A designer reworking textiles for a sustainable business 

The Fruit Moth founder Nicole Broad

In 2020, Nicole started her business, The Fruit Moth whilst shielding with Type One Diabetes. Realising that she needed an outlet for her creativity, she decided, for the first time since completing her Fashion Design BTEC in 2011 to start sewing again.

Using the collection of vintage fabrics she had amassed over the years from charity shop finds, she started by reworking them into accessories and clothing. After a year of early morning and late night sewing whilst working her full time job in the day, Nicole made a leap of faith, quit her job and has been working on The Fruit Moth full time ever since. A truly sustainable company, where everything on offer is handmade from existing fabrics by Nicole in her shop in the Northern Quarter.

As well as trying to source all of the textiles used in the business from charity shops, 5% of every sale at The Fruit Moth is donated to Mustard Tree Manchester, a homeless charity in Manchester, helping to fight poverty and end homelessness in the city.

Since opening her shop. Nicole has worked in collaboration with the Manchester branch of Uniqlo  (the third largest clothing retailer in the world). Uniqlo sent her deadstock garments which Nicole reworked for a 70 piece collection to celebrate the launch of their in store repair service  RE:Uniqlo station,

She also reworked jackets for the Battersea store to make dog clothing, for the pop up with Battersea Dogs Home to celebrate a year of their Battersea store being open. Her creations were used for a display in their Tokyo store.

A personal proud moment was being recognised by her hero Mary Portas and being featured in the likes of Simply Sewing Magazine and National Geographic.