My path to challenging the status quo was shaped by profound personal experiences. Growing up on social welfare and becoming the first in my family to attend university, I learned early on about systemic inequalities and the importance of creating change. The life-changing illness and disability of a parent deepened my understanding of vulnerability and resilience while coming of age in Ireland under restrictive reproductive rights shaped my commitment to feminist activism.
These experiences fostered a deep respect for craft, heritage and the often-invisible women who make our clothes. They instilled in me an unwavering hunger for women's equality that would later become the foundation of Black & Beech. When I started the brand during my maternity leave with my first son, what began as a side hustle evolved into something far more meaningful – a platform to challenge the status quo of both fashion and feminism.
The traditional fashion industry has long operated on principles that contradict feminist ideals – from exploitative labour practices to unsustainable production methods, from unrealistic beauty standards to the perpetuation of harmful gender stereotypes. I saw an opportunity to create something different: a brand that would unite my lived experiences and passion for feminism with a commitment to ethical, sustainable fashion.
I have created a positive impact in several ways through Black & Beech. We have established what we call a 'Social Partnership Sororité' approach to business, working alongside customers, producers, partners, suppliers, staff and charities to create fashion that matters. As a feminist employer, we provide flexible working arrangements for all our team members, recognising that everyone needs to balance their work with their life commitments. We pay the UK Real Living Wage and regularly reinvest profits into workplace improvements.
The impact extends beyond our immediate business operations. In the last five years, we have reached over 40,000 customers worldwide and raised over £26,000 for women's rights charities. We have supported dozens of local suppliers and creatives, helping preserve vital jobs in communities like our knitwear factory in Ayrshire, Scotland, where generations of families work together.
The journey has not been straightforward, particularly because there is no roadmap for what building a truly feminist business looks like. We are learning as we go, testing different approaches and sometimes facing unexpected challenges that force us to balance our values with business realities.
For example, when we pushed to work with a female-owned factory in Portugal, we encountered significant resistance. The industry did not understand why we were not satisfied with just having women workers – we wanted women shareholders who would actually profit from the business. These factories are incredibly rare, but we persisted because we believe in creating change at every level of the supply chain.
Another challenge we face is in our commitment to size inclusivity. While we are determined to offer extended sizing, we have found it difficult to match stock levels with customer demand, often ending up with fragmented inventory in larger sizes. It is a complex puzzle: how do we provide all customers with what they want while managing our costs and maintaining our ethical standards?
When we pushed to work with a female-owned factory in Portugal, we encountered significant resistance. The industry did not understand why we were not satisfied with just having women workers – we wanted women shareholders who would actually profit from the business.
Building Black & Beech has meant questioning every industry standard and establishing new ways of doing business. The fashion industry often pushes for rapid expansion at the expense of ethical considerations, but we have chosen a different path. We have built strong, long-term relationships with our suppliers, many of whom are independent family-run businesses. We regularly visit our UK-based knitters and screen printers, and we have independent staff monitoring our operations to ensure our high standards are maintained.
Looking ahead, there is still much work to be done. The fashion industry desperately needs stronger regulations that would push the entire sector – not just a handful of conscious brands – to be responsive to the needs of our planet. Ultra-fast fashion brands, in particular, should be held accountable for the astronomical waste they produce and its environmental impact.
Beyond environmental concerns, we need to address the industry's accessibility issues. There is a critical need to create viable career paths for working-class creatives outside of large capital cities. The current concentration of opportunities in major urban centres excludes talented individuals who can't afford to live in these expensive locations. We need to build clear pipelines into the industry that don't require privileged backgrounds or expensive relocations.
What makes me a Disruptor is the refusal to accept that business success must come at the expense of ethical practices or feminist values.
On a personal level, one of my proudest achievements is the role modelling my children witness daily – seeing their mother as an entrepreneur and businesswoman while their father takes on the primary caregiving role, cooking their meals and handling domestic responsibilities. This living example of breaking gender norms means as much to me as any business milestone.
I am deeply proud of the work we did supporting Ireland's Repeal the 8th movement. Being from Ireland, this campaign touched a particularly personal chord. We have contributed to destigmatising abortion and opening up crucial conversations about what feminism means for different people. Black & Beech has become more than a fashion brand – it has evolved into a platform for intersectional feminist learning and grassroots activism.
What makes me a Disruptor is the refusal to accept that business success must come at the expense of ethical practices or feminist values. Black & Beech demonstrates that it is possible to create a successful fashion brand while maintaining high ethical standards and actively supporting social causes. We are proving that fashion can be both a form of activism and a force for positive change.
The fashion industry desperately needs stronger regulations that would push the entire sector – not just a handful of conscious brands – to be responsive to the needs of our planet.
Our approach to disruption is holistic. From our all-paper packaging and carbon offset shipping to our commitment to never photoshop our models, every aspect of our business is designed to challenge industry norms. We are showing that it is possible to create timeless, quality garments while putting people and the planet before profit.
When our customers wear Black & Beech, they are not just wearing clothes – they are making a statement, starting conversations and participating in a form of everyday activism that ripples through their communities.
Stacey Grant-Canham is the founder of Black & Beech, an ethical fashion brand that fuses feminist activism with sustainable style. A passionate advocate for women's rights and sustainable business practices, Stacey has transformed a maternity leave side project into a global platform for feminist fashion and activism. She regularly speaks on sustainability, women in business and fashion as a form of activism, while leading a brand that has donated over £26,000 to women's rights charities and reached more than 40,000 customers worldwide.
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