“What inspired you to start Uri?”

Motherhood, a dream to create not only a product but a whole supply chain that benefited everyone / thing involved.

After previously setting up a brand within the factory, I was spurred to take the next step – a seed to store brand. Involving everything from planting the seed for our fibres on our family land to designing around the fibres we grow, and then the final step of selling direct to customer.

“Where did your interest in bag design and basketry come from?”

After working in sustainable fashion design for a while I see a bag as one of the hardest working parts of a wardrobe - the basket bag is modular, you are able to work it into the wardrobe. Transeasonality and durability was the centre of the design values. Ensuring each component can be composted and replaced once past its wear.

Basketry on the other hand is part of my heritage; my family on my mothers' side have always woven their own sleeping matts, fishing baskets, home needs from what is available from nature around them. As far back as I can get to, weaving is part of our families lineage – it is no surprise I have always been drawn to it and have finally looped round to designing the most durable basket (out of natural materials) I know of. Basketry has become an obsession – we hope to keep on developing our weaves to new complexities with more indigenous local communities.

“How many weaving groups currently work for Uri?”

We have one main weaving group consisting of 12 women full time and two others consisting of 20 (and more) that we work with ad hoc.

"Supporting local communities is at the core of Uri’s mission. What is your vision for the future of the brand?"

We hope to create enough income to expand the support we can offer to our all-female weaving communities by providing education, health care, childcare, pensions and career progression - most particularly for the women who support their children on their own.

“What has been your biggest challenge to date?”

The distance, our groups being so remote has had many hardships. The climate change has affected the Philippines severely, the monsoons get more ferocious each year. This has impacted the communities, with flash floods that cut our communications regularly. When we are in the height of wholesale production, our manager has to make treacherous journeys just to communicate our needs, quality control and collect our orders.

"You modelled some of our collection for our photoshoot. What are your favourite MOP pieces and why?"

The long silk skirt, Nora! It felt even better in real life, this is something that could be slotted into any capsule wardrobe. Elevating even trainers and an oversized knit, which is a regular in my life.

The June dress in mustard is also incredible, a dress that you feel comfortable yet stand out in.