Eloise Grey
Eloise Grey founded her reputation on her exquisitely tailored coats, jackets and skirts from organic and ethical tweeds woven by the Isle of Mull Weavers in the Hebrides. She has recently launched her Garden Collection, with eco-linens, hand-blocked khadi cotton prints and hemp. All her garments are made in the UK with elegance, wearability and longevity in mind.
Eloise Grey seeks a more considered quality that embodies respect for the makers, the land, the art of weaving, tailoring and the process of trying and buying. Her collection is a product whose time is in tune with the cycle of growth in the land and is treasured rather than lusted after guiltily. Wear your garment year after year and hand it on.
Eloise Grey has now opened a showroom at The Maltings in Farnham offering a selection of UK-made sustainable clothing for men and women. She has her full collection of organic tweed jackets and coats, handloomed cotton and eco-linen blouses, skirts and trousers for women and a capsule collection of menswear. Her menswear collection features gilets, jackets and coats, all intricately made up in the UK from the fine organic Scottish tweeds. The showroom also stocks a selection of knitwear from the Herefordshire-based Keep and Share, and Makepiece, who produce sumptuous knitwear from their own flock of Penine-reared sheep. Eloise Grey offers a new place to find unique and stylish clothing and accessories with strong sustainable stories.
NEW Showroom now open by appointment - Studio 14, Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR, United Kingdom.
Ethical and Environmental Policy
Here at Eloise Grey we work with ethical and organic tweeds from the Isle of Mull weavers. These tweeds are either Organic certified by the Soil Association (the first organic tweeds in the UK) or 'Ethical'. The organic wool comes from organic farms and the finishing process (pioneered by the Isle of Mull weavers) is much reduced in the amount of chemicals used. The 'Ethical' tweeds are mostly organic but some of the wool is bought from smallholders who may not be organic yet or can't afford to be. These farmers used to throw out their fleece & wool because the market price didn't make it worth their while. The Isle of Mull Weavers pay over the market price (a fair price) and have now created a market for the wool where it had once died out.
The body of Eloise Grey garments are lined with organic fair trade cotton sourced from Bishopston Trading who manufacture in India. Bishopston are also pioneers of Fair Trade & Organic textiles.
We have recently launched a summer collection which includes hemp (a very sustainable fabric) and eco linen (from Belgium, using local flax; this fabric has Eco-Tex certification) and hand-block printed Indian cottons hand woven in the khadi tradition of Ghandi.
Eloise's travel policy: "I only fly once long haul and once short haul a year. I try and drive as little as I can but it's not easy."
We work with a tailor in Enfield, Neil Aslan. This year we have dedicated a page to him in our website. Neil used to have his own small factory but went out of business due to large companies 'changing their mind' and pushing down prices whilst labour costs rose. We intend to continue working with him as our business grows. His quality is excellent.
We source ethical suppliers e.g. the Cooperative Bank, The Phone Coop, The Green Stationery Company. We try and use local printers who are also award winning for their environmental credentials - we have a preference for local rather than large-scale.
We make Eloise Grey coats, jackets and skirts with the view that they are to be kept for a long time and handed on, rather than thrown away. The designs are strong from a fashion perspective but they are classic cuts that won't date easily. The way they are constructed (with interlinings) is intended to make them last for a long time and withstand wear and tear. Eloise herself is inspired by the tweed jackets of her grandfathers which lasted decades.
We try to get involved in local projects, though time is often very tight. It's an ambition to be closely involved. We at Eloise Grey plan to give 1% of our turnover to an organisation that is sympathetic to our values of respect for craftsmanship and quality of work which treats such craftsmen and women with dignity and maintains traditions. We also educate our customers about such traditions. Eloise takes inspiration from Yvon Chouinard's book 'Let My People Go Surfing' in his approach to running a socially responsible company.
Social Networks
Eloise Grey is listed in the following categories
Clothing & Fashion / WomenswearClothing & Fashion / Menswear
Clothing & Fashion / Fabric & Textiles
Clothing & Fashion / Fashion
