Progress report from Goodone Clothing

We can’t believe that two months have now passed since winning the award, so much has happened it’s amazing to compare our situation now to where we were when we pitched for the award at the RSA back in January. It’s really incredible how much this support has enabled us to progress with our business.

Firstly, we have invested in some state-of-art machinery for the studio including two industrial sewing machines, an embroidery machine, male and female dress makers’ mannequins and a new computer monitor. Having this equipment has made a huge difference to the quality and speed of manufacture and as we can now cover small holes and discolouration with embroidery we are now able to use a far greater amount of recycled fabrics.

Also, following the award we received, and it is continuing, lots of interest from the press. So far, we have been featured in The Guardian, Design Week, Graduate Prospects Magazine, The Brighton Argus, So London, Brighton Rocks, New Design, Total Spec and have even had a radio interview with Passion FM. Just recently we have also nominated our bonnet hood as ‘Ethical Fashion Garment of the Year’ for the Observer Ethical Awards. The response to this has been fantastic, and we have reached the stage already where we have started to employ a part-time studio assistant on a freelance basis to keep up with orders.

Furthermore, as people are finding out about us we've been asked to give talks at fashion colleges and universities and, as a result, have had applications form fashion students to come and do work experience with us in the coming months.

Our next big step is to get some new designs out for the summer and to do a professional photo shoot so we have some strong images to approach more stockists, stylists and the press. We plan to be selling in another stockist in London by the end of the month.

Furthermore we are now seriously considering outsourcing manufacture. We are looking at manufacturing in developing countries which will also enable us to benefit global communities, as we are committed to working to the principles of fair trade. Currently there seems to be two options for us. One is to work with Mitra Bali in Indonesia, a fair trade organisation representing crafts people, the other is to follow a lead we made recently at the Fashioning an Ethical Industry Conference. We are now in touch with a High Commissioner of Lesotho, Africa who is trying to set-up a ‘non-sweat’ factory out there and is looking for businesses to invest in his project.