Who Made My Clothes? 
Clare is co-founder and designer of Mandatory and the Director of the whole operation. She started out managing the manufacturing workroom and moved to shop floor during the GFC, often coordinating manufacturing at night. These days she buys cloth and co-designs the range, coordinates the manufacturing schedule and works alongside the managers of both sites. She is responsible for some of the longest selling designs in the store. She handles the trickiest of suiting, casual fittings, and draft patterns. Clare also consults on wardrobes for busy men. She keeps regular weekly shifts on the shop floor and works hard to be the great boss she is constantly praised as being.

This week is Fashion Revolution week and we are welcoming transparency by profiling the small team of makers behind Mandatory with the aim to answer the campaign question: #whomademyclothes

Who Made My Clothes? Fiona is the co-founder of Mandatory and the brain behind some of Mandatory’s most loved pieces. She works in the studio once a week to design knit pieces, consult on the range direction and keeps the company true to its original vision in an ever-changing industry.

Fashion Revolution is a global movement calling for greater transparency, sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry. All this week we’ll be profiling the small team behind Mandatory with the aim to answer the campaign question: #whomademyclothes

Who Made My Clothes?
Jamie is our finisher, finalising garments back from the machinists. Every button hole, button, dome and belt loop on every garment is the work and patience of Jamie. She is stepping up to manage the workroom, coordinating the many special orders and stock production. Jamie draws up patterns, cuts custom orders, stock and new designs.

This week is Fashion Revolution week and we are welcoming transparency and are profiling the small team behind Mandatory with the aim to answer the campaign question: #whomademyclothes

Who Made My Clothes?
Hannah is our store and digital content manager. She runs the day to day operations of the shop and co-ordinates fittings and suit consultations with clients. Hannah is also responsible for the website and social media channels. She regularly shoots new products in store to make sure guys (and their potential present buyers) are kept up to date with the latest arrivals. This is a huge role and she sets the pace for others to work to.

This week is Fashion Revolution week and we are welcoming transparency and profiling the small team behind Mandatory with the aim to answer the campaign question: #whomademyclothes 

“The humble shed has been the birthplace of many men’s projects - doing up bikes, restoring furniture and potting vegetables. But for Clare Bowden and Fiona Edwards, a garden shed was the beginning of a different kind of project - the menswear label, Mandatory.”

Pleased to be profiled for by the New Zealand Fashion Museum  - many thanks to Kelly Dix and Doris de Pont - you can read the full article on their site here