The power of the collective: you might be independent, but you’re not alone

There’s a lot of noise around entrepreneurship these days – romantic ideas of overnight success, the person who built an empire from their kitchen table. But anyone who’s actually built something slow, sustainable and values-led from the ground up knows the truth: independence doesn’t mean isolation.

Finding community in the early days

I started PachacutiOpens in new window, my Fair Trade fashion brand, back in 1992. And yes, I spent a lot of time working at the kitchen table. Thirty-three years on, the brand is still going strong under the direction of my husband, while I’ve moved on to other projects, such as setting up Fashion RevolutionOpens in new window and League of ArtisansOpens in new window and finishing my forthcoming book, The Nature of Fashion. But one thing I learnt early on is that you might be independent, but you don’t have to walk alone.

I found my first real business community in the early Fair Trade movement – in fact, I believe I was the first person to put the words Fair Trade and fashion together. While others in the network were selling chocolate or coffee beans, the principles we shared were the same: a deep commitment to ethics and putting producers at the heart of business.

We collaborated, we campaigned, we shared ideas, we supported one another. Pachacuti eventually became the first brand in the world to be Fair Trade Certified by the WFTOOpens in new window, and that sense of collective purpose was absolutely central to our journey.

Running a small brand can be lonely, and heading up a bigger company can feel no less isolating – particularly if you’re pushing against the dominant system of fast fashion, convenience culture or short-term thinking. You can have all the passion in the world, but it’s still easy to get stuck in the weeds of logistics, finance, sourcing, marketing… all of it. That’s where community comes in. And it can make all the difference between burning out and building something that lasts.

A Sunday afternoon in Exeter

I was reminded of this a few weeks ago at a Sunday afternoon event in Exeter, Devon. Hosted by The Club PrelovedOpens in new window, it brought together small sustainable brands and content creators, including some with huge followings. On the surface, it was a relaxed affair: a rooftop with views across the cathedral green, rails of gorgeous preloved, vintage and upcycled pieces, live music, cocktails and cake. But beneath the lazy, sunny Sunday exterior, something more vital was stirring, taking flight in animated conversations.

The brands weren’t just there to showcase products in the hope that an influencer would tag them and rocket-launch their sales. They were there to share their values and stories – the point of differentiation between their clothing, accessories and jewellery and what was on offer a stone’s throw away on Exeter High Street. And the content creators were genuinely interested, asking questions, taking their time as we tried on outfits in the changing room. It felt like an important shift: influence being used to amplify the right things, not just the new things.

What connection really offers

I picked up a few pieces: a dress from The Cotton CycleOpens in new window, upcycled from bold curtain fabric that I’m wearing even now as I write; a long silk gown in ‘70s florals from Vintage at The TowerOpens in new window, which I might wear to the BoF500 gala in Paris this autumn, but just as easily dress down with sandals for a summer party.

And I thought about how easy it is to underestimate the power of these kinds of connections, whether you’re a content creator making the shift to more responsible influencing or a fashion brand deep-dyed in purpose. Woven into conversations, carried in laughter on the breeze, this event reminded us that we’re not doing this alone.

One jewellery designer told me she found The Club Preloved through Instagram, reached out immediately and hasn’t looked back. Another said that running a preloved brand from home had started to feel isolating, until the club gave her a space to share ideas and challenges with others who genuinely understood.

How to build a network

You don’t have to be in fashion to take something from this. Whether you’re running a food business, designing ceramics, or offering creative services, the same principle applies: collectivity nurtures resilience. You don’t necessarily need to join a club to find that support, although physical and virtual spaces like The Club Preloved can prove a lifeline.

You can start your own network by reaching out to other people whose work you respect. Set up a regular online or in-person coffee catch-up. Ask questions on social media and see who responds. Share what you’ve learned in your entrepreneurial journey, and don’t be afraid to admit when you’re stuck.

I’ve seen this happening across different sectors – in Fair Trade, in sustainable fashion, in grassroots activism, and now again in these new collectives forming around circularity and conscious commerce.

It’s not about scale (that comes with its own set of challenges - when I set up Fashion Revolution, I pictured an annual event in the UK – not the world’s largest fashion activism movement in 100+ countries!) It’s about intent. Networks built not on metrics or transactions, but on trust and mutual support.

There’s something deeply practical about this way of working, too. Sharing knowledge means you’re less likely to waste time and money on the wrong tool, platform or service. Talking to others means finding collaborators or opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise reached. Yes, it’s less lonely. But it’s also smarter.

A collective future

The Club Preloved founder, Lauren Cooley, is now planning more in-person gatherings, alongside an evolving online space to share ideas and content, creating a diversity of approaches that reflects the messy, joyful reality of most small businesses. Success doesn’t have to be solitary, and growth doesn’t have to mean going it alone. As Lauren puts it: ‘This isn’t just a business – it’s a belief that when we back each other, we all rise.’

I would agree. The most meaningful work I have seen, whether in fashion, food, beauty or any other sector, has never happened in a vacuum. It happens in a community. Around kitchen tables. On rooftops. In unexpected conversations that set you walking down a different path, or at least lighten your tread, knowing that others are journeying alongside. So yes, build your business. Do it on your own terms. But don’t do it in isolation.

The power of the collective isn’t just a philosophy. It’s a survival strategy – and for many of us, it’s the only way we’ll truly thrive.