About Us

We're not everyone's cup of tea

We're colourful, unique and full of joy.

We want women to feel proud of who they are and to want to stand out in the crowd.

Some people may not want so much colour. And that's ok.

So many people come in and say how many compliments they get when they wear our clothes, how many people stopped them in the street.

In the last 15 years, we've learnt to love standing out for all the right reasons.

Knowing Palava clothes add joy and happiness to someone’s everyday life, that makes us happy.

It’s not about fashion.

It’s not about disposable clothing.

It’s not about short term but long term

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

It’s about the way things are made.

It is about knowing each person who makes our clothing.

Supporting other British manufacturers and makers

It is about doing things in the best way possible

It is about creating UK jobs where we can and knowing where things are made when we can’t.

It’s about always finding ways to make things that travel the smallest and bestest way.

It’s about using materials close to home

Nothing Wasted. Everything Valued.

At Palava, we see waste as the beginning of something new — every scrap has value, and we make sure nothing is thrown away, only reimagined.

It’s easy to overlook the waste that comes with making clothes — but at Palava, we see every scrap.
We cut carefully. We order smartly. But we’re human, and sometimes there’s still leftover fabric.

To us, there’s no such thing as waste — only potential.

We collect our offcuts and give them a second life:

Some go into craft bundles that raise money for charity.
Some support our London workshops and events.
Some we turn into beautiful new things.

We work with suppliers who share our zero-waste mindset — because when we value every thread, we honour the work that went into making it.

And from the beginning, we’ve stuck to our promise: no plastic in our clothes — and none in our packaging either.

Wear. Repair. Rewear

At Palava, we believe in second chances — for clothes, for materials, and for how we think about fashion.

We don’t believe in throwaway fashion. We design every garment to stand the test of time — made with care, crafted from quality materials, and intended to be worn over and over again.

But we also know that clothes live real lives. They’re danced in, washed countless times, passed from one person to another. Seams come loose, buttons come loose, styles change. That’s part of their story — and we think that story deserves a longer life.

That’s why we’ve built circular thinking into everything we do.

If your Palava piece needs a little TLC, our Repair Scheme is here to help. Whether it’s a torn seam or a missing button, we’ll give it the love it needs to shine again.
If something no longer fits or no longer feels like ‘you’, our Resale Section offers a place to pass it on to someone new — keeping beautiful clothes out of landfill and in loving hands.
And behind the scenes, we’re always finding new ways to repurpose offcuts and materials into useful, joyful things — from accessories to homeware to craft kits.

Because the future of fashion isn’t about producing more. It’s about revaluing what we already have, shifting our mindset from disposable to lasting. If every piece of clothing was treated like something to be kept, shared, and repaired, how much better could our wardrobes — and our world — be?

We all have the right to pockets !

At Palava, we believe every woman has the right to pockets — real ones, not those ones you cant fit anything in.

We design for real life. That means dresses you can move in, wash, wear again — and yes, stash your phone, keys, or snack in. If we can fit a pocket, we do. And not the dainty kind — big, functional, feel-good pockets.

Our clothes are made to be worn day in, day out. From busy mornings to unexpected evenings, we make sure they’re as durable, wearable, and joyful as possible. Because when your clothes work hard for you, you feel good in them — and that’s where confidence begins.

About the Prints

You could say we are print-obsessed.

In actual fact we are story obsessed. Every season palava sets off on a voyage to create you a selection of prints that you will love. We’re not everyone’s cup of tea but ha ha … and were enjoying the puns here, but if we float your boat we feel happy. Palava is about creating unique prints to help women feel there absolute best, we should wear clothes that make us feel on top of the world.

People often ask how the prints originate. Truth is each one carries it's own story. Most prints are designed by our founder and creative director Bryony Richardson, occasionly she will pull in other artists, designers for help.

When asked where the prints come from bryony answers " I love old things, childrens book illustrations, prints that use colour, the prints are based around stories always and so theres a sense of humour and nostalgicness about the prints.

Plastic-Free Clothing, Start to Finish.

No polyester, no greenwashing — just natural, biodegradable fabrics that feel good and do good.

At Palava, we only use natural fabrics — not just for how they feel, but for what they stand for. Every material we choose is breathable, biodegradable, and entirely free from plastic. That means no hidden synthetics, no polyester blends, and no compromise.

Our collections centre around three key fabrics:

Organic Cotton-Linen Blend — textured and timeless, with the charm of heritage.

Organic Cotton Twill — strong, soft, and made to last through real life.

Tencel — light, fluid, and graceful, with the movement of vintage rayon but made from responsibly sourced wood pulp.

All of our organic cotton is grown, woven, and printed in Turkey using OEKO-TEX certified dyes, keeping things traceable, safe, and low-impact. We choose our fabrics with care — for their beauty, their durability, and the fact that they return gently to the earth when their story ends.

We’re proudly obsessed with British wool.

The more you wear wool the more you get addicted. A natural, local, and time-honoured fibre that proves warmth, durability, and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Why British wool ?

