About Us

An Independent Company

As a small business based in Bruton in the UK, Cabbages & Roses is continuously adapting and changing. We are finding our tiny independent feet in a big, tumultuous, unpredictable world. 

For us to navigate this world, we find ourselves revisiting our roots to seek out the right path. We are fortunate to have nearly two decades of foundations to call upon. We are especially lucky as our founder is also our Creative Director and our guiding hand.   

Cabbages & Roses will always be an anomaly. We are a business but we find commercialism uncomfortable. We are growing but we want to remain unique and a secret. We want to make affordable and inclusive collections but we don't want to compromise on our manufacturing or the provenance of what we sell.  

We have 8 very talented & hardworking Cabbages. Many of us have only known Cabbages & Roses as a workplace so we do not operate in the same way most other retailers operate.

We are designers, producers and occasionally innovators. We design, make and sell fabric and clothes which could not be more different in their approach to production, selling and business operations.

We see a lifestyle, not a brand. We never seem to take the easy path. We want to take the best path we can. We have some ideas, some of which are happening, some are about to happen. In order to safely navigate the rough waters of industry, we will continue to rely on you to support us. To look beautiful in our clothes, to dress your houses with our magnificent fabrics, to spread the word that there are some companies that are paving the way to a gentler, kinder world, which are less about excess and more about living life beautifully.

Cabbages & Roses was founded by ex Vogue girl Christina Strutt in 2000. It is an independent, family run business based in Somerset which specialises in British made fashion, printed fabrics and lifestyle goods for the home.

The company was created to fulfil the need for something beautiful and practical to be incorporated into everyday living. The collections are unique, renowned for their British eccentricity and their focus on cosy, generous living.    

Our founders feel that there is a need for unfussy design in the world, a need for a shop where mothers can take their daughters and both could leave the store with something to keep and cherish. A brand you can return to, no matter what your age.

 

British Fashion & Fabrics

Our clothes are made by some of the most talented craftsmen in the UK. Uniqueness and comfort are always at the forefront of the development process. We work with local, independent suppliers who have unmatched expertise in their chosen field, from beautiful Scottish wool and hand made accessories to hand laid coats and dresses made in limited edition quantities.

Our timetable is based upon the seasons. You will always find a warm coat when it is cold and a beautiful summer frock when the sunshine finally appears. Some people like to call this slow fashion, but we just think it is good to be able to buy something that will be immediately useful to you. We also make things to last, that are to be cherished and handed down from one person to the next year after year. 

Our fabrics are all printed in the South East of England. We use a combination of methods, depending on the effect we want to achieve. We have been making fabrics since the start of the company and use both traditional printing methods and digital printing to achieve the very specific look Cabbages & Roses is known for.

Our wallpapers are made in Northern England, they are printed on machines over 100 years old which gives texture, warmth and a perfect companion to our fabric collections.

Our lifestyle collections including bedding and home accesories, are available at selected John Lewis, House of Fraser, next & Independent retailers across the UK. We also have room wear collections availabel in most major department stores in Japan. 

 

Our Values   

Sustainability

The ethos of Cabbages & Roses is to be as conscious as possible in terms of waste, impact on the environment and how we treat those we work with. We have an ongoing Social Responsibility program to endeavour to be the best that we can be, for the environment, for those we work with as well as in our local community. You can read more here. 

Beauty

Every product produced by Cabbages & Roses must be integrally beautiful. Practicality and functionality are a part of what we believe is beautiful. The beauty of our products stems from their provenance as much as their design.

Simplicity 

Every product performs a function.

Longevity

Our products are created to last. They are not made with trends in mind; they are made with beauty and functionality as a priority. Cabbages & Roses is designed for individuals. Cabbages & Roses is not a disposable brand, the classic designs are created to transcend fashion and remain relevant in your wardrobe for many years to come. Often we design pieces in one collection that go perfectly with something we make 5 years later.

Integrity

Good quality, from design to manufacturing is central to the brand. Our products are made by experts in their trade; the care taken in each stage of production ensures that the Cabbages & Roses process retains it's integrity.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In 2017, we launched our first social responsibility program for the company. The global fashion and textile industry is the second most polluting and damaging industry in the world, second only to oil.

At Cabbages & Roses there is a deep understanding that we must be mindful of the choices we make and the impact they have on our environment and the people we work with. Building on the ethical values that make Cabbages & Roses what it is today, we want to design, create and instil a company culture that not only produces beautiful clothing, but also respects both the people we work with and our planet.

We are in the stages of creating a programme to ensure that the environment and human welfare sits at the core of our company values, from our supplier relationships, to our company culture and our broader business ethics. It is not enough to simply comply with the minimum requirements. We aim to build on this each year. 

Our 3 core environmental focuses are:

We are a disposable plastic free company. 

To launch a series of tools that enable the business to be more transparent over the next 18 months. These include a carbon calculator for the business, a recycling calculator as well as implementing a transparent pricing tool on our website. 

To source 20% more responsibly sourced fabrics each year than the year before. 

Our 3 core human welfare focuses are:- 

We are a National Living Wage employer.

We offer a paid volunteering day to each of our staff to support local causes which launched in 2018. 

To only work with suppliers who have signed our supplier code of conduct by the end of 2018.