacDonald OBE ha...

108 – Lingerie Manufacturing in the UK – Steff McGrath, Something Wicked

25 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I interview Steff McGrath, managing partner at lingerie brand Something Wicked.The collection is entirely made in the UK by Steff's te...

107 – Silk Weaving in Suffolk – Laura Gore, Vanners

18 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vanners is one of the oldest textile businesses in the UK.They've been weaving silk since 1740, and moved their weaving business from London to Suffol...

106 – How to print sustainably on wool – Nick Morley, Faering

11 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Morley is the MD of Faering, an innovative, UK manufacturer that prints digitally onto wool and other natural fibres.Using the latest technology ...

105 – The Making of Pantherella Socks – Justin Hall, Pantherella

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pantherella was founded in 1937 and has been making high quality, lightweight socks in Leicester ever since.I took a trip to the Pantherella factory t...

104 – How we can solve the skills issue post-Brexit – Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable

28 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tamara Cincik has over 20 years experience in the fashion industry and is the founder of Fashion Roundtable, the secretariat for The All Party Parliam...

103 – What does a manufacturer include in a cost price?

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What does a manufacturer include - and NOT include - in a cost price?In this episode I breakdown what you can expect a manufacturer to take into accou...

102 – How does a textile mill thrive in 2020? David Collinge, John Spencer Textiles

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Collinge runs the the Burnley-based weaving business John Spencer Textiles.He is the sixth generation owner of the mill which, was originally fo...

101 – Nine Manufacturing Trends for 2020 and Beyond

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What will 2020 hold for UK manufacturing?In the first episode of the year, and the new series, I look at some of the trends that I think will impact m...

Introducing Series 2 of the Make it British podcast

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're back!Series 2 of the Make it British Podcast begins on Tuesday 7th January.You can expect to hear loads more tips and tricks for making in the U...

BONUS: 6 Reasons why UK-made gifts are more sustainable

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you bought your Christmas gifts yet?Well, if you haven't, stop right there.Before you get bombarded by all the Black Friday deals, listen to this...

100 – 10 Things that make British-made businesses great

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I look back over the first 100 episodes of this show to find out what makes British-made businesses great.There are many common themes...

099 – Should raw materials come from the UK to call a product British?

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There is a lot of confusion about the labelling of products.Can we truly call something 'made in the UK' if the raw materials are from overseas?As the...

098 – From Artist to Bespoke Gift Business – Corinne Lewis-Ward, Powder Butterfly

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Corinne Lewis-Ward is an artist and designer who is the founder of Powder Butterfly; a design studio that creates a range of British contemporary home...

097 – 13 Factories in 3 Days!

25 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's so important to get out there and meet manufacturers if you are developing a product.In this episode I explain the reasons why you should be visi...

096 – A visit to an umbrella factory – Richard Ince, James Ince & Sons

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Take a tour round a traditional East End umbrella factory with me as we visit James Ince & Sons. Richard Ince is the sixth generation of a fa...

095 – How to validate your UK-made product idea

18 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of people try to launch a business or collection with a huge range of products. They then find they don't have enough funds to manufacture everyt...

094 – How to crowdfund your brand – Sophie Slater, Birdsong

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How can you grow a clothing brand sustainably and ethically?In this interview I speak to the inspiring Sophie Slater from Birdsong who work with women...

093 – Made in UK Clothing Hit by Huge US Tariffs

11 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

From 18th October 2019 many UK-made clothing items exported to the US will face tariffs of 25%In this episode I discuss what items are affected and wh...

092 – Elaine Stewart, Longthorne Guns – The Ultimate English Shotgun

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

England used to be one of the biggest manufacturers of shotguns in the world, but sadly, like many manufacturing industries in the UK, it has seen num...

091 – Britwashing. What is it? and how to avoid it

04 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably heard of greenwashing? But how about Britwashing?This episode tells you everything you need to know about what Britwashing is, and how...

089 – Why aren’t manufacturers getting back to your emails?

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Reaching out to manufacturers and struggling to get a response?Don't be like Mr Vague, Mr Long, Mr Price and Mr Clueless - make sure that your email g...

