D.READ FAQ
When did you start D.Read Art and Clothing?
D.Read was established towards the end of 2022. I had been working on a skateboarding brand called Dread Decks for a few years prior to this and creating art under the name Dread but the rebrand to D.Read Art and Clothing occured in 2022.
Why did you start?
I started the brand for a few reasons. I have a passion for fabrics, colours and textures and felt I have a distinct design style to offer that was slightly different to what was available on the market. I also feel that there are many issues surrounding the fashion industry that I aim to tackle through my unique approach and mindset.
What do you make?
We make limited collections garments all with roots in traditional British tailoring. The garments are built from menswear style but with the vision that anyone can wear them. Some of our favourite pieces are our casual tailored jackets that are both smart and functional as well as comfortable and classy.
What fabrics do you use to make the clothes?
One of the most important things that we consider when making our garments is what is going to happen to them once they are no longer being worn. Though we strive to make hard wearing lifetime pieces it is inevitable that eventually garments will have to be disposed of. Because of this we strive to use all natural fibres whether that is traditional wools, organic cottons, linens, hemp and tencel. We use natural fibres even down to the thread.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
Some of my favourite fashion designers and tailors include Alexander McQueen, Walter Van Bierendonck, Dries Van Noten, Joshua Kane and Mark Powell. Some clothing companies that I love to wear include Kings Of Indigo, Portuguese Flannel, Wax London, Hiut Denim and HEBTROCO.
Where do you make the garments?
All of the limited release pieces are handmade in our studio in Norwich. Some of our remaining stock of blanks has been made Morocco but once those remaining tees have been used up we are working to produce as much as possible in the UK.
Why do the garments cost what the cost?
The garments cost what they cost because we use incredibly high quality materials and we produce in small batches. This means to cover the costs and time of production and all of the other costs that go into running a fashion brand we have to price our garments high. That said we do not take the piss and try and keep the costs as low as possible while still being able to survive as a business.
How many people work at D.Read?
Currently full time there is only me, Dom, working full time. That said there is an array of different freelancers who we employ to come and collaborate on different projects.
What do are some of the biggest challenges to the fashion industry?
The fashion industry in many ways is a ghastly and dreadful thing that we have created it. It is beautiful and offers joy and happiness but in the same sentence it offers pain, suffering and modern day slavery to so many people. It is a race to the bottom with fast fashion brands torturing the lowest possible prices out of garment workers and the environment at each step of the production line.
The biggest challenge for me is to try and face this behemoth and change the perceptions of what clothing is worth! In manufacturing my garments in house or in the UK we aim to ensure that the workers involved are treated fairly and paid properly whilst creating as minimal an impact on the planet as possible.
