Updating in 2017; according to our traffic stats this is a heavily linked to and read blog! Apparently, plenty of folks are looking at the made in the UK issue. But time moves on - I've removed quite a few brands who have vanished, and I mourn my colleague and friend, Velda Lauder, who was one of the most passionate of my peers making here.
KMD itself is making less in the UK for a long and complicated set of reasons, but if you want to add a brand or factory please just comment. If you want more information than is here . . . don't ask me! I'm really sorry but I don't do consultancy for free.
The photo is our lingerie made in the UK and specially trimmed by hand in UV reactive ribbon for House of Burlesque.
I’ve been accidentally compiling this list since Mary’s Bottom Line started being promoted – it's by no means an exhaustive list and I’m sure it’s going to get added to and edited extensively, but here’s a start! (Oh, and we make about 60% of our stock in the UK at the moment).
Some UK manufacturing units:
AJM sewing; I cadged all my info about them off Ayten – they were set up when Gossard moved production overseas, they employ 41 people, and they do lingerie, swim, nightwear and the occasional bit of upholstery. They said they work regularly with at least 10 UK brands
Gio – the old stockings company I work with, who still make hosiery the 1950′s way.
Nylon Dreams, who make the 10, 12, and 14 strap suspender belts that I refuse to!
British made British brands:
Ayten Gasson – silk lingerie and nightwear with vintage Nottingham lace and inspiration.
Lascivious - directional lingerie brand
Betty Blue’s loungerie - glamourous styles to relax in
Miss Crofton - east London-made soft bralets and big knickers
Bordelle – more straps than you can shake a stick at
Jane Woolrich – longstanding romantic sleepwear brand
Sulis - silk underwear for women and men.
Dainty Lady – for the petite of bosom
Bugsypants – creating the swimwear in the print you want
Rebecca Ansah – luxury lingerie
Lucile Lingerie - sumptuous silk undies and robes.
Buttress and Snatch – luxury burlesque influenced retro lingerie
Strumpet and Pink – elaborate luxury knickers
Andrea Billiard – modern lingerie with bold design
Atsuko Kudo – luxury high fashion latex lingerie with exclusive prints
Darling Ava – made to order corsets and lingerie
Ell & Cee – luxury silk chiffon with amazing detail
Frantic About Frances - new retro brand.
Gilda and Pearl – individually customisable silk lingerie
British brands who make some or most of their goods in the UK:
Us! – check the product descriptions, but roughly speaking, if its a continuity item or a different colour of a continuity items, it’s made here, if it’s a bra set, its made overseas.
Fleur Of England – silk and lace English lingerie, bridal and swimwear. Mostly made in the UK, some in Europe.
Paolita – superb swim and beachwear, their robes and kaftans are made here in the UK, mostly available through our shop in Marble Arch.
British brands made overseas but exporting British style round the world!:
Playful Promises - though the pasties exclusive to the shop and site are British, most of it is made overseas to make their trend-led, fun and flirty styles very affordable.
What Katie Did – ditto on the pasties front, WKD are one of the largest independent brands there is, exporting faux vintage lingerie around the globe!
Miss Mandalay - large cup bra and bikini set specialist, she does make the occasional range here but you’d have to ask her which ones each season.
Candy Baker – printed and crystalled hosiery based in the UK
Kriss Soonik - Estonian based in London making cute loungerie – she makes her peices back in Estonia.
Aloe – luxury loungewear and clothing in flowing silks
Amoralia – maternity lingerie made with love
Asceno - silk georgette lingerie
Damaris and Mimi Holliday – One of the longer standing UK designer brands.
Harlette - luxury lingerie
Jenny Packham – designer lingerie and bridal.
Love By Susie – luxury bridal wear
Myriam Girard – French designer stuck in London!
Pistol Panties – designer swimwear
Shelle Belle Couture – beautifully feminine swimwear, lingerie and slips
Royce – British designed non-wired bras
Berdita – classic lingerie and shapewear
Rigby and Peller - By appointment to the Queen!
Shock Absorber – a UK sports bra specialist who export across the globe
Stella McCartney – now there’s a familiar name
Ultimo – patented one of the first silicone bras
The corporate big boys:
UK companies who don’t make in the UK and probably don’t need our help but hey, for the sake of completeness here’s a list.
