Fashion designer goes green in lockdown revamp
AFASHION designer says the coronavirus lockdown has led her to launch a new green-inspired clothing range and overhaul of her business.
Accrington’s Lauren Dwyer, who set up her fashion business primarily producing designer T-shirts and babywear after becoming a mum, adopted a ‘start again’ approach with her business effectively shut down by a manufacturing and wholesaling lockdown until last month.
She said: “I thought instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself I thought I would rebrand. I sat down with my family and said ‘where do I go with this?’ and started exploring different avenues, and it seemed natural that I go down the green route.
“It was something that I had been thinking about and was a New Year’s resolution that I put in my diary. It was one of those that I put in there and thought I would never get round to it. It’s been two weeks and the response has been overwhelming.”
Lauren, 30, has partnered with Offset Earth to plant a tree every time she sells a T-shirt, and in a few short weeks has already planted around 140 - firstly in Madagascar, but also now in Scotland.
The Blackburn University Contemporary Fashion graduate now operates her business entirely on solar energy, and has replaced all her equipment with sustainable materials, including new printing screens, design templates and natural printing inks.
Lauren hand prints every T-shirt to order, ensuring there is no waste, with each order giftwrapped using sustainable materials.
Each order also includes a ‘plantable’ thank you card containing seeds of non-invasive plants including alyssum, poppies, marigold and basil. She has also sourced biodegradable packaging, creates tags from recycled paper and makes business cards from responsiblysourced paper.
The former Hollins Technology School student is married to Dean
Goodwin and has two daughters Emily, five, and Isla, one.
She said: “I started my own little family and that’s where the initial business came from.
“What matters to me is for my family to be healthy and happy in a sustainable world. I realise that I am only one person, but I know I can make a difference, at least for them, by changing the way I do business.
“I wanted to refocus my business to make sure I play a role to reduce our plastic waste and help the environment. So, while continuing to do a job I love, I’m doing my bit as well for the environment.”
The new range including ‘Stay wild, ‘You grow girl’ and ‘Wild-flower’ is at www.laurendwyer.co.uk.