JACQUI JAMES Ready-to-Wear: Be part of our journey!

We're Fundraising: Join us on our exciting new journey! We're moving into Ready-to-Wear! But we need your help to make this dream a reality.

www.jacquijames.co.uk

Our story

We were hit hard by COVID…but now, 4 years on, we’re excited to launch our very first ready-to-wear collection, but we can't do it without you. We need to raise £60,000 to successfully kickstart this line, and your support is essential.

To help us reach our goal, we’re releasing special pieces for sale as part of a fundraising line. Each purchase you make will directly contribute to making this vision a reality. By supporting us, you’re not just buying a piece of clothing – you’re investing in a brand that values quality, sustainability, and ethical practices.

About us

We like to think of our world as one of timeless elegance and bespoke craftsmanship, where every stitch tells a story. Our journey began with a love for celebrating love itself – weddings; crafting bespoke gowns for radiant brides. Today, we’re beyond excited to open our doors to all who cherish life’s special moments. Whether it’s a wedding, a glamorous soirée, or any milestone worth commemorating, we’re here to make it unforgettable.

The Elixir collection

Featuring beautifully hand-beaded pieces, tailored garments, and versatile accessories, each item in this collection is thoughtfully crafted to work together as a cohesive capsule. While trends come and go, these opulent staples remain constant, effortlessly complementing both occasion wear and your daily attire —forming the essential building blocks of a well-rounded wardrobe.

Designed to remain exclusive, we will only be making a limited number of each piece so once they’re gone, they won’t be coming back - making each item truly unique and special.

This approach allows us to focus on quality and sustainability, ensuring that every piece you purchase is not only rare but crafted with care and precision.

Your contribution will help us be sustainable for the next 3 years and will cover:

For more detail on how the funds will be used, please keep reading. 

Important dates and goals

Our initial preorder period will end on 30 October 2024. During this time, we hope to secure enough orders to meet our minimum requirements and start serving our customers. However, we’ll continue running this campaign and offering pieces for sale in our fundraising collection until we reach our ambitious goal. Your support during this preorder phase is crucial for us to launch successfully and reduce wait times.

Our humble beginnings:

Let's rewind to 2016 when we started as a tiny fashion studio nestled in the heart of Bermondsey. It was a journey of ups and downs, but we were making small waves, in the bespoke world of weddings. Then the pandemic hit, and things took a wild turn. We had to put things on pause for a while, regroup and come up with a game plan that felt authentic to us.

Now, here we are in 2024, we are ready to make the move into ready-to-wear fashion. We're talking about high-end, high-quality pieces that you can love year after year. Imagine statement pieces just as unique as you are – from jaw-dropping hand-beaded dresses to dinner party essentials that'll have you strutting your stuff with confidence, every time you wear it. But we can't do it without you! Your support will help us turn this dream into a reality and spread some serious joy along the way.

Our plans

Over the next 3 years, we aim to bring out two additional collections. The funds raised will help us do this sustainably by using the preorder model, ensuring we only produce pieces that are ordered.

Why £60,000?

The £60,000 raised will allow us to sustain our business and support our new venture over the next 3 years. Here’s how the funds will be used:

1. Production of the first collection: We aim to produce a minimum number of pieces for our debut collection to have stock ready for promotion and immediate sale. Currently, we operate on a preorder-only basis, which means there's a longer waiting period for our customers. By securing these funds, we can purchase the minimum orders upfront, ensuring our customers aren't left waiting and can enjoy their new pieces without delay. The funds will also help us:

2. Reclaim our space: We want to get a new consultation space. This will help us streamline operations, conduct fittings, and host events, ensuring a better experience for our customers.

3. Branding and advertising: We want to get the word out and attract fashion lovers like you. Funds will go to:

4. Pop-up Events: Connecting with our customers in person is invaluable for us. We'll organise two pop-up events, which include:

5. Operational efficiency: To ensure smooth operations and maintain quality, we'll invest in:

What happens when you place an order:

We're currently operating on a preorder basis as we gather funds to stock up. This means our pieces will be limited, sometimes in number, sometimes in size. It may also take slightly longer to receive your item than normal as we have to hit our minimum pre-orders before we can place an order with our suppliers. And once we are sold out, it's unlikely we will make the same design again - but we are sure you will love it as much as we do. Your support, whether through making a purchase or donating to our cause, would mean the world to us.

Our amazing community:

Over the years, we had the privilege of working with an incredible community of women who have supported and inspired us every step of the way. From stunning brides to elegant evening wear clients, our journey has been graced by ambitious, extraordinary women who embody grace, strength, and sophistication. Each of them have contributed to making our dream a reality, and it’s been an honour to be a part of their special moments. As we transition into ready-to-wear, our commitment to this remarkable community remains unwavering. We are dedicated to continuing to serve and celebrate more amazing women like these.

See some of our past brides here.

Our values and ethics:

When it comes to ethical practices and sustainability, we're serious about making a positive impact. That's why we've made a commitment to partnering with businesses that share our values. We ensure that our suppliers are committed to paying their workers fairly, fostering safe working conditions, and promoting overall well-being.

Additionally, we are conscious about promoting slow fashion and giving back to the suppliers who pour their hearts into our garments, so for every purchase made on a hand-beaded item, we pledge to donate a portion to support and uplift the communities where it was sourced.

We hope that together, we're not just creating a clothing brand; we're building a community of love, empowerment, and sustainability where we can make a meaningful difference. With your help, we're turning dreams into reality and making a positive impact in the world of fashion.

Rewards for your pledges

As a huge thank you, we’ve organised a host of incredible rewards for your pledges once we reach our goal. Your support is invaluable, and we want to show our appreciation with something special:

We hope you will be part of our journey!