Last month, our team visited the Private White VC factory in Manchester. We had heard a lot about them before — their history, their reputation — but walking into the building made it real. It’s a place where British manufacturing is still alive, not just as a concept, but as a daily practice.
For us, the visit wasn’t about ticking a box. We really wanted to see how another North West-based business, with its own long story, goes about doing things well.
On the factory floor
The first thing that struck us was the focus. Around each table and each machine, people were quietly doing their work — cutting, pressing, stitching — with an attention that felt steady and unhurried. There was no sense of rushing something through, only of getting it right.
We kept noticing the small things: how a seam was checked twice before moving on, how cloth was handled with care. These details might sound simple, but they add up. They’re the difference between something that lasts and something that doesn’t.
Old and new together
Private White VC isn’t stuck in the past. Yes, there are paper patterns and techniques that have been used for generations, but alongside them are modern tools and processes that make the work consistent. It felt like a balance — holding onto what’s worth keeping, while using new ideas to strengthen it.
That mix reminded us a lot of our own approach. In our business, too, tradition and innovation aren’t opposites. They rely on each other.
A community of makers
More than the machinery, what we’ll remember most is the people. You could see the pride in what they were doing — and the sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves.
It’s easy to forget that manufacturing isn’t just about products. It’s about livelihoods, skills, and communities. Being in that factory was a reminder that when you invest in making something properly, you’re also investing in people.
Why it matters
We left Private White VC with a lot to think about. For us, the visit wasn’t only interesting — it was grounding. It showed us that British manufacturing has a future when it’s built on care, on knowledge, and on people working together.
That’s a message we want to carry forward. Because in the end, doing things well isn’t just about what you make. It’s about the way you choose to make it.
