Ellen Yates launched brand Taylor Yates while studying at Manchester Met

A luxury handbag brand which was developed and launched by a graduate from Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute is leading the way with its commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. 

Ellen Yates, who graduated from BA (Hons) Fashion Business Management in 2020, is co-founder of Taylor Yates alongside her mother Karen, and together they established the brand which launched during the first two months of studying for her degree. 

Identifying a gap in the market for timeless luxury products made from sustainably sourced materials, Taylor Yates bags are all made by hand from their UK based manufacturing partner based in Somerset using British leather and manufactured in a responsible way.

The brand launches an exclusive reclaimed collection each year which features limited edition handbags created entirely from surplus stock leather with the aim of reducing waste and the carbon footprint of each product. 

Following on from this, Yates recently received funding from Innovate UK to develop a new scalable process working with non-fashion manufacturers to reduce leather waste. 

Yates said: “The reclaimed collection proved to us that our customers are actually interested in sustainability and really care about how the product is made.

“This latest project came about after seeing the problem of leather waste first hand and this inspired us to create a new process to reduce the amount of waste on a scale that hasn’t been done before. We’re looking forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming months.”

While studying at Manchester Met, Yates developed a five-year plan for the business during her final project and had the vision of offering more circular services.

The brand recently received B Corp certification – awarded to businesses who have met certain social and environmental targets – and are one of only a handful of businesses in Northern Ireland to receive this status.

Yates credits her time studying at Manchester Met with helping her to learn valuable skills and knowledge which she put to good use while developing the business.  

Yates said: “One of the main things I found so valuable from the course was the industry connections. For example, I had the opportunity to work on a live brief with Selfridges at the Trafford Centre where I learned valuable skills and insights from working with the brand.

“There was also the design and reporting that we pulled together for our assignments, which I didn’t have much experience of, but I’ve since been able to put those skills into practice when building our marketing materials and managing our social media channels and website.”

Barbara Shepherd, Reader in Fashion Business at Manchester Fashion Institute, said: “At Manchester Fashion Institute, we focus on preparing our students for success in the dynamic fashion industry, empowering them to become future fashion entrepreneurs. The remarkable achievements of Ellen, one of our recent alumni, exemplifies the effectiveness of our approach in nurturing entrepreneurial talent.

“Ellen’s hard work and accomplishments highlight the strength of our team’s efforts in supporting students on their journey to becoming successful fashion entrepreneurs. Ellen has also played a key role in supporting our students by delivering exclusive alumni masterclasses as part of her commitment to giving back to the Institute. These sessions are vital in ensuring that our students gain valuable insights from recent, successful graduates.”