Friends create workwear brand that sells to women working in outdoor trades

Two friends from Cheshire are behind a new sustainable clothing brand aimed at women in trades as well as those enjoying more manual work outdoors such as gardening or farming.

Entrepreneur Flavia Paterson and award-winning gardener Arabella Hill are co-founders of Paterson and Hill which they created over lockdown and launched last September.

Manufactured by textile experts Cookson & Clegg in Blackburn and Teemill in the Isle of Wight, the clothing range uses sustainable and circular fabrics and technical detail to cater not only for the growing number of women in traditionally male-dominated trades, such as farming, but also the large number of new gardeners and DIY experts following the pandemic.

“Since the pandemic 3m women have taken on gardening and ONS stats show there are growing numbers of women in skilled trades such as farming, engineering and construction,” said Flavia, who is also a director at Quantum Communications.

“Yet there isn’t a range of durable clothing that suits their needs so they’re either shopping at high street shops or trying to find menswear that fits.”

Paterson and Hill

The lightbulb moment to create a new range came from Arabella. While working on an award-winning garden at Chelsea Flower Show she was struck, while standing in the middle of a construction site, that the men working alongside her were amply catered for in clothing unlike herself.

She wanted clothing that was flexible for the type of hard manual work she does week in week out, that was durable, practical but flattering and sensitive to the environment.

She mentioned the idea to Flavia who had spent years working in the energy and forestry sectors, where she also had found that safety wear was largely geared towards men.

“We spoke about it one evening and realised there was a gap in the market,” said Flavia.

“It was difficult to find clothes for women working in physical outdoor spaces.

“I worked in the energy sector and the forestry sector for a number of years and I found that while men were catered for and kitted out, I had to find the smallest pair of boots or jacket which were still a little large.

“We did a lot of research and focus groups in London, Manchester and Edinburgh and the feedback was that there was a gap in the marketplace.

“One woman was buying three pairs of jeans a year from Primark which didn’t last long.

“For us, it was about getting her to buy a pair of good quality and durable trousers that would last years.”

The main range includes trousers that have been ‘field tested to destruction.’

Not only is it high waisted but is made from durable but stretchy fabric and includes nine pockets that can carry notepads to tools.

They also sell organic tops that can be recycled after use and put back into the circular economy.

Flavia added: “One of the things I like most about our range is that it is suited to so many different purposes, you can use them in trades, but also if you’re just walking the dog or digging in the garden.

“Sustainability also plays a huge part in what we do. This isn’t throw away fashion, it’s made to last and it’s made not far from us in Cheshire”

Arabella said: “We’ve made numerous amendments to our designs and tested them exhaustively in the field.

“We want to bring about a revolution in workwear for women not only working in and enjoying the outdoors but also skilled indoor trades such as plumbers, decorators or mechanics.

“We want to showcase the amazing women in these areas and how their clothes should not only be fit for purpose, but respect the environment.”