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A typical day at the atelier…
I tend to get to our atelier around 8:30am having checked and replied to any pressing emails at home, such as a client of ours wanting to schedule a fitting or liaising with our Italian mill about new fabrics. Mid morning I like to go downstairs to visit our in-house seamstresses Rosita and Jessica who expertly manufacture our bespoke clothing. I have a curious mind by nature so am eager to be involved in every step of our garment making process. Whether that be where we are at with a client’s order or discussing stock particulars for new customers. My time spent with Rosita and Jessica usually takes me up to lunchtime. Afternoons and early evening’s at the atelier are spent with Jess our Fashion Director, guiding our clients through their fittings and ensuring they are completely satisfied. As the Semple Collection grows, we are beginning to become the go-to bespoke clothier for professional business women. My evenings could be spent at networking events or enjoying the typical London pastime of dinner and the theatre.
The most memorable moment of my career was…
For me it was the realisation that made to measure dresses were perfect for me as a woman. I found this out when I happened to be walking through Orbetello in Italy with a group of close friends. Whilst walking along a small town high street a beautiful little atelier happened to catch my eye. The owner of the atelier was Hilla Brunhilde Schönborn and she has been making bespoke clothing for me ever since. Once back in the UK wearing my made to measure dresses I was amazed by the number of people who complimented me on them, and those comments have been a really helpful insight into what professional women of London want when searching for stylish workwear.
I started my own business because…
More and more women began to say to me that as they get older their bodies change and that finding clothing which fits has become all the more difficult. Having been a champion of bespoke clothing for many years by this point I thought how hard can it be to make a few garments for some women?! Knowing first hand how it feels to wear made to measure, I knew that women worldwide would share my vision and passion for bespoke clothing. So armed with an abundance of faith and belief in my vision I set about turning the Semple Collection from a pipe dream into a reality.
Why London…
I love London. I was born in London and while I travel all over the world visiting different cities on different continents, there really is nowhere quite like it. London for me is just a hub of creativity. I know that for a business, particularly start up businesses, it’s the perfect place to be. I also love London because of its diversity. I can visit any part of the world without leaving the city, from cultural indulgence to fantastic cuisine. London is a beautiful juxtaposition of exciting events and serene calm, offering a melange of activity to feed a balanced lifestyle.
The five year plan is…
In the next five years I aim to expand our reach and cater to the sartorial needs of professional women across the globe. Alongside the global reach of our bespoke collection my aim in the next two to three years is for the Semple Collection to become the ‘dress code’ for professional women.
My advice for a small business owner…
Never be afraid of doing something you know very little about. If you’ve got a passion for it then just take that leap of faith, and trust me you won’t regret it. My passion has always been exquisite clothing made with love. And despite knowing very little about what actually goes into the bespoke process, I’ve learnt along the way and have now become quite the expert! So to any person of any age that is interested in starting a business I would say, never be afraid of the unknown.
My second piece of advice would be to always listen to your intuition. If it doesn’t feel right then don’t do it. Throughout my life I have followed my heart and trusted my gut and I am yet to fail.
Originally featured in Issue VIII of Semple Magazine
