Megan Brown; Buy British
By FashionUnited
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Fashion
How did you come to launch Megan Brown?
The inspiration came from my upbringing in Shropshire. My family lives on a smallholding where life was very much about self-sufficiency. People used to place greater value on the quality and provenance of things - to celebrate craftsmanship and support local jobs. As manufacture changed, the high street was flooded with imported goods of generic style. So I saw an opportunity to bring these values back with a contemporary twist of my own!
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Britain has been running a trade deficit for the last three decades. This means we’ve been importing too much and exporting too little. At the last count (by the Office of National Statistics) our total trade deficit stood at 1.76 billion pounds! One way to reduce this would be to buy British wherever we can. Another way would be to make more British products for export. I think we need to do both!
UK unemployment is rising and now stands at 2.67m (ONS). Buying British supports UK jobs and with more demand, can create new ones. Also, we need to understand that not everyone is suited to working in services or in sectors which require specialist knowledge. So we need more manufacturing in Britain to create a labour market that provides opportunities for our population as a whole. If we can encourage more people to buy British, this will not only create more jobs, it will help with the inequality that has arisen from our economy. With so many mass produced imports flooding our high streets, it’s difficult to find products that stand out and reflect our personalities. British designers on the other hand, understand the UK market best and are often able to buck trends. If we want to create a vibrant and diverse marketplace, we need to
support British design and manufacture!
How are you aiming to keep it niche in a time of endless online start ups?
According to a recent survey, a third of us buy British wherever we can. The same survey also revealed that more of us would buy British if it was made easier. So although our proposition is relatively niche now, our aim is actually to grow the market more.
How do you see the fashion landscape changing as prime retailers are starting to bring manufacturing back to the UK?
I'm no expert in fashion, but I do know that Britain has heritage factories where craftsmanship and quality is second to none. This presents opportunities for retailers to create premium ranges which focus on these values. We can see this happening already with Topshop doubling the amount it makes in Britain, particularly for it’s high fashion Boutique range.
Why do you think this shift is now occurring?
I think we’ve all learned some valuable lessons over time. The boom and bust has taught us to live within our means and that there is a hidden cost to importing and mass producing goods. As a result, we’re now more aware of what we’ve bought, how it was made and how our choices affect the planet!
Where do you want the business to be in a year’s time from now?
In the hearts and minds of British consumers!
UK unemployment is rising and now stands at 2.67m (ONS). Buying British supports UK jobs and with more demand, can create new ones. Also, we need to understand that not everyone is suited to working in services or in sectors which require specialist knowledge. So we need more manufacturing in Britain to create a labour market that provides opportunities for our population as a whole. If we can encourage more people to buy British, this will not only create more jobs, it will help with the inequality that has arisen from our economy. With so many mass produced imports flooding our high streets, it’s difficult to find products that stand out and reflect our personalities. British designers on the other hand, understand the UK market best and are often able to buck trends. If we want to create a vibrant and diverse marketplace, we need to
support British design and manufacture!
How are you aiming to keep it niche in a time of endless online start ups?
According to a recent survey, a third of us buy British wherever we can. The same survey also revealed that more of us would buy British if it was made easier. So although our proposition is relatively niche now, our aim is actually to grow the market more.
How do you see the fashion landscape changing as prime retailers are starting to bring manufacturing back to the UK?
I'm no expert in fashion, but I do know that Britain has heritage factories where craftsmanship and quality is second to none. This presents opportunities for retailers to create premium ranges which focus on these values. We can see this happening already with Topshop doubling the amount it makes in Britain, particularly for it’s high fashion Boutique range.
Why do you think this shift is now occurring?
I think we’ve all learned some valuable lessons over time. The boom and bust has taught us to live within our means and that there is a hidden cost to importing and mass producing goods. As a result, we’re now more aware of what we’ve bought, how it was made and how our choices affect the planet!
Where do you want the business to be in a year’s time from now?
In the hearts and minds of British consumers!