Patrick Grant: Making the Case for Less

Fashion designer, bestselling author and star of The Great British Sewing Bee comes to Illuminate 2027

What if the answer to a better future isn’t buying more, but buying less?

Patrick Grant has spent more than two decades at the forefront of British fashion, from the celebrated tailoring houses of Savile Row to the television screens of millions as a judge on BBC One’sThe Great British Sewing Bee. But beyond the beautifully cut suits and television appearances lies a passionate campaigner with a powerful message about the way we live, shop and consume.

As the founder of Community Clothing, Patrick is helping to revive Britain’s textile industry, supporting skilled workers, protecting manufacturing jobs and championing clothes made to last. His Sunday Times bestselling book,LESS, challenges our culture of relentless consumption and makes a compelling case for rediscovering the value of quality, craftsmanship and the things we already own.

AtIlluminate Festival 2027, Patrick brings his experience, wit and outspoken views to Kirkby Lonsdale for a thought-provoking exploration of fashion, sustainability and the future of British manufacturing.

From the environmental consequences of fast fashion to the communities whose livelihoods depend on making things well, Patrick asks some uncomfortable questions about our relationship with clothes and offers an inspiring vision of how we might do things differently.

Join us for an illuminating conversation about why less really could mean more.