Fashion CE0 Meg Cope
Meg Cope, 46, is a former consultant eye surgeon who founded luxury espadrille brand Zaccys last year. She lives in London with her husband Damian, who works in the gaming industry, and three children. MY SON Zaccy was diagnosed with the worst type of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on Valentine’s Day in 2012, when he was just two.
I’d spent 19 years working for the NHS and was fortunate enough to be able to take leave from my job as a consultant eye surgeon so I could be with him for the treatment.
Thankfully, after three-and-a-half years of intense treatment, Zaccy, now seven, is well again.
The experience changed everything. I realised how precious life is. Before Zaccy became ill, I thought I had it all — three beautiful children, an exciting career, a lovely home and husband.
But being at home with my children, Cristina, now 13, and Toby, now ten, during Zaccy’s illness made me realise what I was missing — making them breakfast every day, taking them to school and sports days.
Though I tried to go back to work in 2013, I soon realised I couldn’t do a job in medicine any longer. I wanted to expend all the energy it demands on my family instead. That was my light bulb moment. I would never have guessed that decision would lead to me becoming a shoe designer. I had long been searching for a pair of espadrilles to replace the near perfect pair I bought on holiday in Italy in 2007.
I thought there might be a gap in the market and one day while Zaccy was in hospital, I began to draw my ideal shoe on my iPad.
Friends encouraged me to get the shoes made and, after a lot of work, I finally had a collection of wedges.
Zaccys, named after my brave boy, was launched in May and a percentage of every pair of espadrilles sold goes to the Children With Cancer and CLIC Sargent charities.
While it has been hard work starting a new business, I have a far better work/life balance. And I wouldn’t change that for the world.
ZaCCyS espadrilles from zaccys. com and selected stockists. Interview: JENNY COAD