Jac Cameron

"The Coven is about the incredible impact of incredible women. Its purpose is to celebrate those who have supported and strengthened us, both personally and professionally.

It’s a chance for me, as a founder, to highlight and thank the individual women who have helped me get to this point. And it’s a chance for those women to illuminate the names of those who did the same for them. It’s about the magic that is sparked when women support women; a place where we’re not afraid to share the limelight."

Let’s start with your story and how you’ve got yourself to this point. Give us some background about your business, what it does, what sparked it and what continues to fuel it? I grew up in rural Scotland and have always had a deep love for the countryside I was raised in, alongside a real desire to experience life in a city and, of course, a love for fashion. I moved to London to study fashion before moving to New York at 20 to intern at Marc Jacobs. That was 23 years ago now, which is quite extraordinary to think about.

After spending two decades in the industry, including a decade building my previous business, I stepped away to consult for a range of brands at different stages of growth. That experience gave me a broader perspective on the industry and became an important part of my research into what would eventually become RÙADH.

I knew I wanted to build a brand that approached sustainability with real intention while celebrating the craft of fashion that is so dear to me.. I spent time researching certifications, materials, factories and mills that aligned with my values, while thinking about how to bring my Scottish heritage into the brand in a way that felt true to me and meaningful.

Those things have become the foundations of RÙADH: a commitment to more responsible practices (We are proudly B Corp certified), a strong connection to my Scottish roots, and an emphasis on artisanship. We’re still a young, two-year-old business, but I’m immensely proud of how far we’ve come and excited about the opportunity to build something with real purpose and longevity. 

Can you share some of the big things you’ve learnt since you started out? I think one of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust your instincts and stay true to your vision, particularly when building something from the ground up. There will always be outside opinions, trends and pressures to move faster, but I’ve learned the importance of being clear about what you stand for and making decisions that align with that.

I’ve also learned that building a business takes far longer than you anticipate, and that patience is essential. You have to be comfortable with the evolution of an idea and understand that progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Surrounding yourself with the right people, being open to learning and having the humility to recognise what you don’t know are equally important.

With RÙADH, I’ve learned that sustainability is a continuous process rather than a destination. It requires constant questioning, research and a willingness to evolve. Ultimately, I believe in progress over perfection, and in building a business with intention, integrity and longevity rather than chasing quick wins. 

What have been your big successes or your moments that have felt huge? I think one of the biggest successes has been seeing RÙADH grow from an idea into a brand with a clear identity and purpose. Becoming B Corp certified so early in our journey was a particularly meaningful milestone, as it validated the work we’ve put into building sustainability into the foundations of the business.

Another huge moment has been seeing customers connect with the product, particularly our denim. We found that many of our most valuable customers discover RÙADH through denim and build a lasting relationship with us through that category. That has been incredibly rewarding because it reinforces our belief in creating pieces that are thoughtfully designed, beautifully made and intended to last.

Opening our new space at 160 Mercer has also been a very special milestone. After building the brand digitally, having a physical home where people can experience RÙADH in person feels like a natural and exciting next chapter. 

Ultimately, the moments that feel biggest are when the different parts of the vision come together — when the product, the people and the values behind the brand resonate with others. We’re still a young business, being 2 years old, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but I’m equally excited about what lies ahead. 

What has surprised you about running your own business? Honestly, running RÙADH has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I feel incredibly fortunate to be building something I truly believe in, surrounded by a team I trust and value enormously. What has surprised me most is just how personal the journey is. You invest so much of yourself into building a business, and when you find the right people who share your values and vision, it makes the challenges feel worthwhile. It has reinforced for me that building a business is never a solo endeavour; it’s about the people you bring along with you and what you create together. 

Is there anything about your industry that you’d like to fundamentally change? Or anything that you think isn’t given enough attention? I would love to see the industry move away from its obsession with constant newness and volume, and place greater value on how things are made, the materials we use and the people behind the product. Fashion has an enormous influence on how we consume, yet I think we still give too little attention to the impact of production and the responsibility we have as brands to make better decisions.

