14 When did you start up and why? My business was launched 20 years ago this month. I always wanted to start my own business. I had returned to the UK (having emigrated to New Zealand) single and without commitments, and I finally had my opportunity. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? Surviving! I think the first three years are the toughest as you need to have a strong belief in yourself and what you are doing. Since then, we have gone through many ups and downs, the worst being the financial crash in 2008, when my business was quite young. Tell us about your product offering. We started with just clothing, which is smart day wear for business and special occasions, all made in London. Handbags were introduced in 2015 and are now the greater part of our business. Our handbags are made in Italy and Spain. What are your most popular products? Our Maya Midi handbag is the most popular, particularly in tan and taupe. Have any styles taken you by surprise with their popularity? Yes, when we started to offer handbags in our Beauchamp Place shop, I was very surprised at how popular they were and how fast they sold. How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? Well although my range is mostly quite classic, it is very important to make sure the range adapts with the changes in trends, and so yes,
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