Dress boutique owner Gemma bounces back
Website revamp after shop blow
A FAREHAM mum’s dress boutique business is still going strong despite losing its shop front during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mum of four Gemma Leung has run her traditional Spanish childrenswear shop Ruby’s Bowtique for seven years.
Gemma, 33, said: ‘I design all the dresses myself and have over 100 designs.
‘They are all traditional puffball style dresses, very puffy with bows and lace, bonnets to match.’
Gemma, who is originally from the Isle of Wight, says that her love for Spanish design began when she moved to the country as a seven-yearold. Returning to England at 17 to study musical theatre at South Downs College, Gemma later met her husband, Steve Leung, while working for the SSE customer service team.
The couple married in Spain and now have four children – Roman Blu, nine, who recently modelled for Stella McCartney, Ruby Bow, six, Rose Blossom, five, and Rupert Bay, two.
Gemma began her dress boutique business when she started making bows and bow holders after taking redundancy.
She said: ‘As I speak fluent Spanish, I flew to Spain to meet suppliers and started Ruby’s Bowtique.’
Now, Gemma creates the designs using pictures, talking to suppliers, and looking at the trims on offer.
She added: ‘I have a sample made, and when I am happy with the design we do a photoshoot and then market the dresses. Turnaround is four to eight weeks.’
The Ruby’s Bowtique shop moved from Gosport to a site just off Fareham high street in January 2020.
Gemma said: ‘We spent money on decorating and fitting out, and we were about to open when Covid struck. We thought it would only be three weeks.’
Facing the struggles of running a business through the coronavirus pandemic, the final straw came when Gemma’s son became ill with bacterial pneumonia.
The shop was closed at the beginning of December.
Determined to bounce back, Gemma gave her business a rethink, revamping her website and launching a loungewear collection made in England.
Gemma, who dreams of seeing one of her designs sold in Harrods, said: ‘My passion is fashion.’
Find out more at rubysbowtique.co.uk. www.