Make it British Podcast
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing. In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses. With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British. Never has there been a more critical time to get behind 'made in Britain'.
Kate's Sunday Journal 18 Oct 26: 13 Manufacturers in 5 Days
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A Visit to Halley Stevensons to Find out How Waxed Fabrics are Made
Come with me on a tour of the Halley Stevensons mill in Dundee, where I’m shown around the mill by production director Billy and sales administrator Ria.
Halley Stevensons has been making fabric in Dundee since 1864. It started out as a jute mill and is now the last textile mill of its kind in a city that was once full of them. Today it’s known around the world for its waxed cotton, supplying brands including Barbour and shipping to over 50 countries.
We follow the fabric all the way through the mill, from the raw...
Kate’s Sunday Journal 27 Sept 26: London Fashion Week – Who actually makes in the UK?
If you're interested in finding out how I can help you to start or scale your British-made brand, I'm hosting a free Q&A on Tuesday 6th October.
Apply to attend the Q&A: makeitbritish.co.uk/qa
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Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
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Getting Factory Ready – How to Transition from Maker to Manufacturing
Want to transition from making everything in-house to outsourcing to a factory? This episode is for you!
We cover:
How to know when you're ready to outsource to a factoryWhy working with a factory can actually cost you less than paying a local seamstressHow to get your pricing right before you outsourceWhat you need to preapre before you approach a factoryHow to approach a factory so your enquiry doesn't get ignored.Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on...
Kate’s Sunday Journal 20 Sept 26: A Visit to 10 Downing Street
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Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
A visit to the Waring Brooke Micro Factory with Samantha Thomas, Waring Brooke
In this episode I take a trip to rural Nottinghamshire to the micro knitwear factory owned by Samantha Thomas, founder of knitwear brand Waring Brooke.
Sam was originally a designer for other brands like Alberta Feretti in Italy, but then 10 years ago she started her own knitwear label and took the brave decision to invest in her own knitting machine to create it.
When I had Sam on the podcast 5 years ago she was a one man band - she now has a team and big plans for the future.
In this episode...
Kate's Sunday Journal 13 Sept 26: Reflecting on a talk by Paul Smith and a visit to
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King's Foundation
Paul Smith's book Threads
How to pivot an existing brand with fashion designer Emily Millichip
Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode I'm joined by Emily Millichip, a fashion designer based in Edinburgh who is relaunching her eponymous brand of 15 years after deciding it no longer aligned with where she is now.
In this episode we cover:
Why Emily decided to pivot after 15 yearsHow she took her existing customers and Instagram followers with her through the rebrandCollaborating with local craftspeople on small limited edition batchesHow every piece in the collection is made within an hour of...Kate’s Sunday Journal 6 September 26: Celebrating 120 years of Hackney’s oldest haberdashers 🧵
Find out more about William Gee at williamgee.co.uk
2a Forest Road, London, E8 3BY
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Sign the Open Letter calling on the government to source military and NHS uniforms from UK manufacturers
Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Kate’s Sunday Journal 30 August 2026: Help Onshore Our Uniforms
Sign the Open Letter
Book a place at The British Made Showcase here
Thursday 1st October 6-8pm
Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Kate’s Sunday Journal 23 August 2026: A Trip to Leicester to Visit Manufacturers
Register for Make it British Live! here
Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Kate’s Sunday Journal 16 August 26: My take on wholesale
Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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Kate’s Sunday Journal 9 August 26: Demand for UK clothing manufacturers up 90%
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Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Kate’s Sunday Journal 2 August 26: Sharing a secret I’ve been keeping a while…
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Save the date 12 & 13 January 2027
Kate’s Sunday Journal 5 July 2026: Save the Date
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Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Kate’s Sunday Journal 28 June 26: Update on my goal to visit 100 manufacturers in 2026
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Kate’s Sunday Journal 21 June 26: Scottish Textiles Tour
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Manufacturers Mentioned:
woolkind.com
caledoniahosiery.com
johnstonsofelgin.com
halleystevensons.co.uk
kcmanufacturing.co.uk
aeroleatherclothing.com
houseofcheviot.com
teviotknitwear.co.uk
wonkywoolies.com
Kate’s Sunday Journal 14th June 26 – Marketing with zero budget
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
From Burberry to British Wool with Frankie Davies, Charl Knitwear
Hello and welcome to episode 323 of the Make it British Podcast. I'm back with another episode in my Women in Wool series, this time chatting to knitwear designer Frankie Davies from Charl Knitwear.
