Designed in Bristol and made in the UK, Charlotte Keating's clothes designs are great for the environment and new mums, writes Suzanne Savill

As might be expected of a leading independent fashion and bridalwear designer, Charlotte Keating's latest collection is stylish and beautifully made.

Her outfits are made in the UK and the material is from this country.

But the sustainable credentials of her latest range do not end there.

Charlotte's designs also help the environment, babies, and mothers by making it easier for mothers to breastfeed.

She launched a new mother and baby range a few months ago following her own experiences after having her daughter Bea, now aged two.

"I breastfed her for 14 months, and I found that from a design point of view, most breastfeeding tops didn't do what they were supposed to do," says Charlotte, 31, who lives in Bishopston with Bea, and her husband Simon, a senior software developer.

"I've come across a top with slits under the arms that were supposed to be used for breastfeeding, and materials that didn't stretch properly.

"A lot of them needed two hands to manipulate.

"So I decided to design my own range and came up with three outfits that make it possible to feed really discreetly.

"I do the designing and pattern cutting myself, then I send them to be made up in London. The material is from the UK, and everything is made in Britain – I'm not outsourcing production to somewhere in China or Turkey."

Charlotte's products can even be purchased in a environmentally friendly way.

She explains: "For local customers wishing to reduce their impact on the environment or save on postage and packing, I offer a 'Collection in Person' option in the delivery section of my website, so they can buy online and collect in person."

The three outfits in Charlotte's nursing collection are a scoop-neck top with an opening that lifts up; v-neck top with an opening that can be pulled aside; and a dress based on the same design.

"I was in an ante-natal group of about 30, and also in an NCT group, so I knew about 40 new mums in total and got them to test out my designs," says Charlotte.

"I wanted to create nursing clothes that were feminine and flattering, and which also enabled women to breastfeed with confidence and discretion.

"They can also double up as maternity wear – some of the mums from my ante-natal classes wore them during their second pregnancies."

Charlotte studied at Winchester School of Art and after graduating founded her design company, Charlotte Keating England, in 2001 to produce high end womenswear and couture bridal wear.

She had been planning to open a boutique in Clifton, but having Bea has inspired her to move in a new direction.

As well as making outfits for nursing mothers, she has also produced a range of accessories such as corsages, and baby and toddler wear, which features appliques sewn on by seamstresses in Bristol and London.

Charlotte says she has been delighted by the response to her outfits from both new mothers and healthcare professionals.

"I believe it's important for breastfeeding mums to be aware that nursingwear exists," she says.

"I would have certainly appreciated nursingwear being included on my hospital list or along with other suggested breastfeeding aids – and this point came up time and time again when I was interviewing new mums as part of my research prior to designing the collection."

"Health initiatives promote breastfeeding in terms of the natural benefits to baby and saving money, and I believe that good nursingwear can help those initiatives by offering more confidence to mums who are concerned about the lack of modesty that breastfeeding in public entails.

"I wish it was more widely publicised and supported along with breastfeeding."

Charlotte Keating England nursing tops cost £45 each, and dresses £60. They are available in red, navy, black and white, and can be purchased at Born on Gloucester Road in Bishopston, and through Charlotte's website www.charlottekeating.com.