Manufacturing Responsible Accessories And Leathergoods

Whether you want your fashion accessory line to consist of big and bold, collectable statement pieces, or practical, easy-to-coordinate essentials, there are ethical manufacturing options open to all. There are more materials out there than ever before for designers and brands seeking alternatives to animal leathers, virgin plastic components, or polyester and nylon fabrics, which meet even the high demands of performance for accessories that are crucial to securing brand loyalty and creating long-lasting products.

Often the affordable entry point for many brands, an accessories line can also be a sound business decision for existing labels who are seeking to expand their customer base and attract new clientele.

In this Masterclass, we explore what makes an ethically manufactured accessory, through bags, hats, socks, tights, belts, and more. We present your options for sourcing sustainable and ethical materials and trims. And we speak to designers and brands already applying these methods about their journeys, the ups and downs, their successes and challenges, and the learnings they want to pass on to anyone setting out to create ethical fashion accessories.

In this Masterclass, you will learn:

How ethical practice in the fashion industry applies to the manufacture of hats, bags, sunglasses, leather goods, hosiery, and other accessories
What ethical and sustainable materials and trims are out there for accessories
About designing and manufacturing with vegan materials
How to embed ethical and sustainable approaches into your business model
How to build and design a uniform and merchandise collection
How to test for wear-and-tear in materials for accessories lines and, why performance matters to both the consumer and the planet
Why, though seemingly contradictory, accessories can be a way to promote sustainability to a wide audience

Ethical Trims & Haberdashery Matrix
with Charlie Bradley Ross

Summary

We're delighted to present this list of eco-friendly trims and haberdashery suppliers. Please read and respect the terms of use before contacting these producers.

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How To Build A Uniform And Merchandise Collection
with Katie Young Gerald

Summary

The manufacturing of durable, comfortable and attractive uniforms is important to all hospitality businesses and for those that place luxury front and center of their brand image, it's absolutely essential. For Katie Young Gerald, these factors can all be achieved through premium quality fabrics and attention to detail, particularly when it comes to the heritage of a brand and the people that make it what it is today.
Katie's business, Bespoke Textiles, has been designing and supplying uniforms and merchandise to hospitality brands for over 10 years. Her book, The Textile Touch, is a number one bestseller and has helped businesses translate their brand style into 'textile touch points'. In this video, we chat to her about her experience working with some of the top brands in the industry, how to develop uniform and merchandise collections and what makes good branding beyond just the logo.

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Using Accessories To Nurture Creativity While Increasing Your Audience
with Valentina Karellas

Summary

Though perhaps seen as "extras" to a fashion collection, knitted accessories are an essential part of seasonal gift-giving. Here we learn how these small accessible products help to nurture creativity and provide an additional stream of sustainable conversation, with London-based knitwear designer-maker Valentina Karellas.

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