Barnard Castle designer launches sustainable fashion brand Peach Eyes

Jennifer Healy controls of every aspect of the women’s clothing collection she has created and hopes customers will appreciate the effort and quality that goes into every piece.

The 26-year-old, from Barnard Castle, has made her business Peach Eyes as sustainable as possible – from the organic fabrics and environmentally-friendly packaging to where and how the clothes are made.

She said: “I feel like fast fashion needs to stop and look after the earth.

“I’ve tried really hard to make clothes women will want to wear for a long time and do it as sustainably as possible.

“My launching collection is colourful, bright and very retro because sustainable fashion can still be fun.”

Jennifer studied textiles and art at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form in Darlington then landed the opportunity of a lifetime towards the end of her time at Manchester School of Art, when her talent was spotted during Graduate Fashion Week 2018 she won a placement with Sainsbury’s clothing arm TU.

“Every fashion graduate across the country is after an opportunity like that so it was like an out of body experience when I won,” she said.

She went on to work two days a week on the TU collection – with her own raincoats, wellies and dresses making it into the ladies and mini me range a the Bishop Auckland and Darlington stores - and three days as a design assistant, based in Coventry, learning about all aspects of the industry from software programming to visiting suppliers.

“It was an incredible experience, I learnt so much and am really grateful but when there were Covid restrictions I moved back to the north and the role was going to change so I took it as a sign to move on.

“It was so commercial, such a fast turnaround in clothing that I’d started to really think about the impact it was having on the world and was thinking about being my own boss."

Jennifer Healy's new slow fashion brand Peach Eyes

Proud of its North East roots

When looking for an identity for her brand she turned to her biggest supporter for inspiration – her late granny, Anne Healy.

Jennifer said: “I was always close to my grandmother, she helped to raise me.

“She was lovely, extremely artistic, always painting and a gardener and so supportive of me, we went to art exhibitions, she’d helped with college projects, she encouraged me with everything, she helped pay for me to go to New York for a college trip and when I was at uni I’d call every other day and she had words of encourage and always good advice to offer.

“She got cancer and my parents turned the garage into an annexe for her but she passed away soon after, everything behind the brand is inspired by her.”

Mrs Healy kept garden journals with lists of her favourites flowers – the names of which Jennifer has used for her brand Peach Eyes and individual garments in the range - and left some money for her to start the business.

She said: “When I was questioning whether to launch my own brand everyone said ‘Granny would say do it’, I couldn’t have done it without her.”

The range is available to buy online at peacheyes.com

Jennifer Healy's new slow fashion brand Peach Eyes

Ellie and Jenny Wilkinson

Jennifer said: “If you have a family of five and growing kids I wouldn’t expect you to pay hundreds of pounds for clothes, but if you can afford to invest in a quality, sustainable item think about it.

“The average garment is worn only ten times, that is ridiculous. I hope people who can will buy pieces that really last, that have been made properly, with love and not with polyester which gets into the waterways or from a manufacturer with poor working practices.

“My clothes are made with organic, digitally printed fabrics from the UK, as close to home as possible, and are manufactured in a self-made studio in Bishop Auckland where the team is highly skilled and happy, I go in regularly and see the craft and care they show.

“I think every piece is high quality, like the Tweed from Carlisle which is used by Chanel, and can be layered, will last years and used through the seasons.

“I’ve thought about the packaging, such as the seed tags which can be planted and ribbon made of recycled bottles.

“Even the models and photographer were local.”

For more about the brand visit the website peacheyes.com, Instagram @peach__eyes/ or Facebook

page peacheyeslabel

Jennifer Healy's new slow fashion brand Peach Eyes

Ellie and Jenny Wilkinson model the Peach Eyes range Pictures: VEIL AND GUN