Bristol Cloth

"What's missing from the UK is a locally-sourced and manufactured cloth for designers to work with, and we're setting out to change this by creating the Bristol Cloth: A sustainable, bioregional material that regenerates rather than degrades our land and natural resources."

*** For Christmas Gift Vouchers - please make your pledge and then email [email protected] to request your complimentary natural dye block printed Christmas Gift card before Dec 14th ***

The Bristol Cloth is a locally grown and manufactured cloth for the UK. Made with 100% lambswool, from a carbon-sequestering farmed Shetland-Romney breed; dyed with organic plant dyes, which have traditionally been used in Britain. Madder root and weld together give an orange, which sits next to natural fleece colours in light brown and beige. It is grown, dyed and woven without any harmful chemicals, all within the Bristol area. And safe to go back into the ground at the end of its useful life cycle.

The Bristol Cloth project showcases British heritage, preserving what this land has always offered and what British communities have done for centuries. We are set to prove that it is still commercially viable to make cloth on our shores, sustaining British tradition, culture, community, land and the economy.

1st Target: £7,000 - We have bought the materials and covered initial production costs for 200 metres of Bristol Cloth.

2nd Target: £15, 000 - We have covered the full production costs for 200 metres of Bristol Cloth.

3rd Target: £20,000 - We have sold the whole first 200 metres of Bristol Cloth and can invest in the second run.

By supporting this campaign, you can help re-create a local, resilient textile economy in the South West, offering an alternative to the unsustainable global textile production systems which have threatened traditional British cloths almost to extinction and critically damaged the health of our biosphere; Support regenerative agriculture which captures carbon from the air and locks it back into the soil whilst also replenishing soil health; Help recreate our ability to dye textiles using non-toxic plant dyes; and bring artisan textile production back into our local economy. 

Bristol Cloth is made with holistically farmed and biologically washed wool from Fernhill Farm. Naturally dyed with organic plant dyes by Botanical Inks. And woven at the Bristol Weaving Mill, the first industrial loom to open in Bristol in nearly 100 years.

We are thrilled to be working with Bristol based designers to provide an enticing selection of rewards for you to purchase to help us back this project.

Brown In Town are offering tailor made mens jackets and suits, Jokoto Tailors have flattering ladies kimono jackets and accessories and oB wear is a clothing label focusing on making high quality, considered garments that shape with us over the years. Offering a choice of unisex zero-waste garments.

There are two qualities of cloth we are offering, made by two different finishing techniques. When you buy meterage of cloth by the metre you have the choice of which finish you prefer. You will be contacted when the cloth goes to the finishers in late January, to ask which finish you prefer.

The garments and accessories are made with a light/medium weight cloth, similar to a light weight tweed. This has been finished with a cold wash and a hot press by our finishers to give a soft, flat, thin cloth.

The scarves, blanket scarves and throws are made with a different quality of finish, using only a cold wash, to give a softer, fluffier finish.

BROWN IN TOWN - TAILOR

http://brownintown.co.uk/

Brown in Town takes it's inspiration from traditional British tailoring, but, as the name would suggest, they’re not adverse to breaking with tradition in order to achieve the perfect look for the individual. Brown in Town was founded to establish a traditional tailors and outfitters in Bristol, sympathetic to the requirements of the modern gentleman. All their garments are tailored with impeccable cut and finish. Brown in Town will make a two piece or three piece suit or a jacket for those wanting to wear their heart on their sleeve. Designed by you with the expert advice of owner David Minns, who will measure you and and create your own unique pattern before cutting.

JOKOTO TAILORING

https://www.jokototailoring.com/

Jokoto Tailoring is owned and run by Hannah Bartlett and Eloise Atwell. The pair have been working together for several years, originally honing their skills by creating an ethically made womenswear brand Jokoto. After giving up their day jobs in the sewing industry they have opened Jokoto Tailoring. Jokoto Tailoring offers a variety of services. Alterations, bespoke garment making, sample making and dry cleaning.Choose from the layered kimono jacket (below left) and the cropped kimono jacket (below right), made using the Bristol Cloth in a , in a lightweight quality cloth, similar to a light tweed. Finished with a cold wash and hot pressed flat. Along with a zipped bag and two sizes of cushion cover and a laptop case design.

Left: Ladies Layered Jacket, Right: Ladies Cropped Kimono Jacket.

Available in sizes: Small (UK8-10), Medium (UK 10-12), Large (UK 12-14).

Laptop case design with front pocket:

OB WEAR

https://ob-wear.com/

oB wear is a Bristol based clothing label focusing on making high quality, considered garments that shape with us over the years. Choose from the unisex jumpsuit or zero-waste t-shirt shown below, made using Bristol Cloth, in a lightweight quality cloth, similar to a lightweight tweed. Finished with a cold wash and hot pressed flat.

Bespoke Unisex Jumpsuit

Ladies Zero-Waste T-Shirt: Available in Sizes: Small (UK 8-10) and Large (UK 12-14).

METERAGE OF BRISTOL CLOTH                         

https://bristolcloth.co.uk

140 cm width. Available by the metre. Choose your preferred quality of finish - Either washed and hot pressed to give a light/medium weight tweed cloth style, great for suiting and accessories. Or, cold washed only, to give a fluffier quality finish, great for scarves, throws and softer items. 

BRISTOL CLOTH SCARVES AND THROWS

https://bristolcloth.co.uk

Scarf ( 200 x 35cm,) Blanket Scarf (200 x 70cm), Throw (200 x 140 cm). Made with Bristol Cloth and finished with a cold wash to give a soft and slightly fluffy quality. With fringed ends.

50g HANKS OF KNITTING YARN DYED WITH OUR EXHAUST MADDER DYE BATH IN DUSTY PINK: