Free People x Halley Stevenson | We The Free Wax Jacket

Free People is an American bohemian apparel and lifestyle retail company based in Philadelphia that sells women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, intimates, and swimwear.

We were approached to create a short film to showcase the production process behind their new ‘we the free’ wax jacket which was designed in collaboration with fabric mill, Halley Stevensons, the pioneer of waxed fabrications based out of Dundee.

The main objective of the film was to interweave together three strands: heritage, craft and product, bringing together the people and processes that transform raw materials into a jacket that is a wearable testament to the power of collaboration.

We were incredibly excited at the prospect of working with Free People and Halley Stevensons on this film project. Having already worked with Halley Stevensons in the past, we had a good sense of what makes them so special as a company in which heritage, craftsmanship, and creativity converge. In this film, we delve into the collaborative journey between Free People and Halley Stevensons, exploring the HS factory and the human handiwork that goes into the jacket.

We explored the history of Halley Stevensons by conducting interviews with some of the key people who have been involved in the production of the jacket, including management figures as well as those on the shop floor. We allowed them to describe in their own words what makes working at Halley Stevensons a special experience, and how far the company’s traditions/culture have been upheld and continue to inform their day-to-day work. These interviews formed the basis of the voiceover, creating a tapestry of the different personalities, perspectives and skill sets that have been involved in the jacket’s production.