A KIND CLOTH TURNS 2!
We are 2! THANK YOU!
I cannot believe it! Where does the time go! We made it into our second year, and that is all down to you, our wonderful supporters since we first launched in 2021. So a huge, huge THANK YOU!
I think it goes without saying that the past couple of years have been incredibly tough for all. The cost of living crisis has certainly put a huge spanner in the works in how A KIND CLOTH was hoping to move forwards after the first year. But plans are meant to change, and we continue to learn from our challenges!
Challenges in running A KIND CLOTH:
Sustainable Fabrics is essentially a term that should not be used in marketing new fabrics. As a virgin product, can new fabrics been deemed as 'sustainable'? Surely, the most sustainable items are items that are already in existence.
However, our products are the more sustainable option, over conventional virgin fabrics available on the market, particularly in how the production and end life of the fabrics affect the environment. We have therefore been changing our promotional words to 'more sustainable', 'responsible', and 'mindful' sewing/dressmaking.
Business is tricky. We have to make money, but in encouraging people to choose and live a more sustainable life, we don't want to promote our products too much to encourage people to buy something if they don't need it. It's a fine balance that we are most definitely still working on!
Postage costs in particular this past year have been especially challenging. With the amount of postal strikes at Royal Mail, causing delays and other issues, it is difficult for us to increase our postage prices to our customers. However, the rises keep going up and although we have had to raise them slightly over the last few months, we are still absorbing the costs of postage at too high a margin. This means that unfortunately, we will have to review the state of the postal costs on a more regular basis than before.
What's to come in the year ahead:
On reviewing the kind of fabrics we have in stock, I fear we have more patterned fabrics than basic plain colour solids, which are much easier in wearing for capsule wardrobes. (It's difficult to say no to beautifully patterned fabrics when presented to you!) In this respect, we will be focussing more on fabrics in solid colours, and bringing in new quality textiles to the collection such as ramie and paper. Yes that's right - paper, in fabric form!
There will be more collaborative events, and I can guarantee a heck lot more learning opportunities!
The existence of this shop comes down to all our wonderful supporters, that's you! Anyone who's ever visited the shop, bought something, visited our social medias, commented, liked, shared, and just being immensely kind and supportive, sharing all ideas with open minds. As a thank you, we'd like to offer you an exclusive offer, of 20% off all fabrics in our shop today only, to celebrate our second birthday! Just use code '2NDBIRTHDAY' at checkout! Offer ends 23:59hrs Sunday 19th Feb 2023, minimum £5.00 spend, single-use, valid on fabrics only.
Check out our range of more sustainable fabric options here for some mindful sewing!
Photo: Marine is wearing a self-made Ashling Blouse from Papercut Patterns, made with Organic Cotton Poplin in White, and Corozo Buttons in Moss Green 11mm.