088 – A Visit to a Footwear Factory – Crown Northampton

24 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join me on a tour round Crown Northampton's footwear factoryIn this episode I chat to Chris Woodford, owner of Chancery Footwear, the factory which ma...

087 – Help, I’m Launching a Product and I Don’t Know Where to Start!

20 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you've got an idea for a product but you're tearing your hair out because you don't know what the next steps are, this episode is for you.You may h...

086 – Pippa Dziubinski, The Little Art Collection

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When Pippa Dziubinski started a business making printed bamboo baby muslins 2 years ago one of the most important things was being able to make the pr...

085 – The Mistake to Avoid when Developing a Made in UK Range

13 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you making this one big mistake when developing a made in the UK product?On today's episode I tell you how to make sure you avoid this costly erro...

084 – A Visit to Duchess China and Heraldic Pottery

10 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A trip to Stoke-on-Trent this week to visit one of the last remaining potteries.I meet Andy Tooth and Jason Sims, owners of Heraldic Pottery, a compan...

083 – Getting Your Product Pricing Right

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s very difficult to raise your prices for a product after you have launched it or communicated it to your customers.So how you can make sure that...

082 – Joel Chudleigh, Made to Last – Product Longevity for Sustainability

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Isn't it disappointing when you buy something you love and it then needs replacing?Joel Chudleigh wants to solve that problem, by helping people to sl...

081 – What Affects a Garment’s Cost Price?

30 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why do two similar looking items often cost totally different prices, even in the same shop? A lot of it is to do with the cost price of the prod...

080 – Mustafa Fuat, Gosha London – Behind the Scenes of a High-End Garment Manufacturer

27 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join me on a journey around the Gosha London studio to find out what the life of a high-end garment manufacturer is really like.Mustafa Fuat started h...

079 – 8 ways in which a UK-made product is more sustainable

23 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you're purchasing something new does seeking out a product that is made in the UK offer sustainability benefits over one made overseas? There’s a...

078 Katie Walker – Designing & Manufacturing Furniture in the UK

20 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Katie Walker studied furniture at The Royal College of Art in the mid-90s and has had her own business making furniture in the UK ever since.She has t...

077 – Tony Kelly, Firmin & Sons – The Queen’s Button Maker

13 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join me on a factory tour around the Her Majesty The Queen's button maker. Established in 1655, Firmin & Sons are the oldest, privately-owned...

076 – Jack Millington, Billy Tannery – Setting Up the UK’s Only Goat Tannery

06 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Billy Tannery is the first new goat leather company and tannery in the UK for over 50 years. Despite knowing nothing about leather production whe...

075 Live! – Paul Alger MBE, UKFT

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Made Here, Sold Everywhere The UK imports considerably more fashion and textiles than it exports. But the UK Fashion & Textile Association are aim...

074 Live! – Simon Middleton, Blackshore Clothing

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Truth About Branding...it's not about a logo and it's not about generating contentSimon Middleton has had a parallel career for the last decade, a...

073 – Why UK Manufacturing is Underestimated

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Government figures say that manufacturing is only worth 9% to the UK economy - is this correct? A report by Cambridge University says that the Go...

072 Live! – Tom Glover, Peregrine – 100% Made in England

16 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Glover is from a family manufacturing business originally founded in Wigston in Leicester in 1796. He graduated with a degree in product desi...

071 – The One Thing Holding UK Manufacturing Back

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week I was at the Houses of Parliament for a meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group for textiles and fashion to discuss the issue of the ...

070 Live! – Barbara Burton, Behind Bras

09 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are around 3,800 women in UK prisons at any one time and only one in ten are able to get a job when they leave.It costs £46,000 a year to put w...

069 Live! – Small Batch Manufacturing

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way of successfully manufacturing small quantities in the UK?In this episode, recorded at Make it British Live!, UK garment and textil...

068 Live! – HebTroCo, How to Make a Million in Brexit Britain

02 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Brant Richards and Ed Oxley tell the story of how they launched British menswear brand HebTroCo.In this audio recording of the talk they did at Make i...

