Each BREETH piece begins as a sketch, a concept — arduously prototyped by Marc Barnfather, our founder, whose careful R&D process results in a vision of how our cotton fabric might sit, and how our silhouettes might move. Then, it’s in the hands of our makers that these ideas come alive, and our relationship with a long-established local CMT (Cut, Make and Trim) team is the bridge between inspiration and reality. This group of exceptional women — Edwina, Elaine, Hazel, Hershley, Veronica, Henkie, Hesta, and Selena — bring decades of collective experience to the craft of garment making.

In today’s globalised fashion landscape, much of the world’s clothing is produced far from where it’s sold. Mass manufacturing in overseas factories has often prioritised speed and low costs over sustainability, community investment, and quality. In contrast, local manufacturing keeps the industry’s heart beating at home; and the loss to South Africa’s garment industry has been immense. South Africa’s once thriving textile and clothing manufacturing sector, with bustling factories and skilled makers,  was an industrial pride. Over the decades, however, the influx of cheap imports and the pressures of globalised trade have steadily eroded this foundation; entire factories have shut their doors, skills that took generations to master have been lost, and towns and suburbs that once relied on the industry have faced deep economic hardship. 

Between 2005 and 2021, the country lost over 121,000 jobs in the clothing and textile manufacturing sector — a staggering blow to both skilled workers and the communities that depended on them. This downturn signaled the erosion of an entire ecosystem of craftsmanship, local economies, and generational knowledge. At BREETH, we feel a responsibility to rewrite this narrative and to be part of a movement that keeps production on home soil, and actively invests in the people and traditions that make South African garment making extraordinary.

Partnering with a South African CMT means that each BREETH garment supports  a group of talented artisans while also preserving the skills and livelihoods in our own economy. We’re intent on keeping textile and garment craftsmanship alive, in our small way. 

Globally, women make up the majority of the garment industry workforce. In South Africa, this is no different. While women dominate the workforce, they are often underrepresented in ownership and leadership roles, and underappreciated for the immense value they bring. BREETH’s partnership with a women-powered CMT is a deliberate choice. By honouring these women during Women’s Month, we hope to shine a light on the often-invisible work that sustains our local fashion industry.

Women’s Month in South Africa is a commemoration of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings; and it’s also a reminder of the ongoing work needed to create a society where women have equal access to opportunity, resources, and recognition. In fashion, that means valuing the women behind the scenes as much as those in front of the camera. It means paying fair wages, ensuring safe working conditions, and treating garment workers as skilled professionals whose expertise is indispensable to what we wear. .

We have witnessed first hand how the non-negotiable quality central to BREETH, is made possible through the close, collaborative relationships between design and production partners, in which care and precision are prioritised over speed and cost-cutting. Local manufacturing similarly reduces environmental impact by shortening supply chains and avoiding the heavy carbon footprint of long-distance shipping. Ultimately, choosing local is an act of resilience and  a way to build an industry that is firmly rooted in its own soil, culture, and community.

When you wear BREETH, you’re wearing the work of women whose artistry has been shaped over years, and whose livelihoods are rooted in the survival of local manufacturing. This Women’s Month, we invite you to look beyond the label and to honour the hands that cut, stitch, and finish each piece, as we recognise that each stitch is a testament to the women who make BREETH possible — and to the future we can build when we choose to keep our fashion local, ethical, and deeply connected to the people who create it.