Every month, I email out a progress update on our jackets. We also drop in inspiring articles, podcasts, videos, books, events and others. Click here to sign up and be the first to know when pre-orders for our limited edition jackets launch.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

In marketing-speak, every brand needs an enemy. It helps people understand who you are and what you stand for. It “positions the brand” (can you tell I used to run a marketing agency yet?).

Every jacket (or hat…but more on that later) that I design is hand crafted in the U.K. in limited edition, small batches. We use organic fabrics, locally source wherever possible and will never create anything that’s ‘on trend’ to make a fast buck. So you could say that fast-fashion is my enemy. And you’d be right.

But for me, my real enemy is a lack of connection. With the products we buy and with each other.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

You’ve heard me say it before but although the jackets are the business, Barnfield is and always will be, a story of community.

They say it takes a village. To create the Lawrence, it’s taking an entire country.

Take this coming week as an example.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

I’m driving up to Shipley tomorrow to collect 50 metres of wool that Genady from Kofibres has produced for me.

On the way there, I’ll be stopping in to Pontefract to see Jonathan Hull who’s building a BMW K100 café racer for me and my buddy Matt.

When I get back to Nottingham, I’ll be taking the wool and 10 metres of printed organic cotton with Thomas’s beautiful artwork to Harvey Quilting where I’ll meet Tony and Neil who'll combine the two to create the quilted lining ready to take to Agnes in Leicester to stitch up size samples of the Lawrence in Small through to XXLarge.

Once they’re ready, I’ll take them to Meredith in Nottingham to cut and sew the keyhole button holes and then?

Well then I want to see you.

THE LAUNCH

I’m going to set up a zoom call so I can show you the jackets. We can run through any questions you have, check out the fit, the fabrics and the fastenings and more than anything, it’ll give me the chance to meet you all.

When I first decided to launch Barnfield, I told anyone who would listen that I wanted to surround myself with inspired and inspiring people. Each and every one of you who has chosen to follow along has been a part of this long and bumpy four year journey.

Without your support, I’d have thrown in the towel. You’ve been my inspiration to make the Lawrence happen and I can’t thank you enough for your support.

I’d love to tell you now when the zoom call will happen but if I’ve learnt anything so far, it’s that everything takes longer than expected. So for now, keep your eyes peeled for the next email. As soon as I know when the size samples will be ready, I’ll drop you a line. 

SNEAK PEAK

In the meantime, I snuck in a mention about hats. Since I sketched out the first design for the Lawrence, I’ve wanted to make sure I keep any fabric wastage to an absolute minimum. For every 3 jackets that are produced, there'll be 50cm of unused but awkwardly shaped fabric left over. That’s not enough to create another jacket, but it might be enough to produce a flat cap.

This is something I’m genuinely excited about. So, in between seeing Genady and Jonathan, I’ll be popping in to see Robert in Castleford.

Robert has been making traditional Yorkshire flat caps for 40 years and my hope is that he’ll be able to use all that experience to make something special happen!

I’ll be taking my camera with me, so watch out on Instagram for updates.

Thank you again for following along, I can’t wait to make your jacket.