Why I started my business and stuck with it part 2

The Start of the Journey 

So I have this great idea kicking around my head and in 2010 our baby boy turned 1.  With that milestone we thought it would be great to go travelling for 6 months.  Before I became a mum and fiancé I’d travelled quite extensively so how hard could it be trekking with a couple of extras?  Clearly I had no idea…

First stop was Singapore, then Australia, New Zealand, back to Oz, Thailand, Cambodia, back to Thailand, Vietnam, Thailand again (couldn’t resist their sweet chilly sauce and a lady’s kind offer to buy Jake for 3 rolls of material) then back to Blighty.  During this time I:

• Designed and drew sketches In New Zealand
• Purchased fabric in Australia
• Paid Vietnamese duty in Cambodia for fabric bought in Oz
• Had my first set of samples made in Vietnam
• Ensured samples were ready for trials
• Felt I had the beginnings of feel-good maternity fitness clothing ready to produce

On a previous year’s travelling I had been fortunate enough to meet a very cool lady who became a fellow Yoga student and also happened to be a fashion designer in New Zealand.  We had remained in “Xmas and birthday touch” and I therefore met up with her whilst in New Zealand on my latest 6 month trip.  Whilst spending a weekend in Akoroa just up the road from her, we thrashed out many ideas and saw me well on my way to sketching all my Mumma Fly designs out.  Once we hit Oz again I started enquiring where I could find organic cotton fabric.  A friend had recommended a place in Brisbane and, after making a personal visit, I ordered 15 rolls of fabric.  Some would say I got a tad carried away but with over 300 colours to choose from I think I was somewhat restrained.

A week later my “small” consignment of 15 rolls of fabric was delivered to my mate’s house in Sydney.  Bless her – 3 crazy house guests, 2 huge dogs, 41 degrees and now huge rolls of material added into the mix… can’t beat a bit of chaos. With less room than an economy seat on Ryan Air, we quickly had it boxed up and sent to Vietnam.  Mumma Fly was truly in the making…