Margene is a London-based womenswear brand founded by Kewal & Aditi, who brings extensive experience from working with large fashion houses. The brand specialises in contemporary tailoring and womenswear, with sustainability considerations built in from the outset.
Having the intention to prioritise sustainability is one thing. Knowing which specific practices to implement and how to measure their impact is another. For a young brand, understanding where to focus limited resources becomes crucial - there's no point investing time and money in the wrong areas.
What the LCT programme offered
The one-to-one sessions on circular business models proved particularly valuable, enabling Margene to plan for initiatives it could implement three or four years down the line, when customers might want to resell or upcycle their clothes. That kind of forward planning is rare for young brands typically focused on surviving the next season.
Through conversation with mentors, Margene discovered The Materialist, a deadstock company supported through the British Fashion Council's Circular Fashion Innovation Network. This connection led directly to the brand sourcing deadstock for its next collection - a tangible outcome from a single conversation.
Measuring carbon emissions for the first time was eye-opening. From a data collection perspective, it helped the brand organise its own operations and understand how different practices interconnect.
"It was interesting to learn about carbon emissions in general, but also tracing it back to our practices and how they are interlinked."
Understanding the specific impacts of different materials proved hugely beneficial. While Margene already uses deadstock for almost 70% of its collection, it learnt about the specific impacts of silk and wool, prompting the brand to explore alternatives and more responsibly sourced options.
"From a materials point of view, we learnt how we use materials, how those materials affect the environment, and how we can improve."
Measurement enabled Margene to identify concrete changes it could implement immediately, rather than working on assumptions about what mattered most.
Having measured its emissions and identified priority areas, Margene now has a clear picture of changes it can make. The programme gave the brand both the knowledge and the connections, like The Materialist, to take practical next steps.
As Margene grows, it has identified two areas where ongoing support would be valuable. First, educational materials it could share with new team members - straightforward documents covering impacts and certifications that bring people up to speed quickly without requiring a full training programme.
Second, as a small business tight on resources, the brand often defaults to the fastest or easiest option available. A repository of recommended, vetted suppliers would be invaluable - a comprehensive resource for reliable, certified partners it can trust without having to do extensive due diligence on each one.