Ultimately, I would love to see a return to a more thoughtful relationship with clothing, where quality, craftsmanship and longevity matter as much as the initial purchase. Luxury should be about intention rather than excess, and creating pieces that people value, care for and keep for years to come. 

Give us an idea about what’s coming up for you in the next year. What are you excited about? TI’ve just opened RÙADH’s new space at 160 Mercer Street in SoHo, which has been a real dream realised. Having built the brand digitally, I’m excited to welcome our community into the space, spend more time with our customers in person, and create a more personal, considered experience around the brand. It feels like a natural next chapter for RÙADH, bringing our world to life in a more tangible way and building deeper connections with the people who wear and support the brand.

And tell me about the people who form your Coven. Whether they’re mentors, colleagues, peers within your industry or other founders who you’ve met while building your own brand. Who are the handful of women who helped you? What is the impact they have had on your success and growth? And importantly what arethey doing that we should know about?

”One of the biggest things I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is that the community you build around you is one of your most valuable assets.”

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to build an incredible community of women who have become both mentors and friends. They are people I can turn to for advice, perspective and support, whether I’m navigating a business challenge or working through the many hurdles that come with building RÙADH. 

Many are entrepreneurs themselves or work across different areas of the industry, so they bring a wealth of experience and insight, and are often the people I turn to when I need an honest opinion or a fresh perspective. One of the biggest things I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is that the community you build around you is one of your most valuable assets. Having women who understand the challenges, celebrate the wins and genuinely want to see you succeed is incredibly powerful. I feel very lucky to have that network around me, and I hope to offer the same support and encouragement to other women building something of their own.

Finally, one of the things I’ve enjoyed and valued is paying it forward. I have been fortunate to have been able to build the career I have and to grow through that journey in no small part due to mentorship and guidance of people I’ve met along the way, and I feel both an obligation and a joy in giving that back to others trying to find their path. 

Lastly obviously because at LD, jewellery is our lifeblood, talk us through yours, both the old and the new. From the old, is there something that you inherited, and you can tell us who it belonged to and its significance to you now? Or from childhood do you remember any of the jewellery that your mother or grandmother wore?  I have a few things that are incredibly precious to me, particularly two pieces of clothing that belonged to the women in my family. One is a vintage pair of Lee jeans that my mother wore and adored for many years, and the other is a vintage Pringle sweater that belonged to my grandmother, who actually worked for Pringle. I love that these pieces have lived a life before me and carry so much of their history within them. 

I also have my grandmother’s jewelry box, which was one of her most prized possessions. She spent two years living in Hollywood in her early twenties, and inside the box is a pearl bracelet with a silver heart engraved with her name, Daisy, and on the reverse, “From Hollywood, California, 1955.” I find that so incredibly romantic. It offers a little glimpse into her life as a young woman, a world I can only imagine, and makes the piece feel like a small fragment of her personal history that I get to hold on to. .

And for the new, what have you bought or been given more recently? What kind of piece are you drawn to? And what have you got your eye on for the future?  I’m always keeping an eye out for something unexpected, ideally a piece that feels as though it has always belonged to me. I’m less interested in following trends than in finding things I’ll want to wear and treasure for decades. My new favourite necklace is from Lucy Delius - the black fresh water pearl necklace with the Buchanan T bar has been on my wishlist for a while and i am so glad to have a piece this special in my personal collection.

Six of the best. Give us some of your recommendations. What are your favourites?
Podcast: Fashion Neurosis, An excellent fit, Nota Bene, Dish.
Book: Anything Donna Tartt, Bret Easton Elis.
Hotel: Raffles London.
Beauty product: Westman Atelier Mascara
London restaurant: The Dover 
Holiday destination: I am planning a trip to hike the Buddhist trail in The Bhutan.