Our Story

It started with a question: who made my clothes? The answer became The Level Collective.

Mark Musgrave, founder of The Level Collective, sketching by the sea

The Level Collective was founded in 2014 by British designer Mark Musgrave, who fused his passion for the outdoors, design, and ethics, to establish a unique flavour of slow fashion.

This is Mark’s story.

The Broken System

It started when I watched a run of fashion industry documentaries. The award winning True Cost hit hardest. It showed the cold reality of how people are mistreated, and the environment abused, to make clothes for the high street. All in the name of fashion and profit.

It made me question my own habits. Who made my clothes? In what conditions? Were they paid fairly? And what did it cost the planet?

In my early twenties I worked for high street retailers and spent time in their head offices. My questions about ethics, transparency and sustainability were met with vague answers and awkward silences. Elephants in the room.

The Catalyst

Soon after, I travelled to Romania to volunteer with a charity working with disadvantaged Roma communities. One of its projects, Dece, taught locals to knit products by hand, which were then sold through established networks at a living wage that helped feed their families.

I saw the difference it made: a sustainable income, a way out of the cycle of poverty, and the chance to flourish.

It blew my mind. This is how all clothing could and should be made, giving people dignity and benefiting everyone, not just the few at the top.

I knew then that I had to start something new.

Mark Musgrave, founder of The Level Collective, at Git Git waterfall in Indonesia

Mark Musgrave, Founder & Designer

"It was just a side project that got out of hand. It’s been a personal journey: a fusion of my values and creativity, and my thirst for travel and being out in nature."

Another Way

I wanted to offer an alternative to unethical fast fashion. The old system is broken, and slow fashion is the future.

Clothing proudly made by makers who are respected and paid fairly for their skills. Made from natural, organic and recycled ingredients, working with nature, not against it. Designed to last and to be enjoyed for many years.

As a designer, I wanted to work with other skilled artists and makers on products that are beautiful and functional. Inspired by mountains, waves and forests. For work and play, for the commute and wilderness pursuit.

There are no quick fixes. Change has to come from both sides: brands taking responsibility for how they make things, and customers using the power of their “voting tokens” (money) to support responsible brands.

It’s a slow process, but slow fashion is the only future.

And slowly, we are getting there.

The story continues

More than ten years on, the idea hasn't changed. Waxed cotton backpacks handmade to order in Britain. Organic cotton t-shirts printed to order. And a small team that cares about every person in the chain.

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Our Story

The Level Collective was founded in 2014 by British designer Mark Musgrave, who set out to make outdoor supplies that bring balance to everyday life. More than ten years on, the idea is the same: waxed cotton backpacks handmade to order in Britain, organic cotton t-shirts printed to order, and a small team that cares about every person in the chain. Our waxed cotton comes from Halley Stevensons, who have been weatherproofing fabric at Baltic Works in Dundee since 1864. Each pack is cut and sewn by Lesley, who has worked with waxed cotton and leather since she was nineteen, and signed by hand.

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