What are some British clothing brands that haven’t outsourced production and still make good quality clothes?
Posted by Dangerous_Spot2434@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 167 comments
I’m tired of all these brands succumbing to greed and sacrificing quality for profit by letting go of most/all of their garment factory workers in exchange for cheap, overworked and underpaid workers overseas, and using more synthetic fabrics for their clothes. I just want a British clothing brand that uses natural materials while also supporting local garment makers, so can anyone please list me some?
blueblue_electric@reddit
A few years ago I bought three wool coats from Crombie on Conduit Street London. Crombie as in the manufacturer and not the style that a lot of people refer to wrongly. The wool is fantastic, I got one for myself and two for my wife and they, I think 13 years later are still being worn and have kept shape and generally look better than many wool coats I see around London. The store no longer exists, but the firm does and apparently it's a bespoke invitation only service they offer for coats. Since then I've looked at British made and Solovair is my favourite, I have three pairs of shoes from them.
Scoops60@reddit
Buy a man’s Mac, great cut and cheaper than a women’s coat will be priced at
dundops@reddit
Pantherella Socks. Made in England since 1937, and because of the way the toes are constructed, they are also far more comfortable.
Scoops60@reddit
Love their socks
The_39th_Step@reddit
WAWWA - made just behind my house here in Ancoats in Manchester. Great quality and fashion forward clothes
Scoops60@reddit
Just bought my daughter the bag set for uni. My husband has one of the jackets and the cut is wonderful. All made in Manchester
The_39th_Step@reddit
Love to hear it - they’re good people in there
justmoochin@reddit
Vastly overpriced
trouser_mouse@reddit
Really nice hats!
eustaciasgarden@reddit
Johnston of Elgin
Scoops60@reddit
Agreed
Murky_Repair8070@reddit
Various Scottish wool jumper companies. Jamiesons of Shetland, Harley of Scotland, Genuine Scottish Knits. Not cheap but not ridiculous either.
Scoops60@reddit
Johnson’s of Elgin-superb
Michael_Thompson_900@reddit
A handy hint, most expensive brands like Drakes, Toast and YMC will rebadge Harley’s or Jamiesons shetlands.
A made in Scotland Shetland should cost £100-£150, anything more and you’re paying for the brand.
Buy British wool, keep British sheep alive!
Scoops60@reddit
Margaret Howell and @daughter knitwear
Big-Exercise3603@reddit
If anyone looking to source products from India.
Please try ppsourcing
e17phil@reddit
Barbour still make their wax jackets in the UK
THEMikeUK@reddit
Hebtroco just announced a new run of their amazing roadrunner:
https://hebtro.co/product/roadrunner-jacket-2025/
Properly made in England.
Too-Much-Plastic@reddit
Sorry to bother you 2 months later but I wanted to ask someone who owns this a couple of questions. I've got a Barbour but honestly don't really like it, is the Roadrunner of similar or better quality and is it decently warm? Thinking of a winter jacket.
THEMikeUK@reddit
They have a great video on the site about how the original green run, which I have, was designed and made.
Each one is made by one person start to finish in the Yarmouth oilskin company. It's a shorter fit I think than a Barbour.
It seems absolutely bulletproof. And the as UK as humanly possible origin of all the parts of it is a big win for me. Plus that level of care in the production, really good quality finish
The new 2025 edition says made in Wolverhampton, and has a different lining, but the same source materials for the jacket outer and other bits by the looks. Has a really good review from someone comparing it to his Barbour and Belstaff.
I did look at both Barbour and Belstaff before Hebtroco announced the first edition. I wasn't impressed and didn't want to spend that much money on it, especially as the made in the UK thing was mostly a thing of the past. They didn't seem as premium feel as I expected
When Hebtroco announced this I saw th video and it seemed perfect so I pre-ordered it and couldn't have been happier. But I'm a fanboy for the entire brand so a bit biased there.
