A groundbreaking laundry refinishing and R&D hub is opening in Canning Town, East London, as LaundRe prepares to welcome its first visitors. Founded by Salli Deighton and Kelly Farewell, the London-based initiative marks the UK’s first dedicated centre for sustainable denim refinishing, textile innovation, and industry collaboration.
After years of planning and funding efforts, LaundRe has secured support from Creative England and private investors. The facility is located in a spacious warehouse near a major clothing sorter and is designed to be a pivotal player in the UK’s growing circular textile economy.
Deighton, a denim consultant and co-founder, describes the progress as a dramatic shift: “It’s been like having the brakes on for years and all of a sudden we’re an F1 car.” The site offers UK brands the chance to explore low-volume, flexible production through advanced finishing technologies—supporting the move away from overproduction and minimum order constraints that have long burdened small and mid-sized retailers.
The facility features state-of-the-art Jeanologia equipment, including laser and ozone systems, low-water washers, and eco-friendly dryers, all aligned with clean chemical usage. While garment dyeing won’t be offered, the technology in place supports multiple circular processes such as denim distressing, refinishing, and pilot-scale product development.
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Beyond production, LaundRe aims to serve as an educational centre for brands, designers, and buyers unfamiliar with the technical side of denim finishing. The centre will also provide hands-on training, workshops, and opportunities for textile mills and suppliers to engage directly with UK brands.
Earlier this year, at the Kingpins Amsterdam trade show, LaundRe showcased refinished post-consumer jeans—garments once considered waste—demonstrating a high success rate and gaining attention from premium brands looking to revamp returns and excess stock.
Importantly, the centre is founded and run by women—something rarely seen in the laundry industry. Deighton emphasizes that this is more than a technical venture; it’s a mission to reshape how fashion functions in the UK. “The industry is under pressure to become more circular, but there’s very little on-the-ground support to make that happen. LaundRe will be that resource.”
With incoming legislation and sustainability targets looming, the timing of LaundRe’s launch is crucial. The team hopes to act as a bridge between innovation and action, giving the UK fashion sector a practical way to test, learn, and transition to more sustainable business models.
From teaching new designers about fabric compatibility and sustainable finishes, to creating a blueprint for circular production in the UK, LaundRe is positioning itself as a hub for a better denim future. As Deighton notes, “It will be a hub for positive denim.”
