Know The Origin
UK Sustainable Living, Ethical Clothing and Homeware.
Sustainable fashion, ethical living, and a more thoughtful way to shop.
Know The Origin is a sustainable fashion and lifestyle platform that Rachel Watkyn OBE has supported as part of her wider commitment to ethical, transparent and purpose-led businesses. It brings together sustainable clothing, accessories, homeware, health and beauty products, and ethical living brands in one place, making it easier for people to shop with a little more thought and a lot less guesswork.
The business was created around a simple idea: people should be able to understand where products come from, how they are made, and what kind of impact they have. That sounds obvious, really. But in fashion and retail, it has not always been treated that way. Know The Origin exists to make conscious shopping more accessible, more stylish and less like a moral lecture in beige clothing.
Ethical Living
Rachel’s interest in Know The Origin sits naturally alongside the values behind her other businesses. She has long cared about sustainability, ethical sourcing, transparency and whether businesses are solving real problems rather than just dressing them up nicely. Know The Origin does exactly that by helping customers find brands that take people, materials, supply chains and the planet seriously.
A Sustainable Lifestyle
Know The Origin is one of the UK’s first sustainable living hubs, supporting ethical fashion, home, gifting, food, garden, stationery and beauty for a healthier planet. Its product range includes Women’s Clothing, Men’s Clothing, Accessories & Bags, Homeware, Health & Beauty and Outlet. That mix matters because sustainable living is not one product category. It is lots of small choices, made repeatedly, preferably without losing the will to live while trying to find something decent.
Sustainable Activewear
Sustainable activewear was one of the core categories Know The Origin began with, built around the idea that gym wear could compete with the look, feel and performance of mainstream brands while being made in a more ethical and sustainable way. The range includes women’s activewear, sports bras, gym tops, leggings, shorts, gym bottoms, yoga clothing and ethical workout staples designed to feel comfortable, flattering and high quality. The aim was never to make worthy-looking activewear that people bought out of guilt. It was to show that sustainable sportswear could feel modern, premium and genuinely desirable, while still considering the people, materials and processes behind it.
Find out how beautiful ethical shopping can be
More Than Just Better Materials
Know The Origin’s approach to ethical fashion goes beyond reducing the environmental impact of mass-produced fast fashion. The platform also works with brands that care about people, representation and individuality, not just fabric composition or carbon footprint.
That means supporting suppliers and makers who think more carefully about who they design for, who they show in their campaigns, and how clothing can help people feel like themselves rather than squeezed into one narrow version of what fashion is supposed to look like. Through diverse models, thoughtful spokespeople and brands that promote body positivity, individualism and creativity, Know The Origin helps make sustainable fashion feel more inclusive, expressive and human.
Choose What Matters To You
Know The Origin also helps customers understand that sustainability can look different from brand to brand. Some suppliers focus on recycled fabrics, recycled polyester or materials made from plastic bottles. Others prioritise organic cotton, natural fibres, cruelty-free vegan materials, lower chemical impact, transparent supply chains, safe working conditions or fair living wages.
That matters because ethical shopping is not one neat label. It is a set of better decisions across materials, production, people and long-term use. Know The Origin gives those differences space, helping customers make choices that feel informed rather than pressured.
Ethical and Sustainable Accessories
Accessories are often the pieces people use the most, which is exactly why they need to be well made. Know The Origin brings together ethical accessories and sustainable bags that are chosen for quality, durability and everyday usefulness, not just because they tick an eco box. The range includes scarves, watches, crossbody bags, backpacks, wallets, shoes, trainers and slippers, giving customers a way to choose pieces that feel stylish, practical and made to last.
This matters because luxury does not have to mean wasteful, and sustainable does not have to mean flimsy. A beautifully made bag, a comfortable pair of trainers or a well-chosen wallet can be used again and again, replacing the throwaway cycle that fast fashion relies on. Know The Origin helps customers invest in accessories that feel good to own, work hard in real life and support brands making better choices for people and the planet.
Better choices for the home
Homeware is where Know The Origin takes sustainable living beyond the wardrobe and into the everyday spaces people actually use. The range includes kitchen and dining, cutlery, water bottles, kitchen accessories, home accessories, books, stationery, cleaning and laundry products, all chosen to help customers make better decisions around the home without turning every purchase into a research project.
