In the fashion world the French are renowned for effortless elegance, while British brands have a monopoly on cool.
But did you know we also produce some of the world’s highest-quality fabrics, and the UK’s craftsmanship is second to none? So perhaps it’s no wonder top design names are falling over themselves to emphasise their British heritage. Accessories label Mulberry announced recently it planned to go ‘back to its British roots’ to revive sales.
Half its bags are still made in Somerset, where the brand was born in 1971. Burberry, too, has launched a ‘Made in Britain’ campaign, with its trench coat – manufactured in Yorkshire – at the forefront.
But you don’t have to pay designer prices to get a top-quality piece of 100 per cent British clothing. There are a growing crop of brands beloved of fashion insiders whose clothes are made from start to finish in the UK, at more affordable prices – and you can find some of the best on this page. No, they’re not as dirt cheap as the ‘fast fashion’ clogging up the high street, but they’re far more stylish and so well made they will last for years, or even decades.
Choosing homegrown designers is more eco-friendly, too, as your clothes won’t have been flown thousands of miles to reach you. A word of caution, though: many of the quintessentially British brands you might think manufacture in England actually don’t.
Hunter, for example, moved production of its wellies to China in 2008, so do read the small print.
Here’s my pick of where to bag yourself a genuinely Great British bargain…
Jumpers fit for a princess
For the gold standard in Scottish wool, Campbell’s of Beauly is your best port of call. The brand has held a royal warrant since 1965, and its jumpers last about as long.
Pretty good considering they start under £100 (campbellsofbeauly.com).
Then there’s Peregrine’s £47.50 cerulean tank top, made in Manchester (peregrineclothing.co.uk). The brand is eighth-generation family-run and has been manufacturing British knitwear since 1796.
All for around the same price as Zara.
For the gold standard in Scottish wool, Campbell’s of Beauly is your best port of call. The brand has held a royal warrant since 1965, and its jumpers last about as long
There’s Peregrine’s £47.50 cerulean tank top, made in Manchester. The brand is eighth-generation family-run and has been manufacturing British knitwear since 1796
Serious arm candy
Often called the ‘makers’ maker’, handbag brand Tusting has manufactured for Aston Martin. Operating from a fifth-generation family-run factory in Buckinghamshire, its quality rivals those ten times its price – and the tan colourway of its Cardington crossbody (£395, tusting. co.uk) is perfect for spring.
Pair it with the Hummingbird fedora by Tiffers in Wiltshire (£295, tiffersmillinery.com). For small goods, try Honey & Toast’s Somerset-made laptop bag (£68, honeyandtoast.co.uk).
For indulgence, Rosie Sugden’s cashmere socks (£25, rosiesugden.com) and wrist-warmers (£35) are just the ticket. Rosie’s grandparents on both sides worked in the Yorkshire textile industry.
Often called the ‘makers’ maker’, handbag brand Tusting has manufactured for Aston Martin. Operating from a fifth-generation family-run factory in Buckinghamshire, its quality rivals those ten times its price
Pair it with the Hummingbird fedora by Tiffers in Wiltshire (£295, pictured) andfor small goods, try Honey & Toast’s Somerset-made laptop bag (£68)
Perfectly tailored trousers
Savile Row is home to the world’s best men’s tailoring. But what about women?
Northumberland-based brand Bella Hoskyns offers the Hepburn trousers (£295, bellahoskyns.com), hand-cut from lambswool – once you’ve experienced the elegance of its wide, super-high waistband you’ll never reach for a pair of low-slung trousers again.
For power suits, Holland Cooper does it best. Designed in the Cotswolds and hand-woven, cut and stitched in Scotland and Yorkshire, its trousers and waistcoats (both £299, hollandcooper.com) do a tour of the UK’s finest craftsmen before they reach you.
Savile Row is home to the world’s best men’s tailoring. But what about women? Northumberland-based brand Bella Hoskyns offers the Hepburn trousers
For power suits, Holland Cooper does it best. Designed in the Cotswolds and hand-woven, cut and stitched in Scotland and Yorkshire (£299)
Wedding-ready dresses
British manufacturers don’t just churn out showerproof, utilitarian necessities.
Philippa London is a rising star whose A-line skirts (from £275, philippalondon.com) come in an array of colours and fabrics.
Elsewhere, try Clary & Peg’s Wren skirt (£95, claryandpeg.co.uk) and Johanna Sands (johannasands.com) for British-made occasion pieces.
Johanna’s cord dresses (£255) look just as at home at a winter wedding as they do with boots by weekend.
British manufacturers don’t just churn out showerproof, utilitarian necessities. Philippa London is a rising star whose A-line skirts (from £275) come in an array of colours and fabrics
Johanna Sands’s cord dresses (£255) look just as at home at a winter wedding as they do with boots by weekend
Coats with British buttons
For true best-of-British quality when it comes to coats, Barbour still makes one of its designs, the Bedale jacket (£279, barbour.com), at its factory in South Shields, Newcastle.
By Soren’s outerwear is entirely handmade in Britain – down to its buttons. Its Frida gilet (£260, bysoren. com) is the perfect extra layer under a coat.
For true best-of-British quality when it comes to coats, Barbour still makes one of its designs, the Bedale jacket (£279), at its factory in South Shields, Newcastle
By Soren’s outerwear is entirely handmade in Britain – down to its buttons. Its Frida gilet (£260, pictured) is the perfect extra layer under a coat
Loafers and trainers galore
For a traditionally British shoe, Duke + Dexter has you covered with its silver loafer (£150, dukeanddexter.com).
For trainer devotees, Community Clothing makes its kicks in Bolton (£98.50, community clothing.co.uk).
For a traditionally British shoe, Duke + Dexter has you covered with its silver loafer (£150)
For trainer devotees, Community Clothing makes its kicks in Bolton (£98.50)