The Edinburgh-born designer admitted he wears the same outfit for days at a time
Patrick Grant is known for his strong sense of fashion but he rarely buys clothes (Image: BBC)
As a judge on The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant is known for his impeccable sense of style. However, away from the cameras the Edinburgh-born designer rarely shops for clothes, wears the same outfit for days at a time, and doesn’t even change his T-shirt every day.
The 54-year-old has become a familiar face on the hit BBC series since joining the programme in 2013, where he encourages contestants to create beautifully made garments. However, off-screen his own wardrobe is remarkably simple.
Despite working in fashion, Patrick admits he can barely remember the last time he bought himself new clothes. Instead of heading to the high street, he says the only shops he regularly visits are charity shops.
He has also adopted what he describes as a daily uniform, wearing the same outfit every single day. Previously speaking to the Guardian, Patrick revealed he reaches for the same clothes every morning when getting dressed.
Those items of clothing are a navy crew-neck jumper and a pair of Community Clothing – his fashion brand – trousers, usually in the colour khaki or beige.
Patrick’s clothes washing routine is just as simple. Rather than washing his clothes daily, he just puts on a fresh pair of underwear and socks before wearing much of the same outfit again.
In the 2025 interview with The Guardian, he said: “Most days I just have fresh pants and socks, and the same stuff as yesterday. Every other day, or every third day, I’ll change my T-shirt.”
The Scots’ relaxed attitude towards washing clothes reflects the philosophy behind Community Clothing, the ethical fashion brand he founded in 2016.
Unlike many retailers, Community Clothing doesn’t produce seasonal collections or hold regular sales. Instead, it focuses on timeless, high-quality wardrobe staples that are designed to last for years rather than months.
The company’s mission reads: “Good for people, local communities, customers, and the planet.
“We sell our exceptional quality everyday clothing at a fraction of the price of other premium brands, and by making 100% of it here in the UK we’re sustaining and creating jobs and helping to restore local economic prosperity and pride.”
The brand also says it believes in creating clothing with lasting value that “gets better with age”, is “honest” and has a clear “purpose”.
Although Patrick’s commitment to buying less and making clothes last begun long before he started his clothing brand. His grandfather worked in the woollen industry in the Scottish Borders and Patrick spent his childhood holidays in mill towns, where he saw first-hand the devastating impact the decline of Britain’s textile industry had on local communities.
After studying materials science and engineering at university, Patrick went on to revive the London tailor Norton & Sons before relaunching British menswear label E. Tautz.
