Hello from Lancashire
Withnell has grown from my lifelong love of practical and timeless clothing with a few added tailoring touches. I also have a deep appreciation for nature, and a desire to tread a gentler path.
I’m Paula, the designer and maker behind Withnell which is the culmination of my experiences, passions, and the values that have shaped me since childhood.
I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember. I made my first skirt when I started high school and winter coats by the time I left. Those early years taught me the grounding joy and satisfaction of making something with my own hands — a joy that still guides everything I create today.
From the Fashion Industry to Slow Fashion
When I worked in the fashion industry, I became increasingly disillusioned with the rise of fast fashion and the widespread use of cheap overseas labour. The poor working conditions and environmental harm were impossible to ignore.
Starting Withnell meant I could return to craftsmanship, set my own standards, and create clothing in a way that aligns with my values.
I draw inspiration from my local landscape and heritage here in Lancashire — from history, and a love for structured details. Every fabric I choose is natural, premium quality, and responsibly sourced. Many are produced in small batches, dyed with GOTS-approved dyes or certified to Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
What Withnell Stands For
Withnell encourages a thoughtful approach to clothing: choosing natural materials, embracing longevity, and creating a wardrobe that feels personal, versatile, and enduring.
I make elevated yet practical pieces that are rooted in comfort, quiet beauty, and craftsmanship. My focus is on high-quality construction and timeless silhouettes that become long-term staples — garments made with care, designed for real life, and built to last.
Vision
My intention is not only to design beautiful garments but to foster a renewed appreciation for what slow, responsible fashion can be. Sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s a responsibility we share.
The prices of Withnell pieces reflect the time, skill, materials, and ethical production practices behind every garment.
Style
Withnell embodies simplicity and timelessness. Each piece brings a sense of ease and comfort. Quiet details reveal themselves over time — the sort of subtleties you only truly appreciate once you live with them.
Approach
Every garment begins as an original design drafted in my garden studio in northern England. I hand-draft the patterns, cut each piece individually, assemble it using traditional sewing techniques, and finish it with meticulous attention to detail.
This made-to-order model keeps waste to a minimum and honours the slow-fashion ethos at the heart of Withnell.
You can explore our making process here.
Conscience
I am committed to slow, mindful making. Each order takes around 2–3 weeks to complete, and during busy periods may take a little longer — a rhythm that reflects the care and intention behind every step.
Withnell garments are meant to be future-proofed. This approach isn’t new; our ancestors bought from dressmakers and tailors, choosing well and cherishing pieces for decades. Clothing was remade, repaired, reimagined — never wasted.
To honour this tradition, every Withnell garment features your name embroidered on a bespoke ribbon. I hope this small touch helps you to build a meaningful, lasting relationship with the pieces you choose.
Local, Natural & UK-Focused
I source natural fabrics through UK fabric houses and merchants, many of whom are heritage, family-owned businesses. Although not everything can be produced in the UK — a reality shaped by decades of lost manufacturing — I choose to invest in local makers wherever possible, keeping skills and history alive.
Every aspect of the brand — from design to packaging — is considered with intention and crafted close to home.
The Name
Withnell is the old parish name for the cluster of villages where I live and work. Meaning “the hill where willow trees grow,” Withnell has been a settlement since Saxon times, once strategically positioned to overlook the Ribble estuary.
The landscape, history, and people of Withnell are woven into everything I make. It is a place of roots, craft, and quiet resilience — and the perfect name for a brand built on heritage and handmade tradition.
