Charity ball to mark 10 years of enterprise
FASHION designer Natalie Fitzmaurice is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her Love Frocks dressmaking enterprise this October with a charity ball at The Heath Business And Technical Park, Runcorn.
Natalie launched her business in 2008 from the dining room of her mum and dad’s house in Beechwood, Runcorn.
She began selling some of her outfits at independent shops in the region before developing a thriving online business with fittings and creations produced from her fashion studio at The Heath Plaza.
To mark her 10th anniversary Natalie is staging a charity ball on Saturday, October 6, at The Heath with proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Charity.
The evening will include a fashion show of Natalie’s 2018 summer collection and her autumnwinter range.
A dozen models including Miss Great Britain contestant Lucy Humphrey who is sponsored by Love Frocks will be taking to the catwalk to also show off some of her ball gown creations too.
Natalie, a mother of two children – Fletcher, aged four, and one-year-old Esmay – said she cannot believe her business has reached such a milestone.
She said: “I had studied fashion design at Liverpool John Moores University and my mum let me use her dining room at home for fittings and to make dresses. I ended up working from there for a year before I moved to a studio at The Heath in 2009.
“When I started out much of my business was built around Aintree Grand National week, providing special one-off dresses for ladies going to the races.
“Aintree is still very important but the largest part of my business these days revolves around the prom season and producing bespoke dresses for prom balls.
“The girls all want to make sure they aren’t wearing the same dress as someone else so they come to Love Frocks for a really unique outfit to be designed for them.
“We also do a lot of weddings too and it’s so rewarding when you receive lovely comments from ladies who have worn your outfits to such special occasions.
“It’s amazing to think my little business which started in mum’s dining room has led to my own studio which is going so well.
“I am already taking bookings for next year and I am hoping to take on another seamstress to help cope with the workload.”
Natalie added: “The Heath is a great location for the studio.
“At our very busy times we are working late into the night so it’s good to know we are on a site with 24-seven security which is comforting. The Heath is also easily accessible with good parking for our customers coming in for fittings too.”
Love Frocks Charity Ball is a black-tie event with entertainment, tickets are £12 or £10 per head for a table or 10 or more.
Tickets are on sale at the Love Frocks website and its premises at The Heath. ●