My lightbulb moment: Founder of Aspiga,reveals the inspiration behind herethical fashion brand

In 2006 Lucy, 52, founded ethical fashion brand Aspiga. She lives in London and Hampshire.

I was on holiday in South Africa in 2003, and the lady running the lodge where I stayed was Kenyan. She was selling beautiful hand-beaded leather sandals created by Kenyan craftspeople.

I fell in love with the sandals and thought if I could get some UK sales it would help to give some of the local people a steady income.

Lucy Macnamara, 52, (pictured) who lives in London and Hampshire, founded Aspiga after being inspired by a woman selling sandals during a holiday to South Africa in 2003

I ordered 500 pairs and sold them from the back of my car at polo matches, or in the office to colleagues (at the time I was working for a charity connected to The Prince’s Trust, encouraging large businesses to give back to the community). At the end of the summer I had only 30 pairs left so I knew there was a gap in the market for pretty, feminine sandals.

I spent my holidays in Kenya sourcing suppliers then I sent them patterns they could make into our unique sandal designs.

In January 2005 I launched a capsule collection at London trade show Top Drawer. We secured orders from 40 stockists, including Fenwick, White Stuff and Crew Clothing. I was thrilled and left my job to work full time on Aspiga — the name of my first pony.

For the first ten years we sold wholesale, including designing a range for Russell & Bromley. Then, when I set up a website, I realised everyone who bought sandals from us also needed holiday clothes.

Disc sandals, £58, aspiga.com

So I began designing beachwear, kaftans and resortwear, too.

Today we have two fashion collections a year. The designs are created in London and handmade in Kenya and India. Our materials are from natural, organic, renewable and recycled sources.

I was worried no one was going on holiday during lockdown, but luckily it was such a wonderful hot summer in the UK, we ended up having a fantastic year.

Core to Aspiga’s DNA is supporting positive change. We run a monthly Beach Clean-Up Campaign in Malindi, Kenya, and sponsor 12 child volunteers to attend school, so they can get the education they were previously unable to afford.

We were chosen as a finalist for the 2021 Drapers Sustainable Fashion Brand of the Year Award.

More and more people are realising the impact of fast-fashion and learning to appreciate the beauty of what artisans can do. 

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk

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