It's warm enough, I have worn my Hebtroco gillet under it once when it was really cold. Mostly a wool jumper in the cold under it.
They're also unique, and small run, so it's not another Barbour. Actually had a couple of random people I've met ask about it.
Too-Much-Plastic@reddit
That's perfect thanks, the shorter jacket fit rather than a coat is one of the things I really like so that's spot on for me. Think I'll order one and see what I think then, mostly wanted to check that it wasn't some fly by night operation churning out something that looked OK but didn't really work.
THEMikeUK@reddit
oh no, they've been around a fair few years now with a solid reputation for really nice well thought out kit that lasts a really long time.
They're just doing pre orders for a £225 belt :o
THEMikeUK@reddit
Only some models in the range and only some of the production run for that model sadly.
CheesecakeExpress@reddit
Is there a way to tell?
baslighting@reddit
Pretty sure the traditional barber coats are in the UK, but the ones branded barber international are made abroad
THEMikeUK@reddit
Just two models
Simonside, South Shields is also home to the factory where Barbour’s iconic Bedale and Beaufort wax jackets are still manufactured by hand and where customer services lovingly re-wax, repair and Re-Love wax jackets and mend quilts by hand enabling customers to extend the lives of their jackets.
https://www.barbour.com/gb/our-history.html
But not necessarily all of them! I read you need to check for a small label in a pocket for the made in England label or it's one made in Moldova even for those models.
THEMikeUK@reddit
Which is why I went with another brand so I could be sure it was made here.
Upper-Bedroom-8366@reddit
house of paper maybe? new bold streetwear brand i found:
https://houseofpaperclothing.myshopify.com/
Piglets_delight@reddit
Probably not worth mentioning specific brands, as most source from all over, so will be item-specific.
The UK is generally good at: 1. Wool jumpers from Scotland. 2. Boots and shoes from Northampton 3. Tailoring in London.
For everything else, quality for the price is likely better overseas
Single-Song-3004@reddit
*cough cough* https://www.britishmadeclothing.co.uk/brands
Dangerous_Spot2434@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate.
AussieJC17@reddit
Justine Tabak https://justinetabak.co.uk/
Ulver__@reddit
Solovair shoes/boots. Made in England and I believe they perhaps used to make doc martens for them until they offshored. Prices are about the same as doc martens..
WatchFamine@reddit
Solovair get a lot of praise that IMO is due to representing what Doc Martens used to be. But what Doc Martens used to be is still a pair of boots that can't be resoled by a normal cobbler. As a brand that is an icon of an alternative culture that should reject commercialism and environmental damage, that rubs me the wrong way.
itsjustaride87@reddit
Solovair constantly get recommend. Maybe I’m just too fussy but I got a pair of Doc Martens 1460 boots, they where £200 and quality was dog shit. Stitching uneven and horrible black plastic “leather” so returned them.
Tried Solovair, similar price and quality wasn’t much better than the Docs. Cheap plastic “leather” and one of the tongues on the boot was a different size and looked like clown shoes when tried on. Returned also. I don’t get all the recommendations both Docs and Solovair get. To charge £200 for that quality of boot is ridiculous, but I can see maybe how people buy it anyway. The brands holding onto their hey day perhaps or people just wanting a fashion throwaway boot.
WatchFamine@reddit
Very true. I considered bringing up plastic 'leather', but thought it was too much ragebait for one post...
InevitableArmadillo@reddit
I recently had an old pair of doc martens re-soled by a normal cobbler, honestly feel brand new again
Redsetter@reddit
NPS (the company behind Solovair) make plenty of Goodyear welted shoes and boots that can be resolved. It’s a shame that they are no longer a cooperative, but at least they are still going.
AfterCl0ck@reddit
They're made in the old DM factory using DM lasts! Great boots. I've had mine 5 years and they still look great
bowak@reddit
I really want to try them but need them to sell size 15. They've got 15 in the search filter now so hopefully that means they're planning on making some soon.