Frankie spent years designing knitwear for Burberry and Benetton and has spent much of her career inside knitwear factories, so it was only ever a matter of time before she founded her own brand. In this episode, Frankie talks about her use of British wool, the benefits of working with UK factories and how that differs from working with manufacturers in Italy...
Kate’s Sunday Journal 7 June 26: How Many Products is Too Many?
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Kate’s Sunday Journal 31 May 26: Britwashing
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Kate’s Sunday Journal 24 May 26: A Visit to Manufacturers in Ayrshire
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Kate’s Sunday Journal 17 May 26: UK-made T-shirts
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🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Weaving Wool in Yorkshire with Laura Watts at Marton Mills
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Laura Watts, managing director of Marton Mills, 3rd generation family weaving business based in Otley, Yorkshire.
Marton Mills was founded in 1931 and has built its reputation on uniform fabric - supplying school wear, military contracts for the Navy and the RAF, and fabric for the King's Coronation.
Now, alongside its core uniform work, Marton Mills is launching its first fully traceable British wool collection in autumn 2026, with yarn sourced just down the road from Laxton's and fabric finished at Roberts Dyers in Keighley.<...
A Visit to Laxtons Spinning Mill with Carly Smith & Rochelle Tracey
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I visited Laxtons Yarns in Baildon, Yorkshire, a fourth generation family spinning mill that is now employee-owned.
I was given a full tour of the mill floor by commercial director Carly Smith and national accounts manager Rochelle Tracey, before sitting down with them to talk about British wool, the future of the business and the exciting relaunch of their hand knitting range.
Laxtons spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving. Their Sheepsoft yarn is a blend of Blue Faced Leicester and...
For the Love of Knitting with Genevieve Sweeney
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I take a trip to the beautiful Essex countryside to visit knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney in her micro factory, where she designs, programmes, knits, and finishes her collection in house.
We talk about the realities of owning your own industrial knitting machine - from learning to keep the yarn and machine happy, to breaking needles in tears and coming out the other side.
We also hear about Genevieve's mission to revive the almost forgotten art of hand Intarsia, a knitting technique synonymous with Scottish knitwear.
<...5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode I'm sharing the recording of a recent webinar I ran - 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer.
Learn my signature 5 Step Factory Readiness Method™ which has helped hundreds of small business owners to get their products made in the UK.Find out why manufacturers don't get back to you (and how to make sure you get a reply).Why sampling costs...The Great British Wool Revival with Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys, Fashion Roundtable
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys from Fashion Roundtable.
Harriet is the project lead for The Great British Wool Revival and is also working with the King's Foundation on an event in May 2026 to promote the use of British wool.
If you're a designer, maker or brand wanting to work with British wool but not sure where to start, the Great British Wool Revival is the resource you need to know about. It maps the entire wool supply chain from sheep to spinning, dyeing, knitting and weaving...
Building a British Tweed Tailoring Label in Yorkshire with Isabelle Randall
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Isabelle Randall, a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, who has been running her own label for over 21 years.
Isabelle works in British tweeds and wool fabrics, making everything bespoke in her atelier. We talk about the Yorkshire mills she loves working with, her tailoring process, and why her bespoke approach keeps customers coming back again and again.
We also get into what it feels like, as a designer who makes everything herself, to hand over the responsibility of production to...
