Behind the Seams
Behind the Seams: Lavenham Jackets, inside one of Britain's last clothing factories
Editorial Team
SOAS Creative Dept.
One of few single factory production brands left in the U.K, Lavenham is a small yet mighty machine within the fashion space. After reading countless exposés on the masses of unethical outsourcing, it is rare but hopeful to see a British factory brand showing everyone how it can be done. With an honest focus on their environmental output, we had the pleasure of visiting Lavenham and seeing just how they do it.
The Suffolk based brand was founded in 1969 by Mrs Elliot who saw a gap in the market for a new type of horse rug, the former was historically made from wool, making it heavy and long-drying. Mrs Elliot had the genius idea of using nylon, creating the world’s first nylon quilted horse rug. By 1972, the brand was making their iconic nylon quilted gilet, originally intended for horse riding. However, its brilliant practicality transitioned it into a much-needed every day staple.
The current Lavenham factory stands just six miles from their original location and has been designed with exact purpose. With 102 employees and a 16-point production process you might be expecting an organised chaos. But instead, we were met with an organised perfection. Each room had space to breathe, whether that be the fabric, quilting, cutting, or assembling rooms. And every artisan was mesmerising to watch at their unique specialty. It became clear why Lavenham is revered for their quality.
Their easy authenticity means they don’t shy away from our probing environmental questions even stating themselves that “sustainability is a loaded word”. They are aware that they are still creating something in this world, but they try to do it in the best way they can. Whilst they utilise other fabrics (predominately sourced from British fabric mills), they are perhaps best known for their patented Lavenster. It is a 100% recycled polyester fabric made from post-consumer water bottles, known for its water resistance and durability.
