Buttress and Snatch Community Lingerie Atelier

Aim

We aim to open the first UK sustainable All Body inclusive Community High st Lingerie Atelier and we have a chance to trial it in Regent St!

I’m founder and sole operator of Buttress & Snatch, veteran British independent lingerie brand and I want to open a Community High Street Lingerie Atelier.

I've just been given the amazing opportunity at super short notice to house a popup version of the Atelier over September and October 2021 in one of REGENT STREET's disused stores! This is a once in a lifetime chance to showcase my model for All-Body inclusive, no waste production while presenting a non-seasonal and ever-changing cornucopia of exciting lingerie that is beautifully made, ethical and wonderful to wear.

I’ve teamed up with fellow maker Alice from Brixton's Little Black Pants Club for the project and the money raised from this Crowdfunder is needed to pay London living wage to keep the shop activated and open 7 days a week where our team will be sewing your pledged knickers during the time you've paid for in store. We also hope to be able to pay a young filmmaker to document all we do both there and here in our Hackney workshop so we can present a working case study as a proof of concept. We will use this to pitch for investment for a permanent, vertically integrated design, make and training project. The space is being generously provided rent free by Westminster City Council and we have a small grant that will cover some essentials to put us in place but not enough to keep it running full time for 8 weeks. The space is a part of the Voids activation project which seeks to 'create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports small scale business, home grown start-ups and emerging creative talent where ideas for a better future are tested' and we are very very excited to be included

IN OUR STORE WE WILL BE:

-Showing off a wonderful abundance of artisanal lingerie and a window into how it’s all made with the work produced live in store

-Presenting our new bespoke lingerie tailoring system

-TAKING ORDERS and selling exciting one off and exclusive styles as well as lingerie making materials and kits for home makers

-Providing an on-site drop-in advice, mending and alterations service

-Hosting a schedule of events from discussion and debate on matters philosophical and economical to the how to of hand crafting the finest silk flowers

-Exploring and educating around key issues to do with both social and environmental sustainability in the fashion and clothing industry, UK production and provision of vocational training.

-Re-cutting our nation's lately redundant cotton work shirts live into hot and exciting lingerie! Making LOVE NOT LANDFILL

-Sharing stories, fun and gossip over a glass of PINK CHAMPAGNE or cup of coffee

-FREE HABERDASHERY, Prize Draws and more

I've got a background in community arts and got a 1st class degree in fashion before I started making knickers...I’ve made work for pop stars, film stars, TV ads, even Marylin Monroe! (*the waxwork) as well as helping with sample development for younger brands. I've made bespoke lingerie and swimwear for a hugely diverse range of women and men, large, small, old and young, from post cancer healing to pre-wedding preening, and over my 20 years of experience it has become totally clear to me that:

MASS PRODUCTION is NO GOOD for making either exciting styles or lingerie that fits. And that's before you start to consider the wasteful, environmentally damaging and exploitative working practice that is happening across the fashion industry.

We are at a 'bring back better' moment in time like no other before where there is a real opportunity for change as well as a clear need to do it...

I believe firmly and passionately that there are better ways around the corner, that we can bring some vibrant and diverse human culture and community back in to our city centres to enliven and invigorate our high streets as well as provide rewarding, skilled livelihoods. I want to explore how to value both worker and wearer in the underwear making process by mixing old school personal tailoring techniques with hyper modern approaches to upcycling and lingerie technology.  

I started B&S in 2001 after working as production manager in a small factory in East London making for Agent Provocateur, Paul Smith, Frost French and other fashion labels. The work was demanding, immediate and rewarding as we made and sent out work direct to be sold in the shops. I rented a workshop to make my first order for Liberty then went on to stock Selfridges, Barneys NYC as well as boutiques all over the world before changing direction to start my made to order service in 2010.

My business is small but beautiful, all work is made in Hackney using sustainable materials and vintage trims mixed with modern lingerie fabrics sourced from dead stock left over from industrial manufacture. B&S is celebrating it's 20th year and been winner of top spot Indie/Best sustainable lingerie brand 2020 and 2021. My way of artisan making to individual order means I can make an abundance of styles in up to 85 different sizes as well as work bespoke, adjust and mend existing bras, recycle precious textiles and fix all sorts of problems after operations or injuries. It’s a thing that a regular fashion model just can’t provide. Demand is big, during the pandemic I’ve been working 10 hrs a day 6 days a week. Our affordable workspace is under threat of development, I’m straining at the seams of my capacity and I am completely certain that given some breathing space what I do could provide many more livelihoods than just my own. 

I want to use this opportunity to gain interest and hopefully investment to explore new ideas about the fashion process. The event will be going on during and on the doorstep of London Fashion week to showcase a more inspiring and attainable future we can all prospectively buy into.

There's energy happening at last about climate change, the urgent need for better and more sustainable practice as well as covid recovery. I want to try and make a difference. I am a skilled engineer with a lifetime’s experience of how to make clothing responsively and responsibly...I want a chance to grow, inspire and pass skills and inspiration on.

All your help and support will be very gratefully received -General investment of good brains and power is hoped for as well as crowdfunder pledges that will be honourably swapped for all good stuff so please don't hesitate to get in touch

This project successfully funded on 2nd October 2021