Jane’s clothing business takes off
THE BRAND WAS LAUNCHED TO THE TRADE AT THE MODA EXHIBITION
A STOCKPORT entrepreneur has launched a new clothing business to help women who suffer symptoms of the menopause.
Jane Hallam’s innovative new venture Esteem - No Pause has been backed by a £25,000 loan.
The range of clothing uses a technical high performance fabric from Italy.
The state-ofthe-art material allows air to circulate alleviating discomfort and debilitation of excessive perspiration, including menopausal hot flushes.
And the debut collection includes vests, slip dresses, pyjamas, palazzo pants and knickers, all of which are suitable for exercising, lounging and sleeping. The cash support came from Business Finance Solutions, the north west delivery partner of the government’s national £310m Start Up Loans programme and a lending partner of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. She said: “The team at BFS immediately saw the potential in Esteem and has really supported me in taking the business to the next level where we can build our brand awareness and get the range in front of the right trade audience and buyers. She added: “75 per cent of women experience nightsweats during the menopause and, as a sufferer myself, I couldn’t find anything to keep me drier that wasn’t shapeless Jane Hallam and old-fashioned. There is a growing awareness and willingness to talk about the impact of the menopause, led by women in the media from Kirsty Wark and Zoe Ball to Jennifer Saunders. I’ll now be using my business and the Start Up Loan to help to find a solution to the issues it presents.”
Jane is investing her loan in the initial production run which will be manufactured by AJM Sewing.
The brand was launched to the trade at the Moda exhibition in February via Lingerie Insight magazine, and Jane now plans to exhibit at trade exhibitions in London, Paris and Las Vegas.
A male range of clothing is currently in development and Jane is also researching a pregnancy collection, a transgender range and a line of bedding.
Roger Seddon, head of lending at BFS, added: “Jane has created a niche product that will help millions of people and has the potential to expand into many other markets in the future. She took a big leap of faith to launch the business in 2015, leaving a full time job to do so, and has already had a hugely positive reaction to the range from the trade.
“Jane has the passion and expertise to make Esteem a big success and is at a stage where she needs an injection of funding to take her business to the next level; something we are delighted to be working with her to achieve.”