Flash back 5 years and I own my own successful business selling men’s leather shoes, boots and loafers. When a customer asked me if I sold vegan leather shoes, I told him unfortunately we didn’t but that I’d go away and try and find some he would like. Sadly, five years ago clean vegan/sustainable styles weren’t as common as they are now so I had to admit defeat.
This sparked interest in me as it was becoming more and more frequent that people were starting to track down vegan leather styles, across all different areas of fashion. So, I went looking for information on how leathers were farmed and treated and I was distraught. The way in which our dairy, meat and leathers are farmed for us to consume and the way these animals are treated before they are killed is beyond upsetting. After watching documentaries like Cowspiracy and Earthlings, I stopped eating meat instantly and began questioning my own fashion choices.
Now obviously we all know where meat comes from and if we’re honest, there’s an element of ‘ignorance is bliss’ but once you’ve seen exactly what these commodities involve, there’s no going back. Not for me anyway.
In the following few moths I transitioned to a 100% plant based diet but began to struggle every day with both running a leather business and using leathers for fashion myself. I decided that I couldn’t in good conscience be living this lifestyle and still run a leather business so, I sold all of stock to a boutique store in Manchester City Centre and he also asked if he could buy my website too. I know this all sounds quite dramatic but, I challenge you to go and educate yourself on the same things I did, see the atrocities and then not make the same decisions.
The next thing was the bag I carried every day, which my fiance bought me for Christmas the year before. I loved it but again it was made from leather and I began to hate carrying it everywhere. When I went out shopping to try and find one that was simple, classic in style and would last, I couldn’t find anything at all that I liked.
I decided to see if I could have one made that I designed for myself. I sketched the design on the back of a roll of brown paper (that I used to wrap my shoe orders in for shipping) and then loaded it into a website for freelancers called PeoplePerHour to see if I could get someone to create it for me. I had so many responses from designers and workshops that wanted to work on “my project” that I was overwhelmed. One stood out however, an accessories designer from Burberry, who specialised in sustainable materials and was keen on innovation, Lorna. She helped me create the design and bring it to life in the form of professional tech packs. She also helped me realise that this wasn’t just a personal project, but that the designs had potential to be a viable business. In Lorna’s words “innovative, not seen before designs that were needed in the industry”. Who was I to argue with a designer from Burberry?! Next I started the hunt for the perfect material and a workshop to create it.
Within 10 minutes of googling waterproof vegan materials, I came across cork leather. It absolutely had to be waterproof because well, we live in the UK, the North West of the UK, it rains a lot here and I carry my laptop and camera everywhere. That, along with the fact that it was PETA approved and came in lots of colours. So, plant based cork leather it is and this decision became the birth of one of our brand values, to always use plant based materials. I wanted to start with one design in a few colours, see what response we got and move the brand forward from there.
Creativity already in full flow, as usual I found my passions getting ahead of me and thinking about all the amazing designs we could potentially do and what a product launch would look like. First though, it was important to think of the basics and start to plan what a business structure would look like. I sat down with my laptop and an old business plan and my fiance Peter and I used that structure and re-wrote it. It was so important to both myself and Peter that we create something that addresses the bigger issues and that we felt really needed some focus drawn to them. Fashion has always been expression to me, it’s how I introduce myself and it also tells me a lot about a person before they even say hello and I ADORE that. Not only that, I have always been fully aware that, I personally, see no gender in fashion, I have since the age of 15 worn womenswear if I loved it, felt amazing in it and it fitted. I’m not ok at all with anything defining me in a way that I haven’t chosen for myself, as I said, fashion is expression. Luckily I’ve been raised my an incredible woman that has taught me to be brave, love who I am and as long as I do everything with integrity and respect, I can express myself in any way I see fit.
I wanted that to be one of our biggest core values, so a gender fluid brand was a no brainer, I also wanted to make sure that we weren’t just “Vegan” because unfortunately, not all Vegan brands are sustainable. Sustainability is the single biggest issue that needs focus now, to make sure that we leave a healthy planet that is habitable and filled with opportunity for our kids and theirs, for generations come. Three values down and the next was to make sure that everyone that we work with and all of our processes are ethically done. The garment worker crisis has been overlooked for too long and it’s important that we shine a light on this and help turn the tide. We have spent four years researching and making sure that we have the right team, all genuinely dedicated to making a difference and an amazing product. Our four brand values then; 100% Sustainable, ethically made, plant based & gender neutral. These have been our building blocks to which I’m now happy to say, is a globally recognised brand that we have growing in front of our eyes.
