Go Your Own Way Verified listing

Go Your Own Way
From the Lakes to the city and back again, how a country girl from the Lake District designed her own picture-perfect business

Based in the coastal Cumbrian town of Workington, Rachel Stewart is an artist and founder of the Lake District-inspired accessories and apparel brand, Go Your Own Way.

They say ‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’ and that’s very much the case for Rachel, who graduated as a 3D Designer from Staffordshire University specialising in contemporary jewellery design and manufacture, before completing her PGCE in Carlisle and working as a teacher since 2009.

Growing up, she loved being outdoors - swimming, climbing and building camps in the Cumbrian countryside - but it wasn’t until she moved home in 2005 that she found the inspiration for her brand.
After meeting her partner (now husband), Peter, who as a keen cyclist, climber and kite surfer, opened her eyes to the beauty and opportunity that was on her very doorstep, ‘Go Your Own Way’ was founded with a love of design, sustainability and a passion for The Lake District.

Rachel’s Dad, Jim, has been a great inspiration on her career and, as a wood and metalworker himself, was keen for her to have her own space to design and create her wares. So he bought her a workshop - a shed in his garden next to his very own - where she creates art, apparel and accessories inspired by the great outdoors. And Jim acts as her apprentice.