Tråd Collective

Tråd Collective has moved to 80 Vicar Lane.

“If the people of Leeds are going to shop sustainably we need to make it easier for them, and that’s what Tråd Collective is all about,” says Jo Wanner, co-founder of Tråd Collective. The clothing shop was opened in Headingley Central (Arndale Centre) by Jo and her partner James Fenwick in September – appropriately in the run-up to COP26.

The shop sells clothes from sustainable brands. Jo said, “It was so difficult to find which brands and which stores were sustainable, every time I wanted to buy a shirt or jacket I was researching the brand for 20-30 minutes to see if it was sustainable.” The shop also stocks upcycled fashion. James noted, “We found that when we were shopping second hand, the stores were always so cramped or the clothes were damp or didn’t fit, so we wanted to create something different. All our pre-loved clothes are curated and well presented and we offer free alterations on all pre-loved clothing."

Tråd Collective’s range includes shirts from Jo’s own brand, Wanner Label, and T-shirts printed locally from Muthaship. They also sell local craft – jewelry from Olive & Hope, art by Claudia Rose, and stationery, including cards by Michelle Claire.

The shop has a Scandinavian feel, reflecting Jo’s Swedish origins. And the whole shop aims to be sustainable, it’s plastic-free, focussing on natural fibres. “You’ve got to be the change you want to see in the world and at Tråd we don’t want to contribute to landfills and we don’t want to add to microplastic in the ocean,” says James. “Tråd is the Swedish word for Thread,” explains Jo. “Our thread binds together the complete, sustainable concept.”

The couple have come the long way round to Headingley! James is from Ashington in Northumberland and first came to Leeds as a student, while Jo hails from Malmö in the south of Sweden (familiar to viewers of The Bridge). And they met in Milan, where Jo was studying fashion, and James was teaching at an international school (he’s now at Allerton High).

“There are many young people here, who are especially eco-conscious,” notes Jo. “Headingley has the right mind-set for sustainability.”