It hasn’t been easy though, as I said, it took four years to get product perfect and ready to launch. We tried and tested three other manufacturers, making 4 samples in the UK before our amazing manufacturer we now work with hunted us down. Monika who now makes all of our accessories, saw a fundraiser video I had made with a talented videographer called Sarah and the help of my fiance and beautifully selfless friend, Maria. She reached out to me and said ‘I can see what you’re trying to achieve but it’s not being done right for you, can I plesee try and help’ and the rest is history.
It’s also taken this long as we have had to graft and save to be able to do any works at all. Peter and I have done everything with our own savings and without any external investment at all.
Our first round of 8 samples from Monika arrived on New Years Eve 2019 and we were OVERJOYED. Her work is just incredible and not only this, she is constantly in contact with when in the Atelier to make sure that I am 100% happy with everything before any work is done. I could not have asked for a better team to work with and I believe it is absolute fate that we went through all the problems before hand to be able to finally meet her and achieve success. All the issues and stumbling blocks gave us invaluable experience and understanding of the industry. Insights into where and how some people will try and, at times succeed in taking advantage of your inexperience and good nature. It’s made us both stronger and a lot more able going forward. So, I thank everyone for that.
It’s not all been bad experience and mistakes though. I do not believe that there is such a thing as a self made man, it doesn’t exist. I may be creative and have a vision I want to create but, without the sea of incredible people, who have given both their time and experience, asking for nothing in return along the way, we would not have the brand and product that you see today.
After seeing the amazing results that came from the sample collection we instantly decided to put in a chunk of money and go ahead and make a stock of all eight colours of our “M” bags (more on the name soon) and also go ahead and start designing our next piece, our card holder.
Right from the word go, I always believed that this business would be a success. I knew that I had the experience to create simple stylish designs that would last and I was determined to only work with the right and best people. I’ve had amazing support from all of my loved ones, Peter obviously gives everything he possibly can to all aspects of the business, so selflessly too, my mam has always just said “you’ve got this and it’s going to be a massive success” support from my mother in law, my cousin, my friends Maria and Charlie, not to mention many, many more who have all been unwavering in their support. I have trusted a small group of friends along the way to give me honest advice on all area of things when needed including one supporter, a cheerleader who I felt truly believed in my success even when it was just an idea, right at the very beginning. While helping choose our colour samples at her home, she told me one thing, ‘Never stop, never listen to the nay sayers, just keep on going because I believe in you and you will make this a massive success”. That honest and true belief in me and what I was doing has helped push me every step of the way. Sadly, this gorgeous person is no longer with us, she passed away two years ago now and it’s for this reason that our very first piece is named “M” after Marjory – a true being who implored anyone to live life to the absolute fullest. As M would say “Drink the Champagne, eat the cake, life’s too short” please everyone #bemoremarjory.
Then to our name, I wanted it to be thought provoking, provocative and to start the conversation. We don’t use any animal products whatsoever, so I came up with Fashion Without a Face quite quickly. Not a single thing we will make will ever come from a living animal, hence our name. Lots of people have also taken from this that it is because we don’t discriminate, we don’t target any gender or particular type of demographic. This is absolutely true and again, it will always be that way so I love that.
We are now nearly five years in, about to launch out third piece in this collection and have pieces four and five being worked on in our workshop. We have had amazing recognition from industry leading publications and from global fashion and lifestyle magazines, we have also been invited to attend some of the biggest fashion shows in the world, New York Fashion Week being the most recent. We are working with some incredibly talented creatives in our amazing home city of Manchester too and we are only in our first years’ trading. We simply couldn’t be more grateful for all the love, support and encouragement we have had so far so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
This is just the beginning.
Manchester Born, Globally Committed
THANKS SCOTT FOR SHARING YOUR BRAND STORY WITH US AT MFM