Side hustle hero: fair fashion dreamers - how two best friends turned compassion into style

Best friends since infant school, Caroline Kelly and Jackie Taylor have always shared a creative spark. So, when the pair began dreaming of a venture that combined their creativity and values, it felt like a natural move.

Based in south Manchester, Jackie, an award-winning artist, juggles her creative commissions with a part-time sales role, while Caroline works as a freelance event producer.

Together, they launched Made for Dreamers in July, a fair-fashion T-shirt brand with purpose and plenty of style.

“We’ve gone through every life stage together, from school to weddings to motherhood,” says Caroline. “Made for Dreamers just feels like the next chapter in that story.”

Between family life, dogs and day jobs, the duo have built something that’s resonating far beyond their kitchen tables, proving that passion projects really can make an impact.

We caught up with the co-founders to talk inspiration, challenges, and advice to any new side hustlers.

What was the inspiration behind Made for Dreamers?

We’d talked about launching something for a while. There are lots of people selling T-shirts, but we wanted our business to stand apart, sharing profits with causes that matter and building a community that believe purchases can have purpose.

But honestly, it all started with Niall Harbison, who runs the dog rescue charity Happy Doggo.

We’re both massive dog lovers and follow him online and were inspired by his rescue work and openness about mental health. We thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if we could do something that paid us fairly and supported people like Niall?

That spark led us to partner with other causes like the Beaver Trust, Shelter and Mental Health Foundation UK.

At its heart, Made for Dreamers is about proving fashion can be a force for good.

How do you balance your jobs with running the brand?

It’s a juggle! We both work part-time and have families, so we pour energy into Made for Dreamers whenever we can, often late in the evenings and at weekends.

How does the profit sharing work?

We donate 50% of profits to good causes. A portion also goes into the Made for Dreamers Fund, which builds up until it hits a target. Then our customers vote on where that donation goes. It’s a lovely way to involve our community and build a network of ‘dreamers’ doing good together.

How are the T-shirts made?  

They’re made from 100% organic cotton using suppliers like Stanley/Stella, certified by the Fair Wear Foundation. Everything’s printed on demand through Printful, which uses eco-certified inks, recyclable packaging and carbon-offset delivery to minimise waste.

One day, we’d love to produce locally in Manchester, that’s part of the dream.

How are they shipped?

Each T-shirt is made to order and shipped from the nearest fulfilment centre to reduce emissions. Packaging is plastic-free and recyclable and we ship across the UK and internationally.

What do the tees cost?

They’re £32, reflecting sustainable materials, ethical production and a meaningful charitable donation.

We wanted to create something accessible but ethical. It’s not fast fashion, it’s fair fashion.

How do you create the designs?

Jackie’s an award-winning artist, so many designs stem from her paintings, often blending art with charity stories or cultural moments.

Others are playful, like the “Liam Love Buttons” tee, inspired by Liam Gallagher adopting a rescue dog through Happy Doggo.

We refine each concept together, test prints and only release designs that truly feel right.

How do you choose your charity partners?

We support causes close to our hearts. We work with Work for Good to ensure donations are transparent and compliant, but we also reach out directly to charities.

What’s the response been like?

Fantastic. Charities appreciate our transparency and creativity, and customers love that they can wear something stylish while supporting real change. We’ve had so many heartfelt messages from people buying tees for causes that mean something to them, that’s the best feeling.

Where do you promote your T-shirts?

Mainly on Instagram where we share designs, updates and behind-the-scenes moments. Early on, singer Jade Thirlwall and musician Jordan Stephens wore our tees, which gave us a real boost!

We’re now building our online presence and exploring creative collaborations.

We’ve also started doing pop-ups and local markets. Meeting customers face-to-face and seeing their reactions to the designs is so rewarding, and honestly, they’re just really fun days out.

Do you hope Made for Dreamers becomes full-time?

Definitely. We’re taking a steady approach, focused on purpose and longevity over quick growth.

The dream is to expand collections, support more charities and grow a global community of conscious shoppers.

Do you think the rising cost of living is driving more people to start side hustles?

Yes. The cost of living has driven people to seek extra income and people are looking for creative ways to make it happen. But they also want to feel empowered and do something they enjoy.

That said, rising costs also make it harder to start a business, so there’s a real balance.

What advice would you give to new side hustlers?

The most important thing is to really believe in your idea. There are ups and downs, and coming back to that ‘why’ will keep you going.

Use free tools, build your community early, and don’t worry about perfection. Be prepared to learn everything, from finance to marketing, and reach out for help! We had some free online mentoring through Swoop Funding, which was so helpful.

And most importantly, enjoy it! We’re best friends and we’ve had so many laughs along the way. If your heart’s in it, people will feel that!