Ground to Garment Katie Allen

Leather is highly controversial in sustainable fashion conversations. The cattle industry gets labelled as one of the big emitters of methane and the leather manufacturing process often uses toxic chemicals that pollute the environment - but this isn’t the only way to produce leather. In Episode 2 I talk to two amazing individuals, who both share a very different, but important connection with leather. They come at the leather supply chain from opposite ends, however in their struggle to go against the grain of existing industry practice, they are producing something very different and special with leather. Andy Rummings from Waterhay Farm is a Pasture for Life certified beef farmer based in Wiltshire and is incredibly passionate about his cows and supporting the wildlife on his farm. Katy from Warriner Leather is a talented leather maker, who has spent the last nine years persuing the ultimate dream - working with leather that can be traced back to a specific cow. This episode is a deep delve into the journey of what truly sustainable leather could look like.

In the first, taster episode of Ground to Garment I take you on a journey to The Natural Fibre Company, an artisan woollen mill based in the South West of England. They provide a vital connection between the sheep in our fields and the finished yarns used to make clothing and textiles. We hear from several voices across the amazing team that keep the mill running and they each share some of the knowledge and expertise that goes into creating their beautiful natural fibres. The episode touches on British wool, the spinning process, the importance of local textiles and the skills needed to support this industry, as well as the mill's drive for net zero and championing textile manufacturing in the South West of England.