Five years ago, we embarked on a project that would change everything for us. We set out to understand why British wool wasn’t being used more widely. Back then, it was almost unheard of — companies claiming to offer British knitwear were actually importing wool from Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, British wool had little value, with the cost of shearing often exceeding the price farmers received for their fleece. Since then, significant strides have been made to promote and discover new uses for British wool. The variety in softness and fibre staple length determine its purpose, but by blending different types of wool, we can achieve both softness and strength. Our goal was to challenge the misconception that British wool is scratchy, itchy, and unsuitable for clothing. We’ve succeeded in doing just that, and today, our Heritage knitwear collection continues to grow from strength to strength.

What makes British wool sustainable ?

Using British wool is a deeply sustainable choice — and one we’re proud to champion. It’s sourced close to home, which keeps carbon emissions low and supports local farmers and mills who’ve kept this heritage industry alive for generations. Unlike synthetic fibres, wool is naturally biodegradable, breaking down in the soil and returning nutrients to the earth. It’s also a renewable resource, with sheep producing a new fleece every year. Wool is incredibly durable and long-lasting, meaning garments are worn and loved for years, not seasons — helping to reduce overconsumption. And unlike many crops, wool production requires minimal chemicals, no irrigation, and far less land. By using British wool, we’re not just creating beautiful clothing — we’re helping restore value to an overlooked resource and investing in a slower, more thoughtful way forward.

Who's behind the brand ?

Palava may look big but we are a small team of 8 all together. Split between London and Yorkshire it's a creative bunch!

Founder, illustrator and creative director Bryony Richardson set up the brand 15 years ago

"I love colour prints and anything old. I can’t spell for toffee, I’m as Scruffy as a cucumber.

I set up Palava in ... exactly when is not even known to me, but I’ll guess around 2009.

Wanting to put my energy towards something greater, I moved home to Teeside to takeover a my parent’s dormant business Poppy. Between 1980 and 2000 they had seen a whole industry change and UK manufacturing disappear.

I had a dream to start where they had stopped. I was determined to make in the UK and keep the industry going. It wasn't easy - no one wanted to take a risk making for someone at the start of their journey. But we got there eventually.

I made all children’s clothes at the start, with a few lucky breaks selling to Fortnum and Maison, Harvey Nichols as well as travelling around every county fair I could get a pitch at. It was tough!

The internet was not what it is now. Then we were forced to change our name! I thought it was game over but we pulled through and that’s how we got the name Palava. Now I love our name and it’s a reminder of the journey we’ve been on. What a Palava!

Now I’m getting older, the world again seems more challenging than ever. This year has been a tough one. Business has not been easy and we’ve seen lots of businesses we love go under.

Now is the time to support your favourite independents. "

UK Made. And Proud of Every Thread.

We make in the UK because it means knowing every maker, every stitch, and every story — and because supporting British manufacturing keeps a once-thriving industry alive, from local knitters to fabric mills and button makers.

We make our clothing in the UK — and we’re proud of it. For us, it’s about more than proximity; it’s about connection. Working with small, skilled teams like Golden Touch means we know exactly how our garments are made, down to the last stitch. We’re part of every stage of the process, building relationships that go far beyond transactions. But it’s also about responsibility. The UK’s once-thriving textile industry has become fragile, and by producing here, we help keep that ecosystem alive — from fabric merchants to button makers, from knitwear mills to pattern cutters. Every Palava piece supports real jobs, real skills, and a tradition of craftsmanship that deserves a future. British knitwear is part of that story too — a story of resilience, quality, and care.

And where else do we make clothing?

In Turkey — specifically in the city of Izmir, where everything comes together in one place. From the organic cotton fields to the knitting machines, from the weaving looms to the printing tables, every step happens within a tight local radius. This simplicity is intentional. It means the fabric travels as little as possible, reducing our environmental footprint, and it means we can trace every part of the journey — knowing not just what’s being made, but how, and by whom. We've worked with the same family-run factory for over a decade — a partnership built on trust, skill, and mutual respect. Run by Soliman and his son Borak, their team of 30 craftspeople bring our designs to life with care and precision. It’s a workplace where people are valued: paid above the minimum wage, treated with dignity, and brought together daily over a shared lunch. Making in Turkey allows us to combine quality with accountability — and to stay true to our commitment to sustainability, transparency, and craft.

The Journey of a Palava Garment

By keeping our fabric production simple, we minimise transport miles and maintain complete transparency over every stage of the process—from field to final stitch.

At Palava, we carefully trace every step in our garments’ journey to ensure they are made as responsibly and locally as possible. Here’s how it all comes together:

🌱 Fabric: Our woven cotton fabrics begin their life in Turkey, where they are produced using Oeko-Tex certified inks—meaning they're free from harmful chemicals and better for the planet. This all happens close to the source of the cotton, reducing unnecessary transportation.
🚛 Journey to the UK: Once woven and printed, the fabric travels to our UK production hub in Barking, East London. From there, it’s transformed into beautifully made dresses by our talented team.
🌰 Buttons: We use Corozo nut buttons as a sustainable alternative to plastic. These are made by Courtney & Co., the only remaining UK button manufacturer—keeping a vital heritage craft alive.
🧶 Cotton Knitwear: Our soft organic cotton knitwear is produced in Izmir, Turkey, right next to the cotton farms where the fibres are grown—keeping the loop tight and the journey minimal.
🧵 Wool Knitwear (UK): For our UK-made knitwear, we work exclusively with factories and spinners within a 100-mile radius in the Midlands, ensuring low-mileage, traceable production that supports British industry.