My name is Kris Birtwistle, I’m 22 years old and I study Product Design at Hallam. This year I am on the Enterprise scheme run here at Hallam, this scheme supports people wanting to start their own business which is what I have been working on. I have started a clothing brand that is socially conscious and supportive of students and millennials. And so, as a brand that is predominantly aimed at students and millennials, I try to keep the prices reasonable whilst maintaining a high-quality product which is ethically produced and supports a valuable cause.

I first had the idea for this when I was reading an article that said that we, as an age group, are a ‘generation of narcissists’ however I believe that we are one of the most socially aware, conscientious generations and one of the most inclusive. So, I want to prove this by creating a brand that understands the challenges of being a millennial and to show that young people are conscious of social issues and want to contribute to supporting those in difficulty.

I decided that I wanted to help support the work done by Sheffield Mind, a mental health and wellbeing charity, by donating 10% of all profits. I know people very close to me that have been affected by mental health issues and any support that is received can be very influential. This is a growing concern amongst young people and is an often-avoided topic that needs to be discussed and addressed. This is why I really think it is a cause worth supporting to make a difference to help those affected.

Along with supporting the local charity, I wanted to ensure that the garments were being manufactured ethically, produced in safe environments and with fair pay. We all can remember the shocking Primark factory collapse that killed over 1000 workers, so I only use Fair-Wear certified suppliers which ensures the workers are working in safe environments and are compensated fairly.

On our Product design course, we are often taught about sustainability and eco-friendliness, so I am very concerned by the effects of pollution and the non-biodegradable waste that is making its way into the ecosystem. Because of this, I also wanted to use re-useable/recyclable packaging to try and make a small difference to the garbage problem with the hope that larger brands and companies may follow suit as it is a very easy policy to adopt.

I have been working on getting this business up and running for about 6 months now and I have finally managed to be fully operational with my own website and stock which has been a big challenge, but I have also learnt a lot along the way, so overall it has been a fun and exciting time. I’m now working on marketing and shouting about my business and all help and support is welcomed and appreciated!

All our products are designed to suit the needs of millennials. They are all designed to be comfortable, stylish and easy to wear with almost anything. Whether it be an all-nighter in the library where comfort is key, or if you are going out into town and you would rather look more presentable, all the products have this in mind and they are all available on our website: www.letrclothing.com

All support received is greatly appreciated and as more items get sold more will be able to be released which is what I’m hoping to do in the future; add more designs and products to my brands catalogue, I have lots of ideas about where I want to go with this along with the goal of possibly ending up in retailers. However, the future is the unknown and I’m excited to see where this venture takes me, it has been amazing so far and I would advise anybody that has an idea that they may want to pursue to do it. The main thing is to be patient, believe in your idea and to pair that with a good plan and good research, anything is possible!

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