Saving clothes from landfill: Refined Brands acquires Turtle Doves
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January 16, 2023
Refined Brands, the digitally native portfolio of ethically sourced, natural, and sustainable British brands, has recently announced the acquisition of Turtle Doves.
Founded in 2009 by Kate and Graham Holbrook, Turtle Doves uses post-consumer textile waste to create beautifully upcycled new garments and accessories. On the back of accelerating consumer interest in truly sustainable fashion, Turtle Doves’ recycled cashmere gloves, wrist warmers, and upcycled garments, all manufactured locally to Turtle Doves’ head office in Shropshire, led the brand to achieve sales of £4.5m in the LTM.
In the Refined Brands portfolio, Turtle Doves joins Celtic & Co., the digitally native retailer of natural sustainable knitwear, footwear, and outerwear, as well as Frugi, the pioneer of ethically sourced, organic, and recycled childrenswear.
All brands are united in their use of sustainable materials, working to a circular fashion model where products are crafted to last, exclusively using natural or recycled fabrics with a low impact on the environment.
Ben Barnett, Chairman, commented: “The creation of Refined Brands was motivated by a desire to build a differentiated family of sustainable fashion brands, alongside founders and teams that shared our passion and vision. Turtle Doves are pioneers in fully recycled garments and accessories, and I am delighted to welcome Graham Holbrook and his team to the group.”
Graham Holbrook, Turtle Doves Managing Director, said: “This represents a natural step for Turtle Doves as we take our unique and sustainable proposition to international markets.
“The systems and expertise at Refined Brands will enable us to sell directly to customers around the world, and also to large retailers and online marketplaces.
“We will be able to employ more people in the UK, save more clothes from landfill, and deliver our award-winning service to more customers. We are already seeing the benefits from the exchange of ideas that come from like-minded businesses working together.”
