41 year-old, Freya Rose from Southsea, Hampshire is a British Shoe and Jewellery Designer, whose passion for fine craftsmanship, exceptional design and sustainability is winning her awards, invites to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister, as well as a place in the hearts and minds of celebrities and royals globally, with her “sculptural wearable works of art.”

Designed in London, sculpted in Spain and bejewelled in Bali, her collections are inspired by nature, architecture and her late father’s encouragement to “always stop and smell the roses.” Freya’s eponymous label incorporates her knowledge of fine jewellery and passion for celebrating ancestral craftsmanship to create unique jewelled shoes and demi-fine jewellery, using precious materials such as; mother of pearl, brass and sterling silver, to be treasured forever. Committed to craftsmanship, people and sustainability, her collections have gained her international awards and she is fast becoming regarded as one of the UK’s leading shoe couturiers, as well as being named this year as a Prince’s Trust Ambassador.

There’s always a lightbulb moment before the beginning of a new venture. What was that moment for you?

Growing up, I was immersed in creativity and design from the beginning. As a family, we lived above the small workshop where my mum designed and created her collections - my mum is the world-renowned jewellery designer, Barbara Tipple. My father was an amazing musician and our home was always filled with musicians, artists and creatives… this was a fabulously imaginative and enjoyable environment to grow up in. In my mother’s workshop, I was encouraged to explore colour, stones, natural materials and techniques with her. I used to accompany my mum to London’s Hatton Gardens to select the beautiful stones. My mum encouraged me to save my pocket money and buy a stone to design my first ring - which she sold immediately. Surprisingly, this ring actually became my engagement ring when my now husband discovered this story through my mum and together they managed to source the ring!

At Art College I loved sculpture and textiles and when I saw a course at London College of Fashion in shoe and accessory design, it was a light bulb moment and my love of shoes began. I designed my first collection of jewelled shoes as my final collection, which inspired me to create a brand of luxurious unique shoes using my love and knowledge of shoes and jewellery.

How do you prepare for all the unknown obstacles when running your business?

I am driven daily by a determination to succeed, I think this is crucial for entrepreneurs in order to keep going and overcome any obstacles we come up against.

As lockdown hit, the business naturally experienced a plummet in sales, as events and weddings were cancelled and consumers were not purchasing our products. Resilient and determined, I was reactive and responsive to the change in demand and in 2020, I steered the business to make adjustments through the pandemic; successfully launching a range of complimentary jewellery, as a way to navigate the downturn in wedding and occasion shoes and open up a new market.

Tell us about your experience prior to launching your business?

After graduating from the London College of Fashion in shoe and accessory design, I worked as a shoe designer for GINA, before discovering the Prince’s Trust, which sowed in me a little seed of hope that I might be able to follow my dreams to run my own business… and so, twelve years ago, I made the decision to start up on my own. The name Freya Rose is a legacy to my late father, who was my inspiration. He always taught me to stop and smell the roses and so this is my little dedication to him.

I had a passion for my art and a belief that I could do something really special.

What keeps you motivated as an entrepreneur when you hit bumps in the road?

I’m totally inspired by my parents who were so creative and talented and have given me the time and space to discover my own gift. I’ve always admired their strong work ethic and they gave me a great example of what can be achieved when you put your mind to it.

Their own entrepreneurship journey hasn’t been trouble-free and so I’ve observed the way that they dealt with those bumps in the road as I was growing up. It’s given me the confidence that I don’t have to grind to a halt myself and that we can be determined and creative enough to find a way through the challenges. For many of us, this last two years has been full of those bumps in the road, but the great thing about pressure is that it causes you to find creative solutions, which is exactly what we did when we launched the jewellery lines.

How did you fund the business in the early stages?

It hasn’t all been red carpets and style icons for me. Just 12 years ago, I was a single parent, working all the hours I possibly could, with a young baby to support and that is when I came across the Prince’s Trust. I started my business with a £3000 Prince’s Trust loan. The business has since boomed to a multi-6-figure-enterprise, increasing its turnover by 400% during the last financial year and growing my in-house team from 3 to 7.

How do you set yourself apart from other businesses in your industry?

We stick to our values, morals, company culture and ethos….

We set ourselves apart by virtue of the exquisite craftsmanship and bespoke designs, together with modelling a different way of doing business sustainably and with great respect for the people who work with us, we have found ourselves at the forefront of “slow fashion”, which is my real commitment and passion.

I hope that by protecting the artisanal skills and ancestral methods, we’re preserving cultures, communities and crafts every single day.