Herne_KZN@reddit
And the quality does seem to be better than current Docs as well.
AbroadIndividual@reddit
Multiple Northamptonshire shoe manufacturers. Up there with the best in the world. Cheaney is a favourite of mine.
NortonBurns@reddit
I have a pair of Church's I bought in 1993, still going strong.
p_r_d_v_a@reddit
Church's went downhill quality wise after they got bought by Prada in 1999. Still make their shoes in the UK tho
mikey-forester@reddit
upvote for church's , I have more pairs than I need now some bought from the store in Edinburgh
fromwayuphigh@reddit
My Loake Bros (both pairs) have held up exceptionally well.
p_r_d_v_a@reddit
Loak Bros have separate made in India and made in the UK lines
Sea_Silver6321@reddit
Cheaney and Tricker’s are the only shoes/boots I wear.
Comfortable, repairable and last a lifetime.
Oxford-Gargoyle@reddit
Yep, Crockett and Jones, Northampton. Shoutout to Trickers.
SkyRevolutionary007@reddit
rab used to, but not exactly sure if they now do outsource manufacture abroad?
Based, or were based in derbyshire
itsjustaride87@reddit
Unfortunately all made in China. Used to be made in Sheffield and was quality gear. It’s expensive tat now. QC is non existent.
MysoreMa@reddit
Toast make nice, quality clothes, but I doubt they are manufactured in Britain. They support local craftspeople and other makers though.
HiFiSi@reddit
Hebtroco stuff is UK made and I've always found to be brilliant quality. Finistere's wool and some of their shirts are UK made and always wear and last well.
THEMikeUK@reddit
I have jeans, socks, a vest and a jacket. All awesome.
Loved the fact that the jacket - each jacket was made by one person start to finish. No "production line" at all. Brilliant.
THEMikeUK@reddit
new run of the jacket just announced -> https://hebtro.co/product/roadrunner-jacket-2025/
Aid_Le_Sultan@reddit
HebTroCo’s jeans and moleskin trousers are second to none and worth every penny.
HiFiSi@reddit
They are the business!
Anxious-Bid4874@reddit
I'll second HebTroCo, even their Bother magazine is a cracking read.
mikey-forester@reddit
howies
sideone@reddit
Not made in the UK, for the most part.
Oxford-Gargoyle@reddit
I love Howies, ethically priced and low production means that they’re often out of stock. But their quality is very high. I still have and wear Ventile Pilot jacket that I bought in 2002.
mikey-forester@reddit
I've had an eBay search for one of those for years now. picked up the alpkit ventile in the sale this year and am very pleased with it.
Oxford-Gargoyle@reddit
what size?
mikey-forester@reddit
Funny it started as a large and is now an XXL. saying that I have spotted a howies jacket in that size but not ventile I now fancy on eBay
Oxford-Gargoyle@reddit
Mines a L in their old (baggier) sizing which fits like an XL, it’s a 50” 127cm chest
bennettbuzz@reddit
Sunspel is mainly made in Nottingham.
Little_eye_@reddit
Baracuta still makes many of their classic G9 in the UK.
https://uk.baracuta.com/collections/g9-jacket
WinkyNurdo@reddit
Probably mentioned already … my go to’s are
Hebtroco
Yarmouth Oilskins
Carrier Company
Community Clothing
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Gloverall
William Lennon boots
All made in UK, using where possible materials made in UK. HTC in particular are very transparent on their supply line.
Crunchie64@reddit
I’ve just looked on the Yarmouth Oilskins website, and it annoyed me in under three seconds.
Why does a site selling Made in England clothes have different “colors” available?
WinkyNurdo@reddit
I guess you’d have to have a word with the people that designed the site, wrote the copy and signed off the final version before it was pushed live.
They make very good quality gear, though.
