Wearable art with a little bit of Bailey behind it 🪶
Welcome to Red Tailed Clothing — a clothing brand created from my love of art, photography, creativity and, of course, one very special African Grey parrot.
The name Red Tailed Clothing was inspired by my African Grey, Bailey, who I affectionately call my Honorary CEO. Bailey is a huge part of my life and has been a constant source of inspiration, personality and entertainment. His beautiful red tail feathers helped inspire the name and the red-feather identity behind the brand.
But there is much more to Red Tailed Clothing than a name.
From art and illustration to wearable art
I'm an artist and illustrator, with a background that includes illustration, art and design, photography and film production. I've always loved creating things and finding ways to bring ideas to life.
For me, one of the most exciting things about creating Red Tailed Clothing is seeing something that started as my own artwork or photography become something that someone can actually wear.
A photograph I took, an illustration I created or a pattern I've designed can become a dress, a T-shirt, leggings or another piece of clothing.
There's something incredibly special about seeing your artwork move from a sketchbook or computer screen into the real world.
That's why I think of Red Tailed Clothing as wearable art rather than simply another clothing brand.
Clothing with personality
I don't believe clothing should be about fitting into a particular mould.
Clothing can be fun. It can be colourful. It can be quirky, artistic, elegant, bold or completely different from what everyone else is wearing.
Most importantly, it should make you feel good.
I want Red Tailed Clothing to be a place where people can express themselves however they choose. Whether you love colourful prints, nature, animals, photography, unusual designs or simply want to wear something a little different, I hope you'll find something that feels like you.
And that applies to everyone.
Your size, age, background, appearance or who you are shouldn't stop you from being able to enjoy creative clothing.
Making space for more sizes
Having a wider range of sizes is particularly important to me because I am plus size myself.
I've lost a significant amount of weight over the years, but I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be trying to find interesting, unusual and artistic clothing in larger sizes.
So one of the things I'm trying to do with Red Tailed Clothing is include as many plus-size options as I can.
It isn't always possible with every product or supplier, but it is something I actively look for when choosing products for the collection.
I want people to be able to look at a design they love and have a genuine chance of finding it in a size that works for them.
Why print-on-demand?
Red Tailed Clothing currently uses print-on-demand for many of its products.
Print-on-demand can sometimes make individual garments more expensive than mass-produced clothing, but there is a reason I've chosen this approach.
Rather than producing huge quantities of every design and hoping they sell, products can be made when an order is placed. This can help avoid creating large amounts of unwanted stock and means I'm not filling a warehouse with clothing that might never find a home.
For a small independent artist and clothing business like mine, it also allows me to experiment with designs and offer a wider variety without having to manufacture hundreds of pieces in advance.
I'm still learning about the environmental impact of different materials, manufacturing methods and fulfilment options, and I want Red Tailed Clothing to keep looking for better choices as the business grows.
I don't want to pretend that print-on-demand has no environmental impact — every garment still requires materials, manufacturing, packaging and transportation. But avoiding unnecessary overproduction is important to me.
More than just clothes
Red Tailed Clothing is a small independent business built around creativity.
Behind every design is an artist who loves drawing, illustrating, taking photographs and experimenting with patterns and ideas.
And somewhere nearby, there is probably an African Grey parrot supervising the whole operation.
Bailey may not actually understand profit margins, website design or Shopify analytics, but he has definitely earned his position as Honorary CEO.
My long-term dream is to grow Red Tailed Clothing into something much bigger — while still keeping the creativity and individuality that inspired it in the first place.
I want to create collections that people can connect with, continue developing my artwork and photography into new products, and hopefully build a community of people who love wearing something a little different.
Be yourself. Be creative. Stand out.
Ultimately, that's what Red Tailed Clothing is about.
You don't have to dress like everyone else.
Wear something that makes you smile. Wear something that represents you. Wear something colourful, unusual, artistic or completely unexpected.
Whatever your style, whatever your size and whoever you are, I want you to feel comfortable being yourself.
Thank you for supporting an independent artist and small business.
And thank you for joining me — and Bailey, of course — on this adventure.
Welcome to Red Tailed Clothing.
Wearable art. Made to stand out.