Pushing the boundaries within design is an exciting, driving force behind my work. Finding unique inspiration and challenging myself to create beautiful, wearable works of art is a joy!

What plans do you have for Freya Rose over the next two years?

Designing more and more beautiful, wearable works of art that continue to catch the eyes of women around the world!

I also want to continue building and investing in my team here and abroad and setting the pace as a business, which produces and trades in an ethical and environmentally sustainable way.

What impact would you like to have on women around the world through your business?

I was delighted to have been named this year as a Prince’s Trust Ambassador.

I believe in making a difference at home, on your doorstep as well as farther afield. I’m astonished when I look back and see how far we’ve come with the business and I want to inspire other women in the same way. During my life, some of the most talented people I’ve met have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and I feel passionately about supporting those of a similar beginning; just like the Prince’s Trust supported me. It can be really hard to build anything without the proper advice, support and investment and I’m passionate about helping women from disadvantaged backgrounds to realise their dreams.

This year, I reimagined our best-selling ‘Mini Hoops’ design in aid of The Prince’s Trust #CHANGEAGIRLSLIFE campaign, which helps to ensure that young women’s futures are not predetermined by circumstance. Over 44 years, The Prince’s Trust has supported those in particularly challenging situations, which range from mental health problems, growing up in the care system, victims of sexual abuse, involvement with in the criminal justice system and long-term unemployment. When I discovered the traditional Indonesian technique used to create our Woven Mini Hoops handcrafted earrings, I instantly resonated with the idea that the woven nature of the craft represents the power in women supporting women and how a single piece, when connected with other kindred forces, can create such strength. With every purchase of the new ‘Woven Mini Hoops’ we are donating £5.00 to #CHANGEAGIRLSLIFE campaign.

I also feel strongly about investing in the people who help me realise these designs and I’ve recently launched a new initiative that supports indigenous craftswomen in Indonesia by investing in training the next generation of jewellers to preserve these skilled ancestral techniques.

I look after all the people I work with. It’s fundamental to my business because it’s the right thing to do. I believe in families, not factories, and I’ve worked alongside artisan shoe couturiers in Spain for over 10 years, considering them part of the Freya Rose family and knowing each and every person that turns my designs into a reality.

Our signature mother of pearl heels and jewellery are responsibly sourced in Bali, where I have also worked with the same family for 12 years, now employing 10 jewellers. I believe that preserving and supporting these ancestral craft techniques is essential in a fast, modern world where globalisation degrades these ancient practices and often exploits those involved in the process. Supporting indigenous talent and ensuring ethical practice has always been at the heart of my work.

I’m not just passionate about women and our workforce either. We aim to make ourselves and our beautiful designs as sustainable and environmentally kind as possible. We now use 100% recyclable packaging, and utilise DHL’s GoGreen service, which contributes to our worldwide environmental protection programme.

Describe your business in three words.

If I were allowed four words – I would say “Wearable Works of Art!”

OR

Exquisite - Responsible - Sustainable

Tell us about your journey into this market.

My business was a labour of love and for many years I made no profit, due to the high levels of investment I made in it and the continued development I was committed to. Juggling building this with bringing up a child alone, meant a lot of personal sacrifice with every minute dedicated to being a mum and my business.

Getting involved with The Prince’s Trust really became my springboard, enabling my many years of creative investment; honing my skills and vision to become a reality.

What are your top tips for entrepreneurs wanting to get their business out there?

Seek Support - I would never have dreamed I could run something, until I came across the Prince’s Trust. Not only did I receive funding, I received business support around my business plan, ensuring it was viable
Invest in yourself - Do whatever you need to do to be the best you can be in that space; whether you’re offering a service or product, ensure your skill base matches your vision.
Be clear about what you offer - Don’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades. Nail your business proposition (with as much help and advice as you need!) and be single-minded about it. Don’t let anyone or anything deter you.
You cannot be all things to all men! - You may initially be the chief cook and bottle washer but as time unfolds and the business grows, concentrate on what you do best and hire in a strong support team to take some of the weight off you. You will only burn out if you try and spin all the plates.
Be true to yourself - The ethics of what I do are almost more important than the products. I would be miserable if the exquisite designs I’m producing had a negative environmental, fast-fashion impact or relied on mistreating the people who produce them with me. You have to be true to your own values in the process of accomplishing great things
Find a mentor - Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely place and we all need to find support, encouragement and empowerment for the journey. This might be someone who is in a completely different field but has a broader perspective than you, and can approach things a bit more objectively.
Celebrate your wins - There are plenty of challenges to overcome, so give yourself permission to celebrate the little wins. Nothing is too small to