Fashion designer turns Japanese for growth

A MALVERN fashion designer has seen her business grow after securing a major export order from a Japanese department store.

Nicky Thomson, of Leigh Sinton, designs knitted fashion goods such as scarves, hats, jackets, capes and gloves, together with interior accessories.

She has now won an order with the leading Mitsukoshi store. The contract came after she took part in a high level UK Trade & Investment fashion trade mission to Tokyo last November.

“I met the client at a two-day Meet the Buyer showcase organised by UKTI’s commercial team at the British Embassy in Tokyo,” said Ms Thomson.

“The business is initially worth £8,000 but I’m hopeful this will lead to much more in the long term – they particularly liked my use of colours and a unique fine felted wool fabric that I’ve developed.

“The store will be launching my knitwear later this year and the buyer also introduced me to their distributor, who is interested in marketing the range to other outlets.”

The business also exports to United States, Australia, France, Spain and Germany, and overseas business now accounts for 25% of her sales.

She set up her company, which trades as Nicky Thomson, in 2005 and has worked with UKTI from then, initially completing the Passport to Export programme before moving up to Gateway to Global Growth, which supports exporters with between two to 10 years’ experience.

The Gateway programme includes an in-depth export review, help with international trade strategies, networking opportunities and support accessing funding streams for market visits.

UKTI international trade adviser Paul Thompson, based at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said Ms Thomson had devoted considerable time and effort into entering the Japanese market and had been justifiably rewarded.