Financial Times: How ‘Made in Britain’ became cool again for heritage clothing brands

There was a piece earlier this month in the London based Financial Times, entitled “How Made I Britain Became Cool Again” which made me pause.

When I read the word “cool”, I take a stutter step. Because to me “cool” often means temporary. There is a time stamp on it – what is cool today may not be cool tomorrow. And just as we don’t want our favorite restaurant to get too popular, do we also fear our favorite providers of cable knits will, if they get discovered, get diluted?

Is popularity a good thing? (And clearly, a bit of mea culpa. I have been beating this drum for years now.)

Of course, less churlishly, I desperately want the Made in Britain clothing companies to grow. Exponentially. Selfishly, despite risks, it increases my odds that I will have continued easy access to these incredible items. (I don’t want to live in a world without my Chrysalis for Cordings tweed coats.) And selflessly, I believe these companies are part of a stunningly positive cycle where everyone wins - from the farmers to the spinners to the manufacturers to the customers. I prefer driving by and seeing sheep more than I like driving by and seeing stacked canisters from China. (So, I guess that point is a wee bit selfish as well.)