Bethany Williams 20x20

Bethany Williams is a sustainable fashion designer, humanitarian and artist. After graduating with a BA in Critical Fine Art Practice at Brighton University and receiving an MA at The London College of Fashion in Menswear, Williams launched the label in 2017 with a mission to create positive social and environmental change in the world. Since its inception, the label has grown exponentially, establishing itself as a leading figure in the fashion industry when it comes to setting sustainability standards. Each of the seasonal collections is approached from a social manufacturing point-of-view which Williams set up at the core of her business which is built within a framework of a social enterprise. By creating long-standing partnerships with local grassroots organisations such as The Magpie Project as well as international social initiatives including San Patrignano, Making For Change and Manusa, Williams is weaving a growing network of creative hubs which contribute to the making of a better tomorrow.

The design output of Bethany Williams has evolved exponentially while the use of organic, recycled and deadstock materials has remained imperative. From book waste to reclaimed fabrics provided by Adidas and hand-carved wooden buttons made from birch – the idea of transforming waste into treasure continues to be explored through the seasons. A merging of sportswear and formalwear describes the melting pot of silhouettes and styles which often go beyond gender expressions and express the beauty of individuality.

BETHANY WILLIAMS

BETHANY WILLIAMS

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How is Bethany Williams sustainable?

Bethany Williams is one of the most sustainable brands to exist right now, with sustainability being at the heart of everything she does, Bethany Williams is an example of a brand that will dominate the mens streetwear market in the future.

Williams was initially reluctant about pursuing a career in fashion because of how much waste is caused by the industry. She toyed with the idea of studying sustainable management at St Andrews, but a love of art and a creative streak, inherited from her pattern-cutter mother prevailed and she enrolled on a MA course in menswear at the London College of Fashion. Every material and fabric used is recycled and she often employs people using charity services to help bring her vision to life. For example, members of the San Patrignano drug rehabilitation community in Italy wove book waste into fabric by hand for her spring/summer 2019 collection.

How can we trust that Bethany WIlliam’s design process is ethical?

Process is a very important aspect of design, it refers to the operation as a whole from start to finish.

The process of design includes everything from research, ideas, design concept, pattern making, cutting, sewing, the fitting, making the final garment, styling and so on...

For Bethany Williams, she chooses to communicate her design process through Instagram to her 35k followers revealing to her audience every step of the process with sustainability in mind. This process is an example of ethical manufacturing. Photos are frequently taken of the design to show each step and inform the audience of where materials and fabrics have come from and what is used to produce each design.

PROCESS

Despite being a Menswear brand, Bethany Williams is slowly but surely becoming a brand that has no label. The British fashion award-winning designer recently revealed the release of an upcycled genderless capsule coat collection. The oversized look of the coat is what makes the collection accessible to any and all genders.

Although Bethany Williams regularly appears at Men’s Fashion Week, she considers her clothes to be unisex and actively participates in the growing fluidity of clothing categories. In a fusion of fashion and activism, Bethany altruistically uses her talent to pave way for a more compassionate and inclusive future. What makes Bethany Williams an inclusive brand?

Building a relationship with a brand isn’t always the easiest for the customer. Nowadays, the majority of brands state their point but never have any actual proof. However, Building an honest and open connection with Bethany Williams wouln’t be too difficult as everything the brand does from designing to working with charities is shared with their audience. The whole production is transprarent which is how they inform their audience about their sustaianbility efforts. Williams is honest because she has nothing to hide, she is doing everything right by the environment and the community, she doesn’t have any secrets because there are no imperfections within her brand.

What does community mean to Bethany Williams?

Community is one of the best words to sum up the brand, Bethany Williams is a brand built on many values with community being one of them. ‘A community-first designer who focuses on the charities she partners with as much as the clothing she creates.’ Her community is her tribe, meaning the people she works with and whom she believes in. “I think I’ve got a lot of my personality from being from somewhere small, and from that sense of community,” she reflects. “If something really bad happens there, everyone gets involved.”

Why is colour the main focus in every design?

Colour plays a big part in the 80’s inspired designs of Bethany Williams. Williams’ AW19 was defined by bold prints and a glori ous mash of primary colours. The colour, may in some way rep - resent joy, happiness and positivity in which Williams would want to portray, making the colour encourage and inspire people to be kind and help others.

How does Williams portray a humanitarian nature?

Bethany Williams, an award-winning fashion designer has created a Menswear collection for charity, saying she “had to do whatever I could to help” homeless women and children. Her line ‘No Recourse To Public Funds’ is named in honour of people whose immigration status means they have no access to benefits. The London-based designer, believes fashion “can be an influence for the greater good.”

“Women are much more vulnerable than men when it comes to homelessness and have more complex needs… I knew I had to do whatever I could to help spread the message and story of these mothers and children.”

Williams is setting a good example of what it means to be a humanitarian and look out for people, all because she simply cares. Williams is unlike any other designer because her brand is more than about making clothes, It’s about doing the right thing.

Disinterested in glitz and glamour, and reluctant to have her photograph taken – Bethany Williams doesn’t necessarily fit the stereotype of this industry. But that doesn’t matter because Wiliiams is passionate about her work, she believes in the greater good, not the idea of being someone of status and power who owns a fashion label that makes a good profit. Williams’ desire for change is what makes her work so important. As the climate crisis accelerates to the point of no return, and austerity politics decimate arts funding – she is setting a new standard for how fashion operates, one which situates sustainability and philanthropy at its very core.

How did Bethany Williams remain resourceful throughout lockdown?

Throughout lockdown ‘we haven’t been able to access the resources we would usually have, so we’ve been reaching out to our network for research for our shapes and inspiration. We were asking people to send us messages they’d like to send to the future generations or about favourite clothes they had as children.’

Williams spent lockdown sourcing vintage lunch boxes to make into bags, and the collection sees childrenswear launch for the first time.

Lockdown was a chance for Bethany Williams to put her creativity to the test and be resourceful through the use of discarded materials, with more time on her hands, Williams was able to think carefully about new projects and the materials in which she could use.

PERCEPTIVE