WHY I LOVE STORY MFG.

STORY mfg. dress and bag, Alexandra Hakim earrings and vintage shoes

I’m always on the lookout for new ethical brands that create gorgeous and unique pieces, and my latest finds, discovered on instagram, is STORY mfg. Founded by a husband and wife duo, the label works with a large team of local artisans in their Indian forest atelier. They create brilliant standout pieces, building on traditional crafts in creative and exciting ways, all with rigorous standards for sustainability and ethics.

They work exclusively with natural fabrics and dyes that won’t have a noxious effect on your skin and your health, helping to keep a variety of specialised traditional craft skills alive, which in turn helps boost the local economy and benefit marginalised communities by promoting their autonomy. STORY mfg. thrive for a zero-waste production line, for instance by using biodegradable materials and turning fabric offcuts into paper tags and more. The clothes are vegan and cruelty-free, kind to the environment and built to last — something that’s very important to me whenever I invest in a new piece. I want to wear it forever! The collection features a combination of tie-dye, embellishment and embroidery, usually the domain of the hippie arena; however, thanks to the interesting cuts and on-trend designs, everything feels beautiful and luxe.

Both the dress and bag are from STORY mfg., and I’ve completed the outfit with vintage shoes inherited from Nick’s great-aunt Joan and earrings designed by another new find — Alexandra Hakim. This young Lebanese designer creates distinctive jewellery with a zero-waste approach, recycling and reusing materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces with a mix of cultural influences.