Lavenham: Being Better

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Lavenham: Being Better

Where we are, and where we're heading.

*We’re making more of an effort, more often to create things that last.*

Quilting, outerwear, ideas. Everything starts from our factory in Suffolk. We began making nylon horse rugs – a world first back in 1969. Then we applied our quilting expertise to jackets and gilets, to create harder wearing, higher quality outerwear than had come before.

Sticking to our Suffolk roots keeps us connected to the British countryside that’s ours to look after. It’s also our biggest inspiration: these people and this landscape are why we’re committed to Being Better, and living within the means of the planet.

Some things are easier to keep consistent than others. We’re staying in Suffolk, as one of the few remaining single factory production brands left in the UK, but the way we work can always improve.

Read on for more stories about where we are, and where we’re heading.

# Factory Matters
Working out of a local factory (our home since 1969) reduces our transport mileage and carbon emissions. We installed solar panels in spring 2023 which will eventually provide all the energy the factory needs, and the Lavenham factory now operates a 4 day week which is a more efficient use of energy. It also means our factory workers get a 3 day weekend.

"One of six single factory production brands left in the UK."

# Being Better Gilet
This gilet marked the beginning of our Being Better journey – originally a test piece launched in autumn 2020 which we developed with a recycled version of our in-house Lavenster fabric, and our first organic cotton corduroy binding.

"Sticking to our Suffolk roots keeps us connected to the British countryside that’s ours to look after. It’s also our biggest inspiration: these people and this landscape are why we’re committed to Being Better, and living within the means of the planet."

# Recycled Wadding
Our polyester wadding is now 75% recycled. We’re working towards 100%, but but currently there is no 100% recycled version of the bonding agent used to make the wadding firm enough to go through our quilting machines. However we are currently trialling a bonding agent with 50% recycled content. Polyester won’t biodegrade, but it’s a more ethical option than down from factory farmed birds.

# 100% Recycled Lavenster
In autumn 2021 we switched the polyester we use to make the majority of our products to 100% recycled. Made from waste plastic bottles, a Lavenham jacket recycles approximately 7 plastic bottles including the wadding.

"Everything starts from our factory in Suffolk."

# Organic Options
In autumn 2021 we were able to switch the majority of our cotton cord binding to an organic cotton, which is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.

# Shelf Fabric Projects
To try and use up fabric that we already own and avoid buying new, we use leftovers to create smaller runs of website exclusive gilets. Taking a tip from tradition, we also produce patchworked pieces which use up our end of roll quilted fabrics. Now some of our partners have started ordering Lavenham shelf fabrics, which reduces our waste further.

# Repair Service
Why do we offer a lifetime repair service? We don’t like to see things thrown away before their time, and quite honestly as craftspeople we like a challenge. Usually we’re asked to replace worn binding or missing press studs, but occasionally we have a go at more unusual repairs, like patching up a jacket singed by an oven. Roma does the majority of our repairs, she’s worked at Lavenham creating new pieces and repairing older ones for years. Here’s to a future filled with things made to last – and the odd patch here and there to keep them fresh.

# Being Better
Being Better is our promise to ourselves and our changing planet. Creating pieces with care, using local production and hardwearing materials is what we’ve done since 1969. The very nature of our high quality products means they stay useful for longer – and leave a lighter imprint behind. Investing in a Lavenham piece helps play a part in the shift towards better standards across the board.

There’s always something we can improve from last time, so today we’re working a little more slowly and more thoughtfully. Lavenham is a work in progress – but then, it always has been.

"Lavenham is a work in progress – but then, it always has been."