Crunchie64@reddit
Fair enough. I wasn’t holding you personally responsible, although you are the one who made me look at it.
I quite fancy a smock with a hood, although the price jump from no hood to hood seems excessive.
WinkyNurdo@reddit
You can get 10% off first order by signing up. They do the odd sale throughout the year as well. Personally I think they’re worth the price, but who am I (apart from some nefarious git who made you look at their site).
Crunchie64@reddit
Sorry, what were we talking about out!
I’ve been busy looking at duffel coats…
WinkyNurdo@reddit
Ha. Gloverall? Go for it
The_Dimlord@reddit
Jon Smedley knitwear. Amazing quality. A bit of a cheat but can also occasionally be found at TKMaxx.
Doughnut_Working@reddit
Fantastic garments. Top quality knitwear
Crunchie64@reddit
Used to go to the factory shop in Lea a couple of times a year with my parent, probably around 1990.
abstract_groove@reddit
Community Clothing Lanx shoes
ChasingSloths@reddit
Lanx have some British-made lines but many are made abroad. Until very recently none of their women’s boots were made in the UK.
abstract_groove@reddit
Almost all of their shoes are made in England. Mine certainly were, just had a quick look on their website and it seems like almost everything is made in England.
Kindly-Effort5621@reddit
Lanx are very good at seeming like everything is made in England. It categorically isn't.
torobolo@reddit
Vast majority are made in England. Source - lanx website
ChasingSloths@reddit
Quite a few of their lines are made in Portugal and India. I’m not saying they have nothing made here, but I know quite a few people who bought from them assuming everything was made in the UK, only to find they were made in India. You just have to check by range.
BraveLordWilloughby@reddit
There's no end of companies producing wax jackets and gilets that claim to be made in the UK.
stuuuj@reddit
PHD - very high end clothing company that makes outdoor jackets and downsuits, based in Yorkshire
mikey-forester@reddit
upvote have we had Buffalo clothing yet ?
WhyToHide@reddit
Peregrine A lot of Scottish wool knitters and jumper makers (Brora, Bosie, etc.)
mikey-forester@reddit
has passed me by, have lots of brora will check them out
Red_Rhubarb_5347@reddit
Their jumpers are really lovely, agree with this!
PJBoyle@reddit
Seconded for Peregrine. Wearing a cardigan from them now. Have like 5 more in the cupboard.
mikey-forester@reddit
churches shoes , I may have more pairs than I really need
Swimming_Lock_3643@reddit
https://rapanuiclothing.com/ made on Isle of Wight
GoJohnnyGoGoGoG0@reddit
Sunspel make some things here still, as do Gloverall, Drake's and Kilgour.
For trainers Walsh and New Balance have a Made in England line.
endot@reddit
Sunspel are great but pricey. If you can get to the factory shop in Nottingham things are a fraction of the price though.
Mr_Bruce_Duce@reddit
I did not know this! I live not far from Long Eaton so will pop over. Seems it’s open Thursday and Fridays.
endot@reddit
It's hit and miss in terms of what they have in (you're out of luck most of the time if you want a plain coloured t shirt for example), but I picked up some lovely knitware last week for Christmas presents for about a sixth of the regular price.
SecretSquirrelSpot@reddit
As long as you are ok with a very run down factory setting, it’s like death trap in there. The floor held together by mostly cardboard & tape, absolute trip hazard. I don’t know why they don’t just put a self levelling screed down, it can’t be that expensive to fix for how much they charge per item!!
Danceswithguerrillas@reddit
Sunspel even produces the fabric in the uk in the original mill.
nonsequitur__@reddit
LIKE-AN-ANIMAL@reddit
Amazing how hardly anyone links to anything. Take an upvote from me!
nonsequitur__@reddit
Ah thanks!
fromwayuphigh@reddit
The Carrier Company and Community Clothing have been consistently good for me.