How British Wool Helps Brands Source Local Fibre with Louisa Knapp, British Wool
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Louisa Knapp, Marketing Executive at British Wool.
Based in Bradford, British Wool operates as a farmers' cooperative that collects, grades, and auctions fleece for around 35,000 sheep farmers across the UK.
Whether you’re a designer wondering how to source British wool or you’re just curious about what happens to a fleece after it’s sheared, you’re going to love this episode.
In this episode we cover:
How the British Wool cooperative operates and makes it easy for brands to...The Reality of Running a Knitwear Micro Factory with Kate Stalker from OUBAS Knitwear
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Kate Stalker, founder of OUBAS Knitwear.
Kate runs a knitwear micro factory in the Lake District, where she designs and manufactures fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres, including British wool. After studying knitwear at Winchester School of Art, she returned to Cumbria and started the business with a single hand flat knitting machine in her parents’ utility room.
Today OUBAS produces knitwear on industrial knitting machines, with everything knitted, linked and finished in house by a small team. The business combines design, manu...
Launching a Brand with Traceable British Wool with Dee McGilvray, CLÒ FOLD
In this first episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Dee McGilvray, founder of CLÒ FOLD.
Dee has launched a womenswear brand built entirely around 100 percent British traceable wool. In just five months, alongside a full time job, she has taken an idea rooted in farming and the British countryside and turned it into a finished product made entirely in the UK.
Her first piece is a wool gilet woven in Yorkshire using traceable wool sourced through British Wool. Every part of the supply chain, from farm to finished garment, has bee...
Series 8 Trailer: Women in Wool
Series 8 of the Make it British podcast is here!
After many of you asked, “Where’s the podcast gone?”, it's coming back with a brand-new themed series: Women in Wool.
Over the past few months, I've been recording interviews behind the scenes. As the conversations unfolded, a clear thread emerged. Every guest was a woman. And every one of them was working with the same fibre - Wool.
This new series shines a spotlight on the women driving innovation, craftsmanship and revival across the UK wool supply chain – from farming and spinning to weaving...
BONUS: The 3 Part Framework for Developing Profitable UK-Made Products
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DM me on Instagram: @makeitbritish
SOS: Stop Wasting Time Contacting the Wrong Factories 🏭
Not all factories are created equal!
And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way.
In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product.
You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer.
I’ll also share why I took down...
SOS: Why Ordering Too Much Stock is a Costly Mistake
In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake.
You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs.
If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss this...
SOS: What’s the REAL Cost of Skipping Tech Packs? 📐
Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"?
Think again.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.
You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials.
I’m also busting the myth...
SOS: Never ask a factory for the price until you do THIS 💷
What UK Manufacturers Really Think When You Ask About Price
If the first thing you ask a factory is “How much?” — you’re not alone.
But it might explain why you’re not getting the response you hoped for.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m unpacking what actually happens when you lead with price, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to put off the best manufacturers.
You’ll learn how to work backwards from a realistic retail price, how to spot when your margins just don’t add up, and what...
SOS: Why UK Manufacturers are Ghosting You 👻
If your inbox is full of unanswered emails to factories, it's not personal. It's a sign you're making critical mistakes that scream 'newbie'.
In this first episode in this special series MANUFACTURING SOS I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations I hear from founders - that they've contacted manufacturers and no one got back to them.
Sound familiar?
Before you assume UK manufacturers are just ignoring you, you need to hear this.
I’m sharing the real reasons factories hit delete, including vague enquiries, missing tech packs, and the...
Introducing Manufacturing SOS
Brand New Mini Series Coming Soon: Manufacturing SOS
After a year-long hiatus, the Make It British Podcast is coming back!
Series 7 is currently in the works, but while you wait, I’ve got something special for you…
Introducing a brand new mini series called Manufacturing SOS.
This special series is for anyone who’s starting or scaling a clothing, accessories or homeware brand and wants to get their products made in the UK without wasting time, money or losing their mind in the process.
Each episode is short and straig...
