With a cost of living crisis and a post-Brexit economy, it is time to start reinvesting in our own communities. This is compounded by the fact that manufacturing in the country of sale is about as sustainable as it gets from a pollution perspective.
Manufacturing in the UK means that, as a brand, we have ultimate control over the product quality we make. With less distance to travel, the time between conception and completion is greatly reduced, and fewer miles means less chance of our luxury products being damaged in transit.
Partnering with our boutique atelier in the North of England also allows us to have a close relationship with our production team, without the expensive or environmental impact of long haul flights for regular site visits. Keeping all our work on British soil dramatically reduces our carbon footprint and demonstrates Roekate’s commitment to the planet.
British manufacturing also boasts unrivalled customer care and transparency. Knowing the conditions and precise location of where our clothes are made offers our customers an unparalleled level of traceability, unlike brands who manufacture all over the globe with subcontractors. This also means if any member of the public wanted to visit our boutique atelier this could easily be arranged, which further enhances our brand value of transparency.
Although there are advantages to manufacturing abroad, there really has never been a more appropriate time to support our local economies and create new job opportunities. Our manufacturing partner is a community-interest company, which means they invest their profits back into the community. Not only does UK manufacturing boost local economies but it also helps to scale UK manufacturing itself which supports the national economy - to us it is a win-win!
Currently, 44% of our exports come from the manufacturing sector and it employs over 2.6 million people across the country. However in 2021 it was reported that product sales from UK clothing manufacturers fell by 8% to £1.3 billion (ONS, 2021), and we want to be part of the movement to change this tide.
At Roekate we know British is best, but we also understand and appreciate it is not currently accessible for all. British manufacturing is more costly due to the smaller quantities produced and the living wages paid. It is Roekate’s mission to make it accessible to all and we will continue to collaborate with our partners until this mission is a reality.