MARK KENDRICK

Blue Flowers started because we felt there was a need for clothing inspired from the past and nostalgia, and wanted to bring that forward to today. This will always be at the forefront of our design process. A big element is to minimise the effect on the planet through the use of organic fabrics and the production process. Now we are taking it to a higher level, by sponsoring and working with cotton farmers and doing whatever we can do to have a positive effect on the production process from the start to the end.

Really smoothly actually. The brand has grown so much in the last 5 years. We've always stuck to our beliefs and guided it where we wanted to take it. The unusual spelling of Piilgrim at first felt right, but now as things have evolved, we feel it doesn't represent our vision as much as it did initially. Blue Flowers represents our core ethics and vision for the future.

I look at a lot of vintage jackets online, Japanese denim books, charity shops, anywhere really. Then take inspiration from those and put my own ideas into each style.

Very small team! A team of two. Myself (Kendrick) and Bec. We have guest artists designing tees for us, but the general day to day running of everything is just us.

So all the cottons we use are organic, which saves a huge amount of water and cuts out harmful pesticides. We don't use any animal products, so everything is vegan. Also the polybags we use are fully biodegradable as opposed to using single use plastics which lots of brands do. These do cost more which is why companies don't use them, but for us we couldn't have it any other way. All the products we make are made in small runs so there are no left-over products each season. Again we would rather under produce than over produce. If there is a few meters of fabric left after a jacket is made we will make this into a dozen tote bags or something similar so that nothing goes to waste.

You have to really love every single item that you design. If you aren't 100% about something then don't do it. A brand will only grow from the love and passion that you put into it. Stick to your guns, don't let people take you down the wrong path. Listen to Spacemen 3.