An Acre of Land invites you to step into a wardrobe of clothing that has been designed to embrace shape, embolden movement & celebrate individuality.
Our clothing refuses to be defined by seasons or trends. The design of our garments always takes into account how they feel to be worn in terms of comfort and silhouette and how each garment ‘sits & swishes’ with the other.
The designs will remain constant as well as evolving organically and will appear in spring and autumn in different fabrics with textures, weights and colours to build and coordinate with your own wardrobe, whether it be a capsule or expansive one.
They are designed to be worn all year round, layered up or down with curated knitwear, footwear, hats, bags and jewellery.
Our feet and hearts are planted gently & with purpose in An Acre of Land, amongst friends, the earth & our history.
We hope you enjoy what we have created for you.
Designer & Maker
An Acre of Land
My father left me an acre of land
Sing ivy, sing ivy
My father left me an acre of land
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
I plowed it with a rams horn
Sing ivy, sing ivy
And sowed it all over with one peppercorn
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
Sing ivy
I harrowed it next with a team of rats
Sing ivy, sing ivy
And reaped it all with my little tooth comb
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
I sent it home in a walnut shell
Sing ivy, sing ivy
And thrashed it with a goose's quill
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
An old rural British folk song, which forms the basis of the famous song ‘Scarborough Fair’. The lyrics were adapted slightly depending on which area it was sung. This version is by P J Harvey.
The lyrics are open to many interpretations. Perhaps it is about what can be achieved in a day, a month, a lifetime.. in sometimes (and often) seemingly impossible circumstances.
The importance and power of self-belief, the belief of others, and our connection with the earth, its history and its future.
In short, to never, ever give up or in.
I began designing garments for myself in 2016, out of frustration of not being able to buy the dresses and coats that I wanted to wear, in my sizes and in the fabrics that I love.
So, I taught myself, and learned from friends, some of whom are hobbyists and others who are experts in their fields. Seam by seam, I made one garment at a time for my own wardrobe.
Then other women started to ask if I could make them a dress, and so it grew in a very small way, which I enjoyed, but it also became an unsustainable way of living for my family (my two daughters and I).
Our Responsibilities, Conscience & Process
I was introduced to a team in India by an established and trusted fashion designer, and eventually, after a few distractions, I took my designs to them. An Acre of Land then moved from my own wardrobe to become available in yours.
An Acre of Land is not about mass consumption or production and has no particular desire to join in with the established schedules of the fashion world.
The design process begins in my studio and showroom in York (UK), taking inspiration from historical garments and their stories found in museums and literature; often made and found in various forms in places such as Yorkshire, Wales, France and other parts of Europe.
Heavily influenced by the clothes worn by hopeful pioneers and the workers in the fields, mills and harbours.
Our garments are designed and made to withstand the test of time.
Changes are inevitable both in our bodies and tastes, so if a garment is ‘invited to leave’ your wardrobe we hope that you will donate it to a friend or charity or perhaps ‘re-imagine’ it with your own scissors and threads to darn and patch.
We re-use, donate or compost waste and every ounce of garments and packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable.
All members involved in the design and making process are well looked after emotionally and financially. Most of our team in India have been working together for well over ten years. They are family.
We will always always strive to improve in everything we do - we take absolutely nothing for granted and we are meticulous and ambitious for everything to be ‘good’ in the ‘what, how and why’ we run our business.
Our various toiles, patterns and textile surface designs are then taken to India, the cloth is designed and chosen, the designs are sampled until the garment is ready to be produced in small batches.
Time is spent with friends and colleagues outside of ‘doing the work’, learning, sharing stories, enjoying each other’s company as well as meeting other artisans with the hope of collaboration.
Our cloth fibres are grown and woven in India using only cottons, linens and hand-milled silks and 100% wools. The threads used to stitch our pieces together are 100% cotton and our buttons are made in the last remaining traditional button factory in the UK, made from Codelite, 96% dairy milk.
