A couple from Leeds has opened the city’s first clothing store that only sells sustainable fashion.
James Fenwick and his partner Jo Wanner opened Tråd Collective opened on 11 September at Headingley Centre.
The idea for the store which stocks upcycled fashion as well as clothes from sustainable brands came after a new years resolution to shop sustainably.
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However, the couple, who moved to the city last year from Milan, found it difficult to do this and Jo, who has a background in fashion, said it was hard to find clothes that were sustainable in Leeds.
She said: “It was so difficult to find which brands and which stores were sustainable, every time I wanted to buy a shirt or jacket I was researching the brand for 20-30 minutes to see if it was sustainable.
“If the people of Leeds are going to shop sustainably we need to make it easier for them, and that’s what Tråd Collective is all about.”
The clothing style and store interior are heavily influenced by Jo’s Swedish heritage.
As the store prides itself on being sustainable, Tråd Collective is plastic-free and also sells Yorkshire brands such as Olive and Hope and Muthaship, as well as Jo’s own brand Wanner Label.
Since opening earlier this month, James, a part-time teacher at Allerton High School said they have been busy.
He said: “We found that when we were shopping second hand, the stores were always so cramped or the clothes were damp or didn’t fit, so we wanted to create something different. All our pre-loved clothes are curated and well presented and we offer free alterations on all pre-loved clothing."
The store is also plastic-free, focusing on natural fibres co-founded James, added: “You’ve got to be the change you want to see in the world and at Tråd we don’t want to contribute to landfills and we don’t want to add to microplastic in the ocean.”
