Trad Collective

About Trad Collective

Trad Collective is a sustainable fashion store based at 80 Vicar Lane in the heart of Leeds city centre, UK. Founded by Swedish fashion designer Josefin Wanner and her partner James Fenwick, Trad Collective is built on a clear conviction: that clothing should last, and that the fashion industry’s cycle of overconsumption can be broken through creativity, community, and craft. The store is one of Leeds’ leading destinations for sustainable fashion, bringing together second-hand clothing, responsibly made new pieces, and the couple’s own in-house label, Wanner Label.

Wanner Label: Upcycled Fashion Made in Leeds

At the core of Trad Collective’s identity is Wanner Label — Josefin’s own design brand, created entirely from second-hand and upcycled materials sourced in the UK and beyond. Josefin trained at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, graduating in 2019, and founded Wanner Label the same year with a commitment to zero new fabric consumption. Every Wanner Label garment is designed and hand-sewn in the on-site studio above the Vicar Lane shop, giving customers a rare window into slow, thoughtful, artisan production. Garments are typically made from natural fibres — linen, cotton, and silk — sourced second hand and transformed into modern, considered pieces with a Scandinavian aesthetic.

Three Pillars of Sustainability

Trad Collective’s model rests on three interconnected sustainability pillars:

Reuse: A carefully curated selection of pre-loved and vintage clothing, allowing shoppers to extend the life of existing garments and divert them from landfill. The store’s curation prioritises quality, durability, and timeless style over trend-chasing.

Recycle: New clothing from brands that use recycled and responsibly sourced materials, broadening the offering for shoppers who want something freshly made but still mindfully produced.

Reduce: An in-house alteration and mending studio where customers can bring their own garments for repair, resizing, and customisation — helping clothes stay in use longer rather than being discarded. The studio also runs community workshops and social sewing events, including their popular “stitch and bitch” sessions that bring Leedspeople together around sustainable craft.

Clothing Rental and Community Events

Trad Collective partners with Fling, a sustainable clothing rental service, giving customers access to designer pieces — including luxury labels — on a rental basis rather than full purchase. This extends the reach of slow fashion into special occasion dressing, where single-use purchasing is most wasteful.

The store also hosts regular workshops, pop-ups, and community events, establishing itself not just as a shop but as a cultural hub for sustainable living in Leeds. It has been featured in The Gryphon, Living North, and the Yorkshire Post, and was selected by Town Centre Securities as a sustainable business to anchor the Vicar Lane retail strip in the city centre.

A Scandinavian Ethos, Rooted in Leeds

Josefin Wanner’s Swedish design sensibility — which prizes simplicity, quality, and function over novelty — runs through every element of Trad Collective. The store originally opened in the Headingley neighbourhood in September 2021 before relocating to its current city-centre location at 80 Vicar Lane in December 2023, reflecting its growing presence in Leeds’s sustainable fashion scene. As a values-led small business, Trad Collective demonstrates that the principles behind upcycling and recycled fashion can be made accessible, stylish, and community-centred.

For anyone in Leeds and beyond looking to shop more consciously, extend the life of existing clothing, or learn to sew and mend, Trad Collective and Wanner Label offer a genuine and welcoming alternative to the mainstream fashion system. Explore the full range at tradcollective.com or visit the store at 80 Vicar Lane, Leeds.

Shop, Repair, Create

Whether you are looking for a one-of-a-kind upcycled piece from Wanner Label, hunting for quality pre-loved clothing at an accessible price, or seeking a skilled seamstress to breathe new life into a beloved garment, Trad Collective is a place to slow down and engage with clothing more intentionally. The store ships online via tradcollective.com and serves walk-in customers at 80 Vicar Lane, Leeds, Wednesday through Saturday. As part of the Prakati Green Directory, Trad Collective represents the kind of grassroots, community-embedded sustainable fashion that makes a genuine difference — one garment at a time.