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Sustainability. Inclusivity. Craftsmanship.

 

These three values are at the heart of Dora Studio, the independent fashion brand founded by designer Lucy Cox.

With a strong focus on slow fashion, Lucy creates capsule collections and made-to-order pieces that challenge the wasteful norms of the fashion industry. Her designs are inclusive and unbounded – crafted for all bodies, all sizes, and all genders.

“Fashion should be a form of self-expression, not a set of rules,” Lucy says. “I’ve intentionally moved away from traditional sizing and gender labels to make my work more accessible to everyone.”

Lucy’s approach is rooted in intention and care. She works primarily with recycled and deadstock fabrics, producing each piece in small batches or on demand. Every stitch reflects a commitment to longevity, quality, and the belief that fashion can – and should – do better.

“I design clothes and accessories to be worn and loved for years to come. For me, thoughtful craftsmanship matters more than mass production or passing trends. Waste harms both the planet and the creative process – I want to encourage mindful consumption through timeless, versatile pieces.”

Regular visitors to Edinburgh Open Workshop may recognise Lucy as our Membership Engagement Officer – a role she took up earlier this year, perfectly balancing her work with Dora Studio.

“I moved to Edinburgh from Bristol and actually chose Leith as a place to live because of EOW” she says. “My partner and I were exploring different neighbourhoods and wandered past. We met Kirsty outside, who kindly gave us a tour – it felt like a warm hug. I instantly knew I wanted to live nearby.”

The move marked a pivotal shift for Lucy. After working in marketing for tech start-ups, she returned to her creative roots – something that had been in her blood since childhood.

“We had a sewing machine at the end of our kitchen table growing up,” she laughs. “My aunt Dora, who the brand is named after, used to send me saris from Leicester market to experiment with. I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember.”

Soon after arriving in Edinburgh, Lucy began making quilted jackets – just for herself at first. But when five strangers stopped her one day to ask where she got her jacket from, she took it as a sign: it was time to turn her lifelong passion into a full-fledged business.

Trained in Knitwear for Fashion, Lucy has come full circle – returning to hands-on design with a renewed sense of purpose. And being part of the Edinburgh Open Workshop community has only amplified her creative energy.

“I love being surrounded by other makers. Working solo can be isolating, so it’s great to share ideas and get inspired by others. The fully equipped textile studio here is the icing on the cake – I’m excited to see it reach its full potential.”

 

Lucy has already brought fresh life to the studio space, thoughtfully reconfiguring it to better serve both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic hobbyists.

With spacious cutting tables, a wide range of sewing machines (including the coveted coverstitch), and plans to introduce knitting equipment soon, this hidden gem is available to book for four or eight-hour sessions on the EOW website.

“I’d love to pass on my passion for sewing and help others discover the joy of making. I hope to see textile classes and remakery sessions start up at EOW – it’s the perfect space, and there’s so much creative talent in the city just waiting to be tapped into.”

 

Come along to the Dora Studio pop-up shop at 2A Broughton Place from 16-29 August to meet Lucy in person and see her products for yourself.

 

You can also check out the Dora Studio website to see the full range of Lucy’s gorgeous creations and find out about other upcoming events – dorastudio.co.uk.

 

And don’t forget to keep an eye on our Learn page for future courses or go to our Make page to book into the textile room and get making!

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