R_bazungu@reddit
SEH kelly, everything is made in the UK, even the buttons. They dont use zippers as none can be sourced from the UK.
Norman_debris@reddit
Solovair boots.
atomicsiren@reddit
Seconded.
GnaphaliumUliginosum@reddit
Lucy & Yak are made in India but have good ethical and sustainability credentials. Not my style, but people I know love their dungarees - well made and designed to be long-lasting.
meg-don@reddit
They are rapidly going downhill, with more frequent releases of ‘limited edition’ items and the sizes change more often than I’ve ever known a brand to do! I wouldn’t consider them an ethical purchase any more sadly.
olivinebean@reddit
I got a put from the charity shop (the luck…I know) and the cotton is THICK. And so comfortable.
I’ve fallen out of love with the colour now so I’m hunting on Vinted for another.
xthewhiteviolin@reddit
The garments themselves will almost never be made in the UK, making it practically impossible to make new clothes ethically. I would shop second hand to help the environment as well as support workers rights.
WinkyNurdo@reddit
This is emphatically not true. There are many makers based in the UK who use UK made materials. This thread lists many of them. But you are right that second hand is always a good way to reduce footprint and be as ethical as possible.
xthewhiteviolin@reddit
I’m not saying there’s none. Just pointing out while clothes can be assembled in one place, the yarn, fabric, accessories (buttons, zippers etc) usually come from different parts of the world. Other than, you know, Scottish tartan makers and stuff, I don’t know many where a garment is %100 UK made with UK cotton or other material. I’m glad there’s good examples on this sub, but I was trying to point out to OP that it isn’t enough to look for “made in UK” products bc that doesn’t cover when the material is produced abroad.
Kindly-Effort5621@reddit
I mean this is a British wool, British woven, British made shirt with British buttons.
https://hebtro.co/product/usb36-wool-overshirt/
xthewhiteviolin@reddit
That’s a really good example, do you think you can find 20 other easy to access examples? That’s all I’m saying. Unless is this an ad? Am I being used for an ad for this brand without realising or something.
cjizzle236@reddit
Stanley Biggs Clothiers www.stanleybiggs.co.uk
JulesK75@reddit
Community Clothing - everything I’ve had from there has been good quality
HiFiSi@reddit
Love the company but quality really hasn't been good. Bought a top and a pair of trousers recently. Lines marked the trousers on first wash and the top shrunk despite being washed on a 30 degree wash.
domagalski@reddit
This happened to my trousers too but they sent me a free replacement. I now wash them inside out and haven't had any issues.
HiFiSi@reddit
That's really good to know, maybe I'll fire them an email.
alittleadventure@reddit
I don't know about the trousers but most of their tops and sweatshirts say to order a size up because you should expect shrinkage in the first wash. It's because they are 100% cotton.
Theratchetnclank@reddit
They should pre-shrink like most quality brands do.
alittleadventure@reddit
Yea maybe, it just seemed unfair to complain about shrinkage when it's the first thing stated in the item's description.
HiFiSi@reddit
I've never seen anything like the shrinkage level to be fair, what was a large to shrink to a medium is now a small.
sellerofdreams@reddit
Yeah, Patrick Grant puts his money where his mouth is
WhiskyMatelot@reddit
Paramo and Keela for outdoor gear.
Moop_the_Loop@reddit
I buy dresses from snag now. They wash so well.
Longirl@reddit
Is that the tights brand? I’m so happy with their tights, I didn’t realise they did dresses too.
Moop_the_Loop@reddit
Yeah but they are made in Turkey, I just checked. Bit sad now.
txteva@reddit
Not made in the UK though - tights from Italy and certainly some of the clothes are made in China.
Moop_the_Loop@reddit
That's disappointing.
Other_Exercise@reddit
Burberry. At least for some of their garments, they are woven in Yorkshire, then stitched together in Yorkshire.
Seemed like folly until the panini exposed stretched supply chains.
