About Rookery Down
Hello I’m Saira…
I’m a designer and retailer. I own and run Rookery Down, aided and abetted by Nicky – my machinist.
Trained in fashion design back in the ‘80s, I worked as a retail buyer for the first part of my career. For the last 17 years, I have owned the-stitchery, a busy fabric and haberdashery store based in Lewes, Sussex.
Rookery Down was born out of a chance meeting with a customer in the shop, who had recently been ordained. She described a garment that combined practicality with style. Wearer ease and garment suitability came high up on her list of requirements. Design doesn’t have to be a compromise and the Anson tunic combined everything that the Rev. Sue felt was appropriate.
I have used my creative design skills and practical sewing knowledge, as well as decades of professional marketing, buying, product development and ranging experience to create Rookery Down.
I believe that fashion is more than just clothing—it's a form of self-expression and a reflection of our times. Thank you for visiting Rookery Down. I hope my designs inspire you to embrace your unique style and feel confident in your own skin.
Rookery Down...
Our aim is to create good quality designs for women in ministry.
Whether you choose a ready-to-sew-kit or a made-to order garment, all of our pieces are 100% cotton for comfort and practicality. They are designed to look good and last well. This is not fast, (or cheap throw-away) fashion.
Our range is created and sewn in the UK; ethical conditions and a fair wage are important to us, to you & to all the people we work with.
Sustainability and environment are important to us too - all our packaging is responsibly sourced and recyclable.
Our team is committed to excellence. We believe in doing things right and doing things well -please let us know if we can improve our service; just email hello@rookerydown.co.uk.
How we work...
We design and make practical AND stylish garments or kits that answer your needs. We’re still building our range, so if you have some suggestions and thoughts about what you need, do let us know on hello@rookerydown.co.uk - we’re listening!
After grading our patterns for size and making up toiles, we fit-test our designs on real people and amend the shape, size and fit where necessary.
Using our industry contacts, we select suitable fabrics in prints we hope you’ll like. We’ll drop in new prints and new styles as they’re available. So if you see a print that you like - treat yourself, as there's no guarantee it will be there for too long.
We're a small operation; we cut and make to order. If you order a kit, we’ll jump to it and cut and dispatch it as soon as possible. If you order a made-to-order garment, we’ll be in touch to give you an estimated delivery date.
We’re online only, but your order will receive our first class attention- what are you waiting for?