Raquel de Carvalho is a Brazilian knitwear designer based in London who specialises in reimagining traditional crochet and knitting techniques. Her brand creates contemporary pieces using domestic machine knitting and hand crochet, working with upcycled materials to explore themes of body liberation through lace, transparency, and delicate handmade details.
For a small brand, the questions around sustainability can feel paralysing. What should I do? How do I do it? Can I use this material? Is this option better than that one? Raquel's creative process already embraced many of the right ideas, but she didn't have the structure to turn those ideas into action. She knew about carbon emissions in theory, but had never actually tracked them in her studio. She wanted guidance and a clear goal to work towards.
"It's hard to tackle all the issues in the world. You have to choose the battles you want to fight."
For small brands, the challenge is compounded by limited access to tailored support. Most consultancy isn't specific to the realities of running an independent fashion business, which makes it harder to know exactly which direction to take.
What the LCT programme offered
The Low Carbon Transition Programme's one-to-one mentoring was invaluable. The support was specific to Raquel's business rather than generic advice, addressing the practical challenges small brands face.
"Most brands don't have access to this type of tailored support and consultancy, especially smaller businesses. You never know exactly what direction you should be going in to ensure it aligns with your business decisions."
Through the programme, Raquel measured her brand's emissions and overall impact for the first time. Creating a structured plan gave her clarity on what needed to change and in what order.
Raquel started implementing changes immediately. Working on the brand’s autumn/winter 2026 collection, she began applying what she'd learnt about materials, finding options to achieve the same effects of texture and transparency with lower impact.
Supplier engagement was another important area. For small brands, securing agreements with large factories is already challenging. Asking detailed questions about sustainability can feel uncomfortable when you're trying to secure a relationship. But the programme helped Raquel understand the importance of asking necessary questions, giving her the confidence to do so.
Beyond the practical changes to materials and supplier relationships, the programme has helped build Raquel's confidence. She's been invited to speak on accountability and transparency in the supply chain - opportunities she wouldn't have felt comfortable accepting before.
"I don't think I would be confident speaking about these subjects if I hadn't been on the programme."
The programme helped Raquel feel confident about the things she was already doing right, while giving her a clear picture of what needed to change. Having a plan to follow has made the journey manageable rather than overwhelming.
Raquel's advice is straightforward: start with small things. "Once you set your priorities and see your impact, it makes it so much easier to go step-by-step. The plan I made with LCT gave me that clarity I needed.”
As a small, independent brand in London, Raquel acknowledges that “you go in the direction people open doors for you”. Looking ahead, she identified that networking and connections would help significantly - being put in touch with brands already on this journey would provide both practical support and solidarity.