A Preston mum has launched a brand new children’s clothing range, just weeks before giving birth to her first-born.
Catherine Walton, 25, from Hutton, has completed three design degrees, whilst working various other office jobs, not relating to design.
However, after having bad experiences working for other companies, she decided to pack it all up and do it on her own, leading her to launch the children’s clothing range Tilly Ann.
The A/W17 Collection celebrates British Heritage, featuring Tweeds, Tartans and Lace.
Catherine said: “I have studied at London College of Fashion, Edge Hill and UCLan, and I graduated last year.
“I struggled to find a job to work around family life, so decided to try and build a future for Tommy, doing something that I loved – I wanted to be around Tommy as much as I could.
“I started because I made a few children’s items for a friends little girl’s dressing up box.
“I was hand making everything myself in my home studio, but the demand became so big.
“It was exhausting at first as I had my first-born, and sometimes I would start sewing at 11pm.
“But now I have a team of seamstresses that I send work to, and we hand-make all the clothes.”
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Catherine decided on the name Tilly Ann as it was her mum’s childhood nick name, and she taught her to sew at nine years old.
The style is based on the children’s clothes her mum dressed Katherine and her two younger brothers in.
Catherine continued: “It is really important to me that we keep Quality British manufacturing going, that is why everything needed to make our clothes is bought from UK Suppliers and handmade by a specialist team of seamstresses in Cheshire.
“Hopefully one day Tilly Ann will be successful and create jobs in the studio for local people.
“It is really tough finding your way in the Design world without having to be based in Manchester or London, so hopefully Tilly Ann will show Design students like me that it is possible!”
You can check out the clothing brand online.
Do you know the Tilly Ann brand? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below