About us
We didn’t come from the fashion industry. No network, no insider support. Just backgrounds in design, curiosity and stubborn belief that we'll make it work.
It started in Edinburgh, in a small flat above a restaurant. Two people, one idea: to teach clothes-making in a way that made sense: clear, creative, and built on understanding how clothes fit real bodies.
There were moments we almost quit when nothing worked, when we couldn’t pay rent, when everyone told us to get “normal jobs.” But we kept going. We learned, adapted, and built a company from nothing.
As Arkdefo grew, we wanted the same honesty in materials that we offered in teaching.
We couldn’t find it anywhere: too many blends, too many half-truths. So we began sourcing deadstock: limited rolls, 100% natural fibres or natural blends. By the time we left the UK, we had redirected over 17 tonnes of textiles.
Now we’re based in northern Portugal, close to the mills that produce Europe’s finest fabrics. From here, we continue our work teaching clothes-making and curating natural fabrics with clarity and care.
A family-run business with soul. Meet Elizaveta & Andrew Bennett.
Liza leads the creative direction and teaching; Andrew builds the structure and strategy behind it all. The name Arkdefo comes from our backgrounds: Architecture, Design, and Photography. It nods to Art Deco, a movement that reflects structure, creativity, and the belief that design should be both intelligent and beautiful.
What’s next? A fashion brand built on the same values: design, integrity, and independence. Because when nobody believed in us, we did. And that’s how we still do it. Stay tuned!