Ethical Clothes

Designed by Julie Ann Horrox

 "I design clothes which empower women to embrace their beauty
& feel good about themselves, made by happy people earning a fair wage"   Julie Ann

 For the last  six seasons I have been creating a range of vibrant clothing exclusively for Baraka, with small family businesses in Rajithan, Northern India. I feel very much at home here because for at least 10 generations my ancestors have been cotton and silk weavers in the North of England. I love India because the culture is so colourful, celabratory and the sacred is woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Since I was a young child I have been passionate about designing, cutting patterns and making clothes. All the women in my family had these skills, like the families I work with in India.  I love to play combining colours, textures, embroderies and prints to create unique and exclusive designs.

Right now I am taking a break from fashion and retail to focus on my therapy work.  Any remaining Baraka stock is very kindly being sold  by the Tibet Culture Trust, in the Royal Arcade, Boscombe and on there stall over the summer at festivals (see our Events page for more info).

Unique 'One Off Recyled Clothes

 Handmade with love in Dorset
Gorgeous, Unique and Ethical clothing is hand made by Julie Ann from 100% recycled materials. Old knitwear is sourced from charity shops, jumble sales, car boots or donated by friends and family. The old garments are then laundered,and stored in colour co-ordinated boxes untill they find their way to their new owner.  Some woolens are purposefully shrunk too ‘felt’ them, then re-modelled into unique ‘one-off’ styles.

Julie Ann has a natural flare for finding old knitwear that you wouldn't look twice at, but that will look fabulous when its restyled. Buttons are either handmade or recucled and are mde from wood, deer antler or fimo, or old ones are found by hunting in charity shops. Donations to our button tin are always very welcome.

Soon you will be able to buy exclusive readymade garments directly from our website or Julie Ann can make bespoke garments. If you see a style you like but want it in a different  size or colour combination, then you can have a beautiful garment made specialy for you.

Styling and new ideas develop organically depending on customer needs so if you have your own ideas based on our styles please let us know. If you would like something that you can't see at Baraka then please call us and we'd be pleased to help you. We particularly like making one-off special treats for fairies, pixies, woodland folk ,hand-fastings or other rituals.

Through her creative work, Julie Ann hopes to inspire others to buy, make, mend and re-style using recycled materials to create their own personal and individual style, without it costing the earth.

Expert Sewing Tuition & Workshops

Julie Ann has over 30 years experience of sewing skills, which started from a young age helping her Mum who was a Fashion Designer for Pipa Dee and was constantly making clothes for all the family. She assisted in her friend and International Designer, Nina Billington in her design room and factory from age16. She has worked for Next as a Buyer on the initial small team with George Davis when he established next  in 1985. Going on to design ladies wear for M&S,  Debenhams and other high street chains, working for some of the last uk manufactures to survive. In the same period Julie Ann was on the National Committee of The Girl Guide Association and instgated the so badly needed,  redesign of their Uniforms, appearing on the clothes show with Geof Banks and Princess Mararet.

In the 1990's Julie ann designed and made unique 'one off' silk wedding dresses and ball gowns for 'The Cheshire Set', this busiess evolved into a sucessful Interior Design Business. Julie Ann Porter Interiors which ran untill 1998, when her son was born. Since then Julie Ann has run stalls at Festivals filled with her own recycled colthes  and designed costumes for show's (See archive for more pictures).

Julie Ann is now available to pass on her expert wisdom and knowledge to you...

Expert Tuition
Help, how do I put a zip in Oh no ! I've forgotten how to re-thread my machine !
If you are stuck on any sewing project dressmaking or soft furnishings and need some expert advice on how to move forward, £20.00. per hour or £50.00 for half a day.

Develope Your Machine Confidence

Bring your own machine to perk up your skills and confidence and be inspired to sew with ease: £50.00 for half a day or Bring a friend for an extra £20.00 (reduced rates for shared or group lessons)

Creative Sewing Day

Get creative and design your own clothes with recycled materials, learn  essential sewing skills and make your own unique garment in a day, with super lovely vegitarian food £80 each or £50 per person, maximum of 3.

All workshops and tuition can be Tailored to suit your requirements. For example you may want to learn how to make roman blinds, alter an expensive ball dress or remodel an antique wedding dress from your grandmother. You may even like bring allong a whole box of alterations, for us to tackle, thus learning a variety of skills in one day. All this can be great fun and save you lots of money whilst aquiring new and valuable expertises for the future.