These are the items that quietly shape daily life: what people eat with, clean with, write with, carry with them and use again and again, and what people tend to forget slowly affects the planet. Know The Origin brings together homeware brands that focus on durability, thoughtful materials, responsible production and products that are made to last. It gives customers a way to create a home that feels considered, practical and more sustainable in style.
Natural skincare, ethical beauty and better daily choices
Health, makeup and skincare are deeply personal categories, which is exactly why Know The Origin treats them with care. The health and beauty range includes relaxation products, makeup bags, bath and body, hair care, skincare, face masks, wellness products, dental care, period care and yoga accessories, all selected with a focus on more thoughtful ingredients, better materials and ethical production.
As more people become aware of animal testing, microplastics, harsh chemicals and the environmental impact of everyday beauty and self-care products, there is a growing need to support brands doing things differently. Know The Origin brings together ethical health and beauty brands that avoid animal testing, champion cruelty-free choices, use natural ingredients where possible, and take greater responsibility for what goes into their products, packaging and supply chains.
For Rachel, this matters because these are not occasional purchases. They are the products people use on their skin, in their homes and around their bodies every day. Choosing better skincare, natural beauty products, ethical makeup, plastic-free bathroom swaps, sustainable period care and cruelty-free wellness products is one small but meaningful way to support people, animals and the planet at the same time.
Know The Origin's Story
Rachel’s support for Know The Origin reflects her wider belief that business can be used to educate as well as sell. A good product matters, of course. Nobody wants a worthy purchase that falls apart after three washes. But good information matters too. If people understand the story behind what they buy, they are more likely to make choices that last.
Know The Origin is part of Rachel’s portfolio because it challenges the old idea that ethical shopping has to feel dull, expensive or impossible to navigate. It makes space for style, practicality and responsibility to sit together. Not perfectly, not smugly, but in a way that feels more useful for real life.
For Rachel, this is exactly the sort of business worth backing: one that asks better questions, supports better brands and helps customers see that sustainability can be woven into normal decisions. Clothes, bags, beauty, homeware, gifts and everyday essentials all have an origin. Know The Origin simply asks people to care about it.
If you want to explore the full range, visit Know The Origin. You can also learn more about Rachel’s wider business journey on her Portfolio, Tiny Box Company, Tiny Box Maker and Things I Care About pages.
About Know The Origin
What is Know The Origin?
Know The Origin is a UK sustainable fashion and lifestyle platform supported by Rachel Watkyn OBE. It brings together ethical clothing, accessories, bags, homeware, health and beauty products, and sustainable living brands, helping customers make more informed choices about what they buy and where it comes from.
Why did Rachel Watkyn support Know The Origin?
Rachel Watkyn supported Know The Origin because it reflects her belief in transparent, ethical and sustainable business. The brand challenges the way products are traditionally made and sold by helping customers understand the origin, materials and impact behind what they buy.
What does Know The Origin sell?
Know The Origin sells sustainable fashion and lifestyle products, including women’s clothing, men’s clothing, activewear, accessories, bags, shoes, homeware, health and beauty products, wellness items, cleaning products, stationery and ethical gifts.
Does Know The Origin sell sustainable activewear?
Yes, Know The Origin sells sustainable activewear and sportswear, including gym tops, leggings, shorts, sports bras, gym bottoms, ethical running clothes and yoga clothing from selected sustainable brands.
What makes Know The Origin different?
Know The Origin focuses on transparency, ethical sourcing and sustainable living. It brings together brands that consider materials, supply chains, working conditions, environmental impact and long-term product use, rather than simply selling products with vague “eco” labels attached.
Can customers shop by values on Know The Origin?
Yes, Know The Origin allows customers to shop by values and sustainability priorities, including vegan-friendly, UK-made, recycled and fair trade options. This helps customers find products that align more closely with what matters to them.
Does Know The Origin sell women’s sustainable clothing?
Yes, Know The Origin sells women’s sustainable clothing, including dresses, jumpsuits, loungewear, nightwear, swimwear, activewear, sports bras, leggings, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, trousers, skirts, underwear, socks, coats and jackets.
Why is Know The Origin part of Rachel Watkyn’s portfolio?
Know The Origin is part of Rachel Watkyn’s portfolio because it fits her wider focus on ethical business, sustainability and practical change. It supports brands that are trying to make retail more transparent, responsible and useful for customers who want better choices.