You may have been under the impression that fashion is yet to find Cornwall, and you wouldn’t be wrong. The absence of conventional fast fashion brands and high street stores has allowed other small, local and totally sustainable businesses to flourish and establish themselves loudly and proudly. Maybe you hadn’t planned an entire shopping spree this holiday, however, should you find yourself in need of some retail therapy, these are the local and sustainable brands you would regret not checking out.
Jessye Boulton Knitwear
Specialising in garments and accessories for men and women, Jessye who produces all her knitwear from her rural studio a few miles outside of Penzance, embraces small-scale production, hand crafting and traditional production methods. Everything is made on hand operated knitting machines at a rate which mirrors demand, ensuring that waste is kept to an absolute minimum.
The rugged and dynamic Cornish coastline is a constant source of inspiration. She honours the natural surroundings, using only natural and biodegradable fibres; wool, silk and mohair. Slow fashion is an ethos at the heart of everything she does, when you buy something from Jessye Boulton Knitwear you are making a luxurious investment with longevity and versatility. Shop the collection here.
Until Dawn
Owned and curated by Hannah, who has an eye for anything bohemian and a passion for sustainability and ethics. She is best known for repurposed vintage suede jackets, customised denim and beautiful brass jewellery and accessories which are all made by hand.
Her designs are nostalgic of festival fashion from the 70s and are made to embody free spirited, fun loving and adventurous personalities. If sunset BBQs and stargazing are on your holiday plans, make sure you do it in sustainable style and check out her shop here.
Nude Ethics
If contemporary and practical style is more up your street, Nude Ethics is one to keep an eye on. All T-shirts are produced by Earth Positive who make Organic Indian Cotton garments. Jessica produces her original designs in her studio in Blackwater, they are either screen printed using water-based inks or embroidered using thread made from wood pulp.
Her mission is to make honest and responsibly produced clothing with an affordable and accessible price tag; after all, buying sustainable should not cost the earth! Nude Ethics has its own collection, but also stocks other small local brands which uphold the same ethical and environmental morals. You can shop Nude Ethics here.
Fathoms Free
A conservation group before anything else, Fathoms Free are all about keeping Cornwall’s oceans plastic free. Ocean debris threatens all marine life, and is one of the biggest ecological threats our planet will encounter. The group recover plastic and byproducts from the fishing industry; nets, pots and angling equipment from all around the Cornish coastline. Volunteers turn discarded ghost nets and ropes into bracelets which you can buy on the Fathoms Free website here. Money made from each purchase goes back into the charity, funding continued conservation work.
Aspects Holidays recently donated a selection of beach goods to Sandy Acres in Hayle, to be rented out to the people visiting the beach, with donations made to Fathoms Free. By working with Sandy Acres to rent out buckets, spades and bodyboards, Aspects Holidays are helping reduce plastic waste, raise money for Fathoms Free and ultimately help to keep the oceans and beaches plastic-free.
If you'd like to visit Cornwall and see the landscape that has inspired these brands, take a look at all our available holidays here>
This blog was written by our fantastic work experience student, Jessica Mardle.