#PintoHerviaJournal · A reflection on craft, industry and the realities of building a brand today
British fashion is experiencing a quiet but meaningful shift. Across the industry, conversations around local making, sustainability, and small-batch craftsmanship are gaining momentum — not just as trends, but as a structural rethink of how the industry operates.
For independent designers, however, this renewed interest comes with a contradiction: while the demand for authentic British craft grows, the barriers to entry remain high. Many factories, especially in the UK, are overstretched, selective, or simply uninterested in working with emerging brands producing modest quantities. Production minimums remain unrealistic, timelines are stretched, and accessible pathways for young labels are rare.
This tension is something Oscar Pinto-Hervia watches closely as he builds PINTO HERVIA. As someone who has long championed new talent — including stocking JW Anderson in the early days at Hervia — he understands how critical early support can be. The success stories celebrated today often began with manufacturers willing to take a chance on a designer whose first order was far from commercially significant.
Meanwhile, the broader landscape is shifting:
- Wales Bonner’s upcoming training initiative is a powerful reminder that luxury fashion needs a pipeline of skilled makers, not just designers.
- UK manufacturing hubs are reporting higher enquiries, as brands rethink long-distance supply chains in favour of proximity, transparency and accountability.
- And even established labels are re-evaluating their relationship with local craft, treating it not as nostalgia but as a modern competitive advantage.
For small independent brands, the opportunity is clear — but so is the challenge. If the UK wants its fashion identity to thrive, it must create room for designers at the beginning of their journey. That means factories with flexible minimums, support structures that don’t penalise small scale, and a shared understanding that craftsmanship grows stronger when new voices can contribute.
At PINTO HERVIA, this journal continues to follow these shifts — from the workshop floor to the runway — and reflect on what it means to build a British brand in real time: one conversation, one garment, and one manufacturer at a time.