Our Story
Beautiful clothes without compromise.
Our Founder
With more than 20 years of experience as a fashion designer, our founder Emma Shaw grew increasingly alarmed by the overconsumption and waste generated by the fashion industry. Despite working for many well-known brands, Emma knew that there had to be a better way. She became convinced that a more sustainable approach to fashion was not only possible but necessary.
The Beginning
"During the sabbatical summer, after spending 20 years working in the fashion industry, I had a lightbulb moment. It was the summer of endless sand, and I was having fun with my kids, finding adventures, and playing in the waves. However, I started to think about what's next for me. I still loved designing and making clothes, but I didn't like the compromises that often came with it. I wanted my next chapter to be more personal and reflective of my values.
I wanted to find a better way to create clothes that didn't compromise on design, quality, and the environment. That's why I decided to go back to my beginnings - my love of UK factories, well-considered design, and extending the life of the worn. I wanted to find my community of like-minded people who shared my values for fashion and ethics.
I’m taking that leap of faith and following my passion.
So here it is - my idea - The Well Worn.
Beautiful clothes without compromise.
No landfill - no waste - no compromise.
Made in the UK.
I decided to follow my dream. Wish me luck!
Emma x "
What's in a name?
"Our name, The Well Worn, is a play on words that we carefully crafted and we thought long and hard about each word.
'The' is our community and refers to the like-minded people who share our values for fashion and ethics."
'Well' signifies positivity, fun, and sustainability,
'Worn' signifies our commitment to providing high-quality, sustainable and ethical items that will become future treasures."
Positive Impact
Emma has pioneered sustainable fashion economy from the very beginning, and has received recognition from Grazia, The Great British Entrepreneur Awards and FT Weekend among others.
Our Collections: REWORKED | REMADE | REWORN
REWORKED
Hand-selected vintage and pre-loved clothing which has been stitched, patched, mended and repaired. Reworked Vintage given a new lease of life.
REMADE
Taking inspiration from vintage garments I design women’s clothing and accessories, with a timeless style. Everything is ethically made in the UK using mainly vintage, deadstock or preloved fabrics.
REWORN
Discovering timeless and iconic vintage pieces is our passion, we search the fairs and flea-markets to bring together our carefully curated vintage collection.
REPEAT
In addition to reworking and using existing materials we want to be operating a circular economy. Our goal is to keep our products in use for as long as possible.