LIKE-AN-ANIMAL@reddit
It is much easier to make clothes in the UK when they cost what Burberry costs though.
DeCyantist@reddit
This is a consumer preference. People prefer to buy at lower costs. They are catering to their consumers.
Dolphin_Spotter@reddit
HIUT jeans. Hand made in Cardigan Wales.
https://hiutdenim.co.uk/
DTH2001@reddit
That sounds like a missed opportunity
Careful-Economics-65@reddit
Paul James Knitwear use natural only fibres and have a British made collection. Incredible quality.
bizzflay@reddit
Shackelton
OddlyDown@reddit
It’s worth saying that if there’s something you can’t find a UK-made version of, Rapanui is about as ethical as you can get https://rapanuiclothing.com/
Happnt@reddit
Lucy and yak - alternative but cosy
Satch2305@reddit
Mainly made in India
Happnt@reddit
Just found this out 🥲 I always thought they were locally sourced!
MultiColouredHex@reddit
Same... And if all their stuff is from India then their pricing is an absolute piss take
Smarmalaide@reddit
IIRC, the price reflects them paying the manufacturers a proper wage rather than pennies, so while not made in the uk, they’re not a bad choice for ethical clothing.
petrolstationpicnic@reddit
Very much not made in the uk
maceion@reddit
Try Harris Tweed clothes.
No-Programmer-3833@reddit
r/BuyUK
Michael_Thompson_900@reddit
Some that haven’t been mentioned:
Not sure if Universal Works still make in the UK, but I have some made in England pieces from them.
pencilrain99@reddit
Barbour
Michael_Thompson_900@reddit
Sadly, Barbour now only make three jackets styles in the UK. Everything else is made overseas
Altruistic-Wing-2715@reddit
TOG24
Faoeoa@reddit
Community Clothing - lovely basics
Hebtroco - quite dear but I like the odd thing (esp. their knitwear)
Finisterre - also a knitwear favourite for me
Aintseenmeroit@reddit
Factory shop can be a bit hit and miss as to what they have on the shelf. I’ve been and walked out with a couple of pairs and done really well other times zilch. I’m fortunate in that it’s not a huge round trip for me.
ashyboi5000@reddit
Saved. I need some new clothes.
M37(?) here and I'm finding high street are adding a lot more plastic to clothes (yeah for recycling, boo for skin agitation) and the prices are rising faster too.
Some of these websites seem reasonable/worth it in comparison.
TheoryBrief9375@reddit
Tencel feels horrible to wear
YardGeneral8138@reddit
John Partridge - made in Wolverhampton
AnselaJonla@reddit
I know it's not British, but is Irish close enough?
Aran.com and the Skellig Gift Company sell authentic Aran knitwear, from the Aran Islands just off Galway in Ireland. They're pricey, but worth it.
JCoonday@reddit
I always enjoy Aubin's quality when I wear anything from them. Their jumpers are great
ShakeWest6244@reddit
Aubin are nice but at least some of their stuff is made in China.
Victorius_Meldrus@reddit
Alt-berg
megawoot@reddit
Private White VC
Oxford-Gargoyle@reddit
+1 Private White VC makes consistently superb products. Based in Manchester.
Nutty-Frangipane@reddit
Give your local tailors a try, you might find somewhere that can make bespoke to you for a reasonable price, it'll always fit better than off the rack
Mean-Obligation-3767@reddit
Hiut denim
citygourmande@reddit
AYM
WatchIll4478@reddit
Captain Currey.
Rays_LiquorSauce@reddit
Not the right post but I thought it would be a waste to make a new one: what is “nozzed it up”? I’m watching Are You Being Served and the cockney one says it. I heard winehouse say it before as well. I know it must mean “messed it up” but I must be spelling it incorrectly bc the internet is telling me it means nitrous oxide
SelfSensitive1612@reddit
Naused it up is the phrase - Don Cheadle also uses it in Oceans 11.
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