Irish Design Spotlight: We Make Good

Tell us about you and your brand/business
We are an award-winning social enterprise that believes in equality and caring for what matters most; people and the planet. Our products are designed by some of Ireland’s best designers and made by people facing social challenges who have been supported to develop valuable skills and gain employment in their craft. We have full-time print and sewing rooms, where we employ and train refugees and people that have experienced disadvantages in their lives. As well as producing our own homewares, we also produce for some of Ireland’s best designers. All of the profits from our products are put back into the social enterprise, which helps us to develop more opportunities for our workforce to grow and develop. 

What is your mission?
We want to see radical changes in how we as a society produce, shop and support the people who need it. We work towards a more equal Ireland where everyone has the chance to achieve their goals, we focus on assisting people from disadvantaged backgrounds – such as those coming out of prison or addiction services, or people coming to Ireland as refugees – find meaningful employment. We also believe that fashion can be slow and made to last while still being fun and exciting. We’re developing ways to reduce our waste and reuse, and are keen to play a role in supporting Ireland to be sustainable. 

What kind of items do you stock?
We are a sustainable slow fashion brand, so everything we make is made carefully and ethically. Right now we are launching an exciting new line of organic cotton t-shirts called EQUALITEES. There are some amazing Irish artists that have collaborated with us on this launch, interpreting themes such as trans rights, the right to housing, climate change, gender equality, racism and mental health in their own style. We have set up a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to bring these designs to life. There is a design for everyone, and the proceeds of each t-shirt go directly back to the social enterprise and the artist. 

What new brands or items are on your radar?
The Mourne Textiles campaign for reviving the natural fibre manufacturing process of linen in Ireland is really exciting. They discovered a complete set of flax spinning machines in old derelict linen mills and are bringing them back to life with the help of crowdfunding. It will be very interesting to see where the project goes, and how it will positively impact the materials industry across Ireland. 

Was money/funding a concern when starting out?
We were started with the surplus from our mother charity Quality Matters, which is a consultancy that uses all its profits to support equality-based projects. We have also had support from philanthropy, which helps us grow and innovate. It’s never been easy but we are sustainable and growing slowly while having a social impact, so we are really proud of that. We have very ambitious plans for the future. 

Best business advice you’ve gotten
“Ask 20 people for their advice and listen carefully” – this is advice from my dad, a serial entrepreneur, who would buy new businesses not doing well and reinvigorate them. He was never scared by not knowing a new area of a business. It’s made me believe that a good team can turn their hand to any new business opportunity as long as they do a lot of research and really listen to the experts, mix that advice with their own instinct and then work really hard to apply it. 

Favourite sustainable style accounts to follow online
The Useless Project and Liadain Aiken, a brand that makes beautiful handknits with an emphasis on longevity and repairing. 

Best fashion purchase
Anything from Scout – we are big fans! 

Other sustainable Irish brands you love
Pearl Reddington (Irish knitwear made locally with Donegal yarns), Jiminiy (a social enterprise working to bring sustainable toys to Ireland’s children) and Siopaella – we love second hand fashion and these guys do it well.

Proudest moment so far
100% of our social enterprise staff have progressed into employment or education. It is the most important part of what we are about – seeing our staff evolve to the point of being able to move on into new employment after their time here.

I want my brand to be remembered for… valuing the individual and making the impossible possible for our workers, as well as helping Irish fashion history be the best it can be. 

If I could dress anyone it would be… Sinéad O’Connor. We miss her and admire her so much.

Imagery courtesy of We Make Good