Birdsong
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: UK
Quick verdict
Birdsong is best for ethically-minded feminists who want purchases to directly empower marginalised women in London. What stands out is a genuine social enterprise model, with garments made by migrant women, elderly knitters, and women recovering from hardship, all paid London Living Wage. This is backed by B Corp certification (outstanding score of 117.2) and a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development. The critical caveat: the brand has paused its own garment production and currently offers only embroidered deadstock hoodies, so a full wardrobe is not available.
Key info
- Headquarters
- East London, UK
- Founded
- 2014
- Product categories
- Womenswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (117.2), Queen's Award for Sustainable Development (2022), Marie Claire Most Ethical Brand (2021)
Birdsong sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Historically excellent: GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel, hand-woven Khadi, mulesing-free wool, reclaimed fabrics, eco-pigment printing. Current deadstock model is inherently sustainable but limits material control.
Standout strength. Genuine social enterprise employing marginalised women across 17+ London women's organisations. All makers paid London Living Wage (seamstresses £15/hr). Independently verified via B Corp and Queen's Award.
Local London production kept average garment travel to ~8,423 km (vs. industry 22,000 km). Deadstock-rescue model is inherently low-impact. No formal environmental certifications beyond B Corp.
Named makers, visible supply chain, published cost breakdowns (Transparent Friday), B Corp score publicly shared. Current website is sparse on new model details.
Current hoodies at £45–£75 are reasonable for ethical deadstock items with hand embroidery. Limited product range reduces overall value for consumers seeking a full wardrobe.
What they do well
- Genuine social enterprise with measurable impact. Worked with 17+ women's organisations, recruited 483 female workers, channelled 70–90% of product revenue to makers, and donated over £35,000 to fund living wage employment and community services.
- Exceptional B Corp score of 117.2, plus Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development (2022), Marie Claire Most Ethical Brand (2021), and Draper's Sustainable Fashion Award (2020).
- Radical transparency. Published full garment cost breakdowns, named every maker and their story, used diverse unretouched models, and ran "Transparent Friday" instead of Black Friday.
- Major press credibility. Featured in Vogue, The Guardian ("one of 10 coolest ethical brands"), BBC, i-D, Elle, and Dazed.
Room for improvement
- No formal animal welfare policy despite ethical positioning and no documented policy on animal welfare.
- The pivot to deadstock-only production raises questions about whether the original community production model is still active at scale, which affects the brand's core sustainability narrative.
About Birdsong
Birdsong was founded in 2014 by Sophie Slater, Sarah Beckett, and Ruba Huleihel during the Year Here social innovation fellowship, inspired by the Rana Plaza factory collapse. The founders connected women's community groups in London, who possessed extraordinary crafting skills, with routes to market. Susanna Wen joined as lead designer in 2017 and later became CEO.
The original production model was remarkable: seamstresses at the Heba workshop on Brick Lane, handpainters at Mohila Creations in Tower Hamlets, knitters at the Bradbury Centre in Kingston, and embroiderers at the Burdett Estate in Poplar. All paid London Living Wage. Materials included GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel, hand-woven Khadi from Indian women's cooperatives, reclaimed fabrics from Traid, and recycled yarn. Packaging was handled by Mail Out, a social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities.
In 2022, Birdsong achieved B Corp certification and the Queen's Award. COVID disrupted production, pushing to a pre-order model. By 2023, garment production paused entirely. The brand pivoted to Birdsong Ink (B2B ethical merchandise) and a deadstock-rescue model. Shipping is £3.99 UK flat rate (free over £120). Returns within 14 days.
Product highlights
"Resist & Persist" Hoodie
Embroidered deadstock hoodie
~£45
First "Saved from Landfill" product — rescued surplus embroidered by local women-run studios
"Optimist" Hoodie
Hand-embroidered slogan on rescued fleece
~£45 (sale)
Limited-run to minimise waste; embodies anti-waste ethos
Vegan Reclaimed Sandal (historical)
Handcrafted sandal with jute soles
~£40–£55 (was)
100% reclaimed faux leather offcuts, biodegradable soles, produced by Juta social enterprise
Still Friends T-Shirt (historical)
GOTS organic cotton slogan tee
~£16–£38 (was)
Praised on Trustpilot for softness and durability; screen-printed with eco inks
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