Our legacy.
Our past.
Our future.

Roberta Lee starts searching for ethical fashion in early 2016, trips to Germany, Lisbon, France looking for clothes that actually look good, clothes she would wear and recommend to her clients. The A-Z spreadsheet is born.

Client questions keep coming. The spreadsheet feels like gatekeeping, so work begins on a public directory so more people can discover beautiful brands that care.

With help from many small businesses volunteering their time, the beta A-Z launches via Roberta Style Lee. The website generates too much traffic, and we realise it might need a home of its own.

Demand grows, and the first London and live-streamed networking event and panel launches at the Business Design Centre. Kindly sponsored by Green Story and BDC Works, panel supported by fashion journalist Bel Jacobs.

Directory members show off their brands and set up mini stalls ahead of Christmas. Community, peer-to-peer support, and momentum build.

At last, EBD moves to its own domain – ethicalbranddirectory.com goes live. Ethical Brand Directory begins to have its own identity.

We begin to attract a vast range of people who believe in the vision and want to support our work, and the team starts to grow.

We begin to realise we have some influence, and take the opportunity to create a global conference – learning from changemakers across the UK, US and Canada, all sharing their tips and stories about how to go green in business and in life.

A partnership with Future Planet. EBD brands create a showcase for guests to explore their products, ask questions and feel the quality for themselves. Roberta speaks on the Future Planet panel alongside Safia Minney, Utami Giles and others.

Remote internships open up for people drawn to sustainability and fashion. More than thirty young people come through over the years.

After the first Going Green Summit, we do it again. Roberta hosts, joined by speakers including Benita Matofska, Dr Rob Wylie, Dan Pontarlier, Sian Conway and Bel Jacobs. The internship and volunteer crew help host from Roberta’s North London flat.

A full house at Mahiki, and a panel on the future of fashion — Roberta moderating Jennie Holloway of Fashion Enter, Utami Giles and Steve Woody. That night we also unveil the rebuilt site, phase 1, with Steve, volunteers and interns making it happen.

We take EBD to the City, showcasing our brands to office workers – handbags, kaftans, T-shirts, jewellery and more. A range that’s anything but “hippy.”

We secure 30 sq m of space for our first EBD pop-up boutique, putting sustainable, ethically made products in front of 55,000 people. Sponsored by Bulb, with Roberta curating the showcase. Watch Spirit of Christmas on YouTube. A true team effort — especially Char from Belo.

EBD sponsors Ethical Brands for Fashion Revolution, with Roberta helping organise and host. Watch We are Stronger Together on YouTube.

Due to covid we pivot to everything online. Our community create a Meet the Family Stronger Together video on YouTube and we announce the launch of our boutique. We introduce our Pitch to Win process for brands looking for annual membership and coaching. And finish the evening with an online afterparty with a DJ.

A webinar series with more than twelve expert speakers.

Roberta Lee and Roshni Durve join the summer 2020 cohort.

EBD looks at becoming commercially sustainable, not only not-for-profit.

KSV approaches with a hybrid-investment offer.

Three divisions: Directory, Boutique, Academy.

Five EBD brands on the catwalk at London Represents.

EBD brands selected for an exclusive shoot with Rankin.

Show the Love. An editorial with Zebedee Talent, shot in East London.

EBD brands on New Model Army.

An exclusive interview, and photographs in an EBD brand.

Roberta returns to coaching, PR, communications and connections for EBD brands.