067 Live! – Craftsmanship versus Technology

28 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How can technology help UK textile manufacturing become more viable?Our panellists discuss what innovations and technology are helping make UK textile...

066 Live! – IP: The Basics & the B Word, Potter Clarkson

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Want to understand more about protecting your designs?Potter Clarkson are Intellectual Property (IP) specialists, and in this talk, which was presente...

065 – Meet the Exhibitors from Make it British Live!

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join me as I walk you round the trade show floor at Make it British Live!Following on from the Review of Make it British Live! 2019 on Episode 061, th...

064 Live! – Kate Dawson, The All in One Company

18 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Dawson is the founder of the All in One Company which celebrates its 10th year in 2019. In this inspiring and moving talk Kate tells of the highs...

063 Live! – Fast or Slow Fashion: Which does the UK do best?

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fast or Slow fashion...can we have both when it comes to making in the UK? Find out what our panellists had to say, when they were questioned by envir...

062 Live! – Tori Murphy – How to get Noticed by High End Retailers

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tori Murphy trained in textiles at the Royal College of Art and established her home textiles brands in 2012. Starting with just 12 metres of fabrics ...

061 – Review of Make it British Live!

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Inspiring talks about UK manufacturing took place over the two days of Make it British Live! 2019 at The Business Design Centre, London.In this episod...

060 – Diana Kakkar, MAES London – High End Product Development in the Fashion Industry

04 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Diana Kakkar runs a high end, small batch manufacturing unit in East London. She works with some well-known fashion designers as well as start-ups, he...

059 – How to Follow Up with a Manufacturer

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you follow up with a manufacturer (and have a better chance of a response)?I get contacted by people all the time who say that manufacturers ha...

058 – Peter Grey, Just Elegant – How Supermarkets Have Killed the High Street

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Grey is new business manager for Just Elegant - a garment manufacturer in Leicester.In this episode he gives an interesting insight from a manuf...

057 – Natalie Riachi, Riachi Studio – Follow Your Passion

21 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Riachi has a real passion for slow fashion, and good quality luxury clothing that is well made.She grew up in Scotland and studied knitwear in...

056 – Six Month Synopsis

17 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As we celebrate 6 months of the Make it British podcast what have been your favourite episodes so far?This episode recaps what you may have missed, an...

055 – Lance Mitchell, Mitchell Interflex – The Future of the UK Woven Textile Industry

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lance Mitchell from weavers Mitchell Interflex discusses the promising future of the UK woven textile industry.Lance’s family business was esta...

054 – Peter Philips, Abbey England – Growing the UK Leather and Saddlery Industry

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I interview Peter Philips of Abbey England about his family business based in Walsall - the heart of the saddlery industry. Peter...

053 – Isabelle Ugochukwu, Isabella Queen – Launching and Growing a Premium British-Made Brand

07 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a British-made brand is a big undertaking. Isabella Ugochukwu has done just that, and in this episode shares her advice on launching, an...

052 – Why Every Manufacturer Needs a Great Website

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Simple tips for how UK manufacturers can attract the right clients by just a few changes to their websites.In the latest episode of the podcast I give...

051 – Adam Robertson, Kalopsia Collective – Small Batch Manufacturing

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kalopsia Collective is a social enterprise run by Adam Robertson and his wife Nina Falk. They do small batch manufacturing for designers and printmake...

050 – How to Find an Ethical Factory

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With the rise in demand for ethical goods how do you find an ethical factory to produce them?The 50th episode of The Make it British Podcast is publis...

049 – Bianca Elgar – How to Choose the Right Manufacturer

23 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bianca Elgar is a print designer, and founder and creative director of the Bianca Elgar brand.I first met Bianca not long after I founded Make it Brit...

048 – Exciting Times Ahead!

19 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that 2019 marks 200 years since the landmark Factories Act of 1819? Otherwise known as the Cotton Mills Act, the act was passed to regula...

047 – Martin Lowe, Roy Lowe & Sons – Why Innovation & Quality Matter

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Martin Lowe describes himself as 'The Bald Headed Sock Seller' - but he's much more than that.His family business - Roy Lowe & Sons, which he...

