‘Folding can be life-changing’
Sophie Liard, 36, from Guildford, shares what she learned in retail
‘It all began at the department store, House of Fraser, in my hometown of Guildford, Surrey. I was 16 and it was my first day in my new job. On the shop floor, piles of jeans were beautifully folded on columns of shelves and a big table. It was organised, made the most of the space and was aesthetically pleasing. It filled me with instant calm.
I had caught the folding bug. Over the next 15 years in the department store, I folded and wrapped hundreds of different brands. I had folds that would make clothing look so special it had to be purchased, folds that piled clothes high ready for sale shoppers, folds to show brand logos, folds that were fun… the list went on.
Meanwhile, outside of work, my home is the most important space in my life. As a mum to two boys, George, 14, and Arthur, three, I’ve had to understand the changing priorities in my home as my family and I have grown up. Folding isn’t just about just making things neat and pretty, but also saving time and prioritising space. It really can be life-changing.
I made When a the Tiktok UK went account into to lockdown, share videos. Previously, it felt like mostly teens using the app, but with everyone stuck at home, plenty of women my age were giving it a go, too. I started by filming my everyday routines at home – tidying up after the kids and sorting laundry. Soon, people noticed the way I folded clothes and asked for tutorials. One day, a video of folding socks went viral. From there, my account rocketed. It came as a surprise at first, but I feel lucky I’ve gained such a friendly online community.’