MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
Fashion entrepreneur Beth Chilton
Designer Beth Chilton, 32, launched fashion label Hope & ivy with her business partner sarah sleightholm in 2015. After appearing on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den, they secured backing from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden. Beth lives in London with her boyfriend. TWO-and-a-half years ago, I left my job at a small fashion label, intending to start a new life in Los Angeles with my boyfriend.
I was stuck in a career rut and we had the opportunity to move through the advertising firm he worked for. We put our flat on the market, left our jobs and said goodbye to our friends. And then, he changed his mind!
I was furious. I had no job and no home. But then — partly because I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me — I resolved to do something, fast. I’d always dreamed of launching my own label and thought: ‘If not now — then when?’ That was my light bulb moment.
After working in the fashion industry ever since leaving college, I knew how difficult it was to find beautifully designed occasionwear at affordable prices. What was out there was often frumpy, fuddy-duddy — or crazily expensive.
My vision was to use beautiful prints and embroidery to create dresses with the same pretty feel as those by British designer Alice Temperley.
I paired up with designer Sarah Sleightholm and we launched Hope & Ivy, creating embroidery designs that are hand-drawn and prints that are hand-printed for a completely unique look.
In six weeks, we landed orders from online retailer Asos. But even with that vote of confidence, as any new fashion label owner will tell you, cash flow was a struggle.
So I decided to apply to Dragons’ Den [where entrepreneurs pitch business ideas in the hope of receiving backing from millionaire investors]. I didn’t hear back for about eight months and was about to apply again when a producer called me and told me to come in. We only had a week’s notice!
When we pitched in front of the Dragons (and the four million people watching on TV), we never dreamt two of the most famous, Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden, would offer to back the label.
Now, we’re stocked in Asos and Topshop and have added maternity and bridal wear collections.
As for my boyfriend, we’re still together, and yes, I did forgive him — without his change of heart, we wouldn’t be where we are now.