Saeed & Katy Al-Rubeyi Story MFG

SELECTS

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Saeed & Katy Al-Rubeyi
Story MFG

Is there a particular process that you perceive to be unique to Story MFG?
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Natural indigo dyeing through a natural fermentation process is what I deem to be the most unique. The project we work with in India uses a fermentation vat, which is the biggest in the world. The water we use to dye the fabrics with gets recycled and used continuously before it becomes saturated. When it’s saturated, it is used as fertiliser. Standard dyeing has the opposite effect, whereby the water becomes toxic, contaminated and unusable.

What as the pivotal moment that led you both to start Story MFG?
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Katy and I wanted to create garments that didn’t already exist. We had heard about luxury fashion houses and niche Japanese brands using sustainable, handcrafted fabrics, so we went out searching for what we wanted. The pivotal moment came in 2013 when we went to a mainstream trade show, shopping for someone who worked for a huge denim mill, and they told us about a craft project that they were involved with. They gave us a list of craft centres in and around India and, within two weeks, we had booked a trip to India to see what we could make possible. We put everything together during that trip.

What would you define as your brand ethos?
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The central driving force is that we consider the planet and climate as a design tool, it is a collaborator and we work together with the planet. The way we make clothes is much like how vineyards make wine, we have our human input but most of the output is down to weather, soil and luck. It is a natural way of working. We are trying to find what is most authentic for us, but what is also authentically helpful. We are really interested in regenerative agriculture. It seems that research is pointing to this idea that the best way to reverse climate change is to plant more trees.

What does ‘making good’ mean to you?
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‘Making good’ means making sure that at every possible turn, we look and make sure that there is always a positive outcome. When we grow the cotton and the dye plants, is this making the soil better? Once we’ve made the clothes, has it benefited the lives of the craftspeople? If not, it should and we will find a way. Everybody up to the customer, should benefit. Like a plant starting from seed, it then grows and it captures energy from the sun, it then grows more and when it dies, all of that energy goes to the soil. It isn’t recycled, it is a positive cycle. We want Story MFG to be a positive cycle at every turn.
@storymfg

Watch the film here

WORDS FLORIE HARDING | PHOTOGRAPHS EDD HORDER