Episodes
300
Latest episode
Nov 2026
Language
EN
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing. In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses. With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British. Never has there been a more critical time to get behind 'made in Britain'.
If you’re a brand that makes in the UK, or wants to, I’m hosting a free Q&A session where you can come and ask me your questions about making in the UK and growing a UK brand. Register here.
This week I’m taking you to Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a town with a long history of knitwear. I paid a visit House of Cheviot as part of my Scottish textiles tour, to find out how a small team of 19 local people makes socks that go through around 12 pairs of hands before they leave the factory. We talk about what happened to the Borders when brands like Pringle moved production offshore, why it’s so hard to bring young people into the industry, and what it feels like when someone copies your best design and has it made in China for less than half the price. If you care about keeping the skills of the Scottish Borders alive, this episode is a reminder of how much handwork still goes into something as everyday as a pair of socks. About House of Cheviot House of Cheviot makes luxury socks and accessories in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, and has done since 2002. Their range includes country, walking and welly socks, kilt hose, garter ties and cashmere bed socks, all knitted, linked, hand pressed and checked in house. They also supply the kilt socks worn by Commonwealth Games Team Scotland and make regimental and own label socks for other brands. You can find House of Cheviot at: Website: houseofcheviot.com Instagram: @houseofcheviot Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Work with Kate 1-2-1 in the British Brand Accelerator makeitbritish.co.uk/bba Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
This week I’m taking you on another of my factory tours - this time to the revolutionary women-owned denim LaundRe in East London run by Salli Deighton. Having worked in denim for 35 years, there’s nothing Salli doesn’t know about denim. Then a few years ago she spotted a gap in the market for an ecological denim washing facility in the UK to service both large and small brands with denim washing and finishing, and that’s exactly what she’s built. In this episode we cover: How Salli went from consulting for brands like M&S, Wrangler and Mothercare to setting up the UK’s only women-owned denim laundry Why so much unsold denim stock ends up written off, and how LaundRe is helping brands refinish and resell it instead The technology behind ecological denim finishing - from laser machines and ozone fading to nebulising systems that use a fraction of the water of traditional washing Why UK brands have never been able to wash their denim here before, and how LaundRe is changing that for small brands with minimum orders starting from one The four-year fundraising journey to raise £1.16 million, and what it’s really like trying to get investment as a woman in manufacturing If you care about British manufacturing, reducing fashion waste and keeping production closer to home, this episode will give you a fascinating look at what’s possible when you refuse to give up on an idea. About LaundRe LaundRe is a denim washing and finishing facility based in East London, founded by Salli Deighton. It is the only women-owned denim laundry of its kind and uses low-impact technology including laser machines and ozone fading to refinish, upcycle and process denim for brands ranging from small independents to major retailers. LaundRe also runs Denim School sessions for brands and designers wanting to understand the finishing process. You can find Sally and LaundRe at: Website: www.laundre.co.uk Instagram: @laundre_uk Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Work with Kate 1-2-1 in the British Brand Accelerator makeitbritish.co.uk/bba Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
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 Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
Come with me on a tour of the Halley Stevensons mill in Dundee, where I’m shown around the mill by production director Billy and sales administrator Ria. Halley Stevensons has been making fabric in Dundee since 1864. It started out as a jute mill and is now the last textile mill of its kind in a city that was once full of them. Today it’s known around the world for its waxed cotton, supplying brands including Barbour and shipping to over 50 countries. We follow the fabric all the way through the mill, from the raw loom state cotton arriving on 500 metre rolls to the final inspection, where every metre is checked by hand. In this episode you'll discover: The history of textiles in the Dundee area and why Halley Stavensons have survived. All of the processes the fabric goes through to transform it from it's raw state to Halley Stevensons' iconic weatherproof fabrics How the business is becoming more sustainable and is the first mill of its kind to be Bluesign certified. Why waxed cotton jackets get handed down through generations making them a superb long term investment. If you care about UK manufacturing and how British mills are investing in the future, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About Halley Stevensons Halley Stevensons is a textile mill in Dundee, Scotland, specialising in waxed and coated cotton fabrics. All dyeing, waxing and finishing is done in house, with around 60 people working across the site. They work with brands of all sizes, with minimum orders starting from 100 metres. You can find Halley Stevensons at: Website: www.halleystevensons.co.uk Instagram: @halleystevensons Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
If you're interested in finding out how I can help you to start or scale your British-made brand, I'm hosting a free Q&A on Tuesday 6th October. Apply to attend the Q&A: makeitbritish.co.uk/qa Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal Register for Make it British Live! here Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027 Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
Want to transition from making everything in-house to outsourcing to a factory? This episode is for you! We cover: How to know when you're ready to outsource to a factory Why working with a factory can actually cost you less than paying a local seamstress How to get your pricing right before you outsource What you need to preapre before you approach a factory How to approach a factory so your enquiry doesn't get ignored. Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
Register for Make it British Live! here Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
In this episode I take a trip to rural Nottinghamshire to the micro knitwear factory owned by Samantha Thomas, founder of knitwear brand Waring Brooke. Sam was originally a designer for other brands like Alberta Feretti in Italy, but then 10 years ago she started her own knitwear label and took the brave decision to invest in her own knitting machine to create it. When I had Sam on the podcast 5 years ago she was a one man band - she now has a team and big plans for the future. In this episode we cover: How having her own machine allows her to offer personalisation to her customers, which gives the brand it’s USP What her customers really think about Made in UK The challenges Sam faced getting to grips with production and keeping the machine busy Why she's now opening up her factory to other brands for sampling and small production runs About Waring Brooke Waring Brooke is a knitwear and accessories brand made entirely in its own micro factory in rural Nottinghamshire. Founder Samantha Thomas designs, programmes and knits everything in-house on a single industrial knitting machine, which allows her to make to order and offer personalised monogram patterns knitted into scarves, snoods, hats, headbands and socks. You can find Samantha and Waring Brooke at: Website: waringbrooke.com Instagram: @waringbrooke Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 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 Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram King's Foundation Paul Smith's book Threads
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Ann Carden
Holly Jean Jackson
Dr. Allen Lycka
