Selkie Patterns has been awarded the Eco-Age Brandmark in recognition of its work to encourage responsible living. By sharing free patterns for home sewing, the brand provides alternatives to plastic or disposable items. In addition to this, it stocks low impact custom-printed fabrics and encourages circularity through a fabric offcuts collection.
Selkie Patterns is a sewing startup run by co-founders Caroline and Alexandra. Their mission is to prove you can be stylish and sustainable through sewing. The only sustainable sewing company of its kind, the company designs sewing patterns (womenswear and lifestyle patterns to sew yourself) and textiles (printed based on pre-orders). The founders also teach sewing, speak about the relationship between sewing and sustainability and about starting a business through crowdfunding. Starting from scratch in 2018, the company was fully funded through a self-devised Kickstarter campaign, with no funds of its own to invest but heads full of ideas.
Selkie Patterns is made up of a British designer and a Swedish pattern cutter, both from a theatre costume background, and this combination infuses its style of vintage nods and clean lines. The textile designs are handprinted and currently, all patterns are drafted in house. They are based in south London, manufacture in England, and sell online and through a handful of stockists. The company runs a weekly blog and newsletter, publishes patterns that enable consumers to swap single-use items for longer-lasting fabric versions, and provides aftercare tips for garments and fabrics.
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