Studio Nicholson is a London-based contemporary fashion brand built on timeless design and quality craftsmanship. The brand employs 45 people across its head office and retail sites. For Annie Gurney, Head of Production, sustainability isn't a new concern – the challenge is turning awareness into meaningful action.
"As a small team, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start. The opportunity LCT gave us was a specific, tailored programme with feedback and advice from experts. It was the push we needed."
Studio Nicholson wasn't looking for sustainability basics. What it lacked was a framework to move from well-intentioned but unfocused efforts to systematic practice. It had participated in sustainability initiatives before, but found them frustratingly broad – generic advice that didn't reflect how fashion businesses actually operate.
What the LCT programme offered
LCT workshops and one-to-one sessions delivered expert advice from people who understood fashion.
"The experts gave really valuable advice that was pertinent to fashion brands. In the past, some of the round tables have been more generic, but it felt like the people in the LCT programme really knew what they were talking about."
The programme also provided access to Seedling, an emissions measurement platform built specifically for businesses. It measured Studio Nicholson's carbon footprint and broke down emissions by scope, giving them concrete data to work with. But the programme's real value was deeper - the structured approach became a blueprint Studio Nicholson could apply to other environmental concerns.
"It broke it down in a way that we now have a structure to work towards. The carbon emissions work became a template for how we can implement more sustainable practices across the business."
Studio Nicholson involved its whole business in the LCT programme. All 45 employees contributed data on commute patterns, working arrangements, and travel habits.
"People felt engaged just by being asked about their commute and working patterns. That awareness makes you want to address some of your practices and behaviours."
The programme acted as a "jump start" for a more environmentally aware way of working, particularly for those already passionate about change. Rachael Begley, a Product Developer at Studio Nicholson and currently undertaking an MA in Sustainability, worked alongside Annie to lead the project, using expert feedback and one-to-one sessions to bridge the gap between academic theory and commercial reality.
Findings were presented to employees, explaining what the data showed and what it meant for operations. Doing so brought everyone into the conversation – making sustainability tangible rather than abstract, and something the entire team could understand and contribute to.
Annie now meets quarterly with the company's operations team to review progress on renewable energy suppliers and recycling systems, demonstrating how the company’s involvement in the LCT has changed its sustainability approach.
Studio Nicholson's production team set itself a formal business KPI: conduct a full sustainability audit of its 2025 supply chain. The brand has already begun reaching out to vendors, asking detailed questions about energy use and carbon footprints to build a comprehensive picture of its manufacturing base.
"The supply chain sustainability audit is one of the key initiatives that we’ve set in place as a result of the LCT programme.”
The programme gave Studio Nicholson something it had been missing: a repeatable methodology for measuring and addressing environmental impacts. It turned scattered sustainability efforts into structured business practice embedded in KPIs, quarterly reviews, and supply chain audits.
"It was kick-started by the opportunity to be involved in the programme and having a clear framework and tangible goals to achieve."
For Annie, what distinguished the LCT programme was clear. "I was really impressed with how the programme was structured and organised, as well as the calibre of support we received throughout. We've participated in similar initiatives in the past, but they didn’t feel as relevant or focused."
The framework the programme provided extends beyond carbon. Studio Nicholson can now apply the same structured approach to water use, waste management, circularity, or any other environmental concern it wants to address. The methodology is transferable.
For brands considering the programme, Annie's advice is straightforward: it's worth it. The value lies in having dedicated time and expert support to focus on something the team already cares about but struggles to prioritise amidst competing demands.
"Sometimes that's all it needs - that little seed to be sown."
Studio Nicholson's 2025 supply chain audit will be substantial work for a business of its size. The quarterly operational reviews will continue, incrementally improving energy procurement and waste management. The framework will be applied to environmental concerns beyond carbon as the business evolves.
What's changed most fundamentally is how Studio Nicholson works. Sustainability is no longer something the team thinks about in principle, but something embedded in KPIs, meetings, and daily operations.