Launched at the start of 2016 in the village of Delph, Saddleworth, Bailey Laine is a home furnishings and apparel brand which manufactures in the UK using high quality wool. Founder Katie Mallalieu takes Victoria Noakes through the history of the business, its offering and its philosophy.
Having worked as a higher level teaching assistant for 11 years, and become frustrated with increasing government demands and the amount of time spent completing paperwork rather than teaching, Katie Mallalieu made the decision to quit the profession to join her family’s woollen textile manufacturing business, Mallalieus of Delph, in 2015.
“My father is the MD of Mallalieus of Delph – which has a rich history dating back to 1890 – and when I made the difficult decision to leave teaching, he supported me in my desire to use the craftsmanship that Mallalieus has to develop a brand. As a result, Bailey Laine was born,” says Katie.
Using soft woollen material supplied by parent company Mallalieus, Bailey Laine prides itself on creating high-quality products that are British made and make the ideal luxury addition to a home.
The striking range of products includes throws – in herringbone, check and plain patterns in a variety of colours made from 100% lambswool, the ideal finishing touch for any sofa, chair or bed – plus cushions and lamp shades as well as limited edition seasonal products released at Easter and Christmas.
Bailey Laine’s cushions are designed by two contemporary artists, husband and wife Victor and Lucy Sanders, whose work embodies Bailey Laine’s ethos of ‘Love your life, express your style’.
Details such as envelope backs and contrasting colour buttons mean that a Bailey Laine cushion offers more than just comfort – the company aims for a contemporary and modern style of cushion with an artistic design.
Since its launch in January 2016, the brand has gone from strength to strength, expanding lines and securing listings in exclusive independent stores across the country.
“Bailey Laine is an aspirational company – we strive to produce innovative and exciting ranges that set us apart. Our aim is that our products should allow you to dare to be different. The quality of our products is paramount and all our products pass through a number of quality control checks. However, it is not just the quality of our final cushion, throw or accessories that is important to us at Bailey Laine, but also the quality of everything we use in order to achieve our finished product,” Katie states.
“In order to achieve this, we feel it is important to source everything in our beautiful country. We have strived to source businesses with the highest standards to provide us with all the elements of our final product, from beautiful cloth to stunning swing tags. In doing this it makes us proud to be able to say that Bailey Laine produces a British product in every aspect.”
Bailey Laine is always looking for ways to address the needs of a changing market, and as such is currently developing new ranges and colour options, looking towards future pantone colour trends and trying to stay one step ahead. However, although Bailey Laine is keen to incorporate the latest trends into its pieces, it strives to maintain a unique style and a contemporary feel.
“Getting to play with designs and ideas is so much fun and probably my favourite part of the job. The invaluable retailer and consumer feedback we receive will also be taken into consideration during the design process and will mean that our new ranges are possibly our best yet. It’s an exciting time for Bailey Laine!” says Katie.
Bailey Laine is also opening up new international markets, having recently shipped to Italy and Japan, with the Japanese market particularly interested in the company’s unique offering. Bailey Laine is continuing to work hard to export on a larger scale and to more countries.
In the meantime, Katie’s aim is for Bailey Laine to expand further and to be present in more independent retail outlets. She believes in the importance of supporting local shops and that the company’s products are a great fit for these kind of environments. In addition, with Bailey Laine’s bespoke lighting offering becoming ever-more popular, Katie is keen to incorporate this service into more stores sooner than anticipated so that is is more widely available.
“Brexit has offered some uncertainty to the industry, and I think it will continue to do so until there are trade deals in place. I am hopeful, however, that it will encourage people to buy British and understand that paying a little bit more for something means they have a product that will last much longer, as well as support our own economy,” Katie states.
“I am absolutely passionate about buying British and supporting all things British made. So many people are unaware of the beautiful products and outstanding craftsmanship that is available to them on their doorstep. I would urge everyone to research the product they are buying and find out if they can buy British before going anywhere else!”
