Small Businesses, Big Statements

05/10/2021

Zara Osako gives a collective guide to supporting small UK-based fashion businesses to suit any budget

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Image by Instagram: @g.o.s.h.girl

By Zara Osako

Being told to ditch the high street and shop small can be difficult and daunting to navigate — where do you start? When it’s easier to just pop to Primark, so many talented designers go under the radar with pieces designed with passion that deserve showing off. Here’s a collective list of some of the best small fashion businesses to suit every occasion— and every price-point.

Hissy Fit: for bold prints and versatility, Birmingham-based business Hissy Fit started outselling festival and rave-wear before rebranding when the pandemic hit to more everyday, casual pieces. The owner, Danielle, prides her brand on its transparency and is incredibly engaged on social media with her customers, constantly show-ing us behind the scenes of Hissy Fit. Watching her TikToks and Instagram stories give us an in-sight into the entire process of the production of our purchase — from buying the fabrics to packing the orders. In addition, something we often don’t see from small brands, usually simply due to supply and demand, is an inclusive size range. However, Danielle always ensures that her collections are available in sizes XS–3XL, leaving no customer behind. And if all of these amazing values weren’t enough, sustainability is always at the heart of every Hissy Fit piece of clothing, whilst still managing to keep prices affordable; all manufacturing takes place in Birmingham at a local family-run factory and all pieces are made with dead stock fabric! Their Instagram is @his-syfitclothing.

If you’re looking for a dress that does all the talking for you, look no further than Farai London. Originating in, you guessed it, London, Farai London has made a name for itself through its unique and striking prints which aim to make the customer feel, as they put it, “special, sexy and spectacular.” Quality is at the centre of all of their designs; branding themselves as a luxury company, a Farai London order may admittedly be reserved for those more special occasions. Whilst the black-owned label is very much on the rise as a smaller business, now being stocked in Selfridges and Revolve, you’re still likely to be the only one in the room in a Farai piece, constantly replying“thanks, it’s Farai London.” On Instagram, they are @farailondon.

Originally TikTok-famed for its bestselling Kernel jumpsuit, Peachy Den creates unique yet comfortable and wearable pieces to take you from day to night. Whilst on the pricier side,Peachy Den pieces are guaranteed to last you throughout the seasons - between velvet jump-suits and wide leg trousers, there’s something for every occasion — dress them up with heels, or pair with trainers for a day in town. Notably, the stand out service offered by PeachyDen is their free alterations- customers are free to post their item back for their desired alterations (although currently on hold, according to their website)— perfect for us on the shorter side! Find them @peachyden

Rave- and festival-wear brandGroovy Gems Clothing specialise in made-to-order rhinestone-embellished co-ords, ideal for those nights to remember. Customers can choose from a range of funky, festival inspired designs or have the creative freedom to order a custom made design. Their made to order service ensures no garment wasted, although this does mean wait time is a little longer than the next day delivery we’ve gotten used to, so make sure to order in time for your event, especially during festival season.

No outfit is complete without the perfect accessory — a trusty handbag to hold all your secrets. Born out of lockdown, Amy singlehandedly runs her small business of '90s-style shoulder bags, hand making every bag individually in her home studio in Cardiff. Similar to Hissy Fit, GOSH girl (standing for groovy, original, sustainable and handmade) resourcefully uses vintage and remnant fabrics, meaning many of their collections are limited and unique. Amy also of-fers a made-to-order service, including a ‘build-a-bag’ option, where customers can choose each element of their bag, right down to the colour ofthe zip! Prices start from £30, with a range of col-ours, prints and sizes to choose from!On Instagram, they can be found @g.o.s.h.girl.

Fashion graduate Maddy started selling her designs through Depop, quickly establishing her brand and gaining loyal customers. Known for her patchwork pieces, Maddy’s brand also utilises secondhand and dead stock fabric, keeping sustainability at the heart of her production.Despite her ethical values and small-scale production, Maddy has still managed to keep prices affordable, with all pieces being under £30 —truly perfect for a student budget! Find her brand account on Instagram by following @maddypageknitwear.