Hey Ella! Tell us a little bit about you and your business…

I’m a fashion designer living and working in Falmouth. I have a small clothing brand, and design and sew each garment myself. I’m originally from Worcestershire, but came to Falmouth to study and fell completely in love with Cornwall. Since graduating seven years ago I’ve had a taste of London life, and worked on the design team for the Cornish brand Seasalt. During Covid I dusted off my sewing machines, and began making oversized shirts like the ones I ‘borrowed’ from my dad. Old rugby shirts, and button down shirts, which were a comforting slice of familiarity, and nostalgia. Since then the brand has grown, but with the same ideal - creating clothes that feel like a hug from home. 

What is ‘slow fashion’, and why is it so important in today’s climate?

Slow fashion is an antidote to fast fashion. Fast fashion is the relentless production of new garments, often made from synthetic fibres. Brands drive down prices, meaning the people sewing the garments are often paid poorly and treated unfairly. With fast fashion comes a huge environmental cost, as unsold garments end up in landfill or incinerated. Slow fashion tends to shun trends, and focuses on timeless pieces that are made to order - meaning there’s very little waste.

You tend to make 16 garments a month - why is this?

It’s a one-woman show, it’s just me that designs the garments, drafts the patterns, sews samples, organises photoshoots, and after all that makes the orders. At the moment I limit myself to 16 orders a month, to ensure everything is as well made as it can be, and it gives me a little time to work on new ideas too.

How can people make an effort to shop more sustainably, and introduce slow fashion items to their wardrobes? 

The most sustainable way to shop, is to shop the wardrobe you already have. That might sound silly, but wearing and caring for your clothes has the smallest impact environmentally. I have lots of fun putting clothes away for different seasons, and thinking of new ways to style them the following year. After that, and shopping preloved, purchasing clothes from slow fashion brands is brilliant. It’s a very different experience shopping from a slow fashion brand, you can chat to the maker and have garments made that fit you beautifully

What’s it like to be surrounded by other like-minded artists at Morgans?

I feel incredibly lucky to have a studio at Morgans. I’m surrounded by beautifully curated art exhibitions, alongside a painter (Martha Holmes), potter (Julia Florence), jeweller (Found Treasure), and designer (Sina Luck). It’s an inspirational place to be. For anyone who is self-employed, it can feel like you’re in a bit of a bubble. But working alongside innovative, creative, and kind ladies has a real impact on how I approach my studio work

Why should people support independent makers?

Without independent artisans who create their unique wares, we would struggle to authentically express ourselves. We’d be surrounded by a sea of mass-produced beige, and our homes and wardrobes would have zero individuality. Which would be awful! Supporting independent makers encourages them to keep doing what they love, and contributing to a rich and varied culture that we all benefit from. 

https://www.morgansfalmouth.com/

https://www.ellagriffee.co.uk/