#156: How to Run an Ethical Textiles Shop with Bevan O’Daly

If you ran a shop that supported makers to create more sustainably, what would it look like, and what would you stock? Bevan O’Daly is the owner of Glasgow-based Bawn Textiles and her goal is to provide responsibly sourced fabric, yarn and haberdashery for ethically minded makers. In this episode, Bevan tells us about the criteria for the items she stocks, why she sometimes talks customers out of purchasing, and the ingenious solution she’s devised to help makers pass on their unwanted me-mades.

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Bawn Textiles in a bricks and mortar shop in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as an online shop. You can also follow them on Instagram (@bawntextiles). 

If you haven’t already, listen to the initial episode that initiated our conversation:

• Ep. #143: No Small Business on a Dead Planet

Read about Bawn Textiles’ commitment to Net Zero.

Bevan’s next step is to research B Corp Certification as a possible future option. 

Much of the fabric Bawn stocks is compliant with one of the following:

• GOTS certification
• Soil association
• Better Cotton initiative

There are multiple Oeko Tex certifications, learn about them all on their website.

Bawn donates the unsold, unwanted me-mades to the Glasgow-based charity, Refuweegee. 

Bawn Textiles stock fantastic thread storage by Thread Pegs from Cornwall. 

Glasgow-native, Jen Hogg, creates amazing tools for makers via her brand Jenerates. I spoke to Jen at last year’s Knitting & Stitching show:

• Ep. #110: Knitting & Stitching Show 2023

Second Cashmere mending yarn is reclaimed from unsalvageable cashmere garments.

The Bawn spotify playlist can be enjoyed by all!

Maria, AKA @wildknitsglasgow, is a knitwear pattern designer who designed a gorgeous hat pattern and is donating the sales to the charity Refuweegee until March 2025.