046 – How to Make the Most of Events

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way of maximising your attendance at an event?As an event organiser I get lots of questions from exhibitors (and visitors) that are un...

044 – What To Do When Manufacturing Goes Wrong

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Unfortunately, mistakes can, and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid it.In this episode we look at:the main reasons that manufact...

043 – Simon Middleton, Brand Advisor – How to Build a British-made Brand

02 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a great British brand?In this episode I chat to brand guru Simon Middleton about what makes an average brand stand out from an extraordinar...

041 – Paul Smithers, Halcyon Blue – The Challenges of Making Swimwear in the UK

26 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why is swimwear so difficult to make when the products look so simple?This is one of the questions that I put to guest Paul Smithers from Halcyon Blue...

040 – How I set up a trade show for UK-made brands and manufacturers

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014 I had the idea to set up a trade show for UK manufacturers. This episode tells the story of why the event came about - and how it nearly ...

039 – Genevieve Sweeney, Knitwear Designer – Building a Premium British Knitwear Brand

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Make it British podcast I discuss a love of knitwear, in particular the lost art of hand-intarsia, with Genevieve Sweeney.Genev...

038 – Why you should visit a factory

15 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new productOne of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is...

037 – Debbie Humphreys, Redhound for Dogs – Finding a Winning Business Formula

12 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the bestDebbie Humphreys stumbled across her business idea when she took ownership of a whippet called Bruno and had ...

036 – Can I label my product as made in the UK?

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What are the rules surrounding whether you can label a product as made in the UK?"Can I label my product as made in the UK?' is one of the questions t...

035 – Katherine Hooker – Creating the Perfect Coat

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Katherine Hooker started her business with one garment and has been perfecting it ever sinceIn this episode designer Katherine Hooker tells the story ...

034 – Should I Use Made in Britain or Made in UK?

01 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to labelling your products what is the best term to use? Made in Britain, made in the UK, or something else?In this episode I explore th...

033 – Andy Ogden, English Fine Cottons – Made in Britain Starts Here

26 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cotton spinning has returned to the UK!Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world's cotton yarn and fabric...

032 – Ethical Audit Committee Report on Sustainability in the UK Fashion Industry

22 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Government released the Ethical Audit Committee's report into sustainability of the UK fashion industry.The report raised the issue of t...

031 – Mick Cheema, Basic Premier – Life as an Ethical Clothing Manufacturer in Leicester

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's it really like being a clothing manufacturer in Leicester?In this episode we hear from Mick Cheema, who runs garment factory Basic Premier in L...

030 – My favourite British-made Footwear Brands

15 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You may have heard of English shoemakers such as Church's, Cheaneys and Tricker's, but there are quite a few other footwear brands that manufacture in...

029 – Adam Mansell, UKFT – Guiding the Textile Industry Through Brexit

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I catch up with Adam Mansell, CEO of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)UKFT is a membership network for fashion and textile...

028 – Retailers Under Fire for UK Sourcing Practices

08 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last week the UK Government released its interim report into the sustainability of the fashion industry. One of the issues that they address...

027 – Mat Booth, Both Barrels – The Importance of Collaboration

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I chat to product designer Mat Booth, founder of accessory and luggage brand Both Barrels.Mat founded Both Barrels a few years ago whe...

026 – Why UK Manufacturers Don’t Sample For Free

01 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Should manufacturers make samples for free? Some people think manufacturers should do any initial work for no charge in order to pitch for your busine...

024 – Is the UK Manufacturing Revival Over?

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

 Is the news that Clark's may close its brand new footwear factory in Somerset a sign that the UK manufacturing revival is over?Up to 300,000 pai...

023 – Sian Reekie, The Hettie Trading Co. – My Manufacturing Journey

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I'm delighted to welcome long-standing Make it British member Sian Reekie of The Hettie Trading Company to this podcast. Sian is a chemist by trade, b...

022 – Is Making in the UK Really More Expensive?

18 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is it really more expensive to make in the UK? Or is there a reason that some of the most profitable retailers are using more local manufacturing?In t...