Young Creator of Children's Disability Clothing Range Receives Innovation Award
A mother whose daughter inspired her to design a collection of handmade disability clothing has received a Young Innovators’ Award. The awards, which are supported by Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust, recognise young people with creative ideas and the potential to become entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Michelle Best, founder of Blossom & Best, is 28 years old, and mother to 2 young children, one of whom has been under diagnosis for high functioning autism for the past 5 years. She has difficulties processing sensory information, which sometimes leads to incontinence. Michelle could see that this was starting to have a negative impact on her confidence as she grew older.
She discovered that there were very few effective and affordable alternatives to ‘pull-up’ pants available. So she designed and handmade her first pair of ‘Magic Pants’. They are comfortable and absorbent, and most importantly, look like attractive, standard underwear (see attached image).
The pants improved her daughter’s mental health significantly, and Michelle soon realised that if they were helping her own family, they could also help others, and the business was born.
She said, “When I started to spread the word about the sort of items I was making, it was exciting and invaluable to talk to other parents who understood the challenges my daughter and I faced on a daily basis”.
The range soon increased to include peg feed covers, tracheostomy covers, seamless items, and pieces that can be put on and taken off more easily than other readily available clothing. Bespoke requests and feedback from customers have always been heavily influential on the variety the range provides.
The Young Innovators’ Award is a nationwide initiative, designed to encourage and support young people from diverse backgrounds who have ground-breaking ideas. It offers grants, one-to-one business coaching, and contributions towards living costs. Michelle was overjoyed to receive an award, and believes it will transform her growing business.
She said, “I was absolutely delighted when I found out I was going to receive the award. At the moment, I’m making all the items myself from my home in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The grant has enabled me to engage a manufacturer who will help me to increase production later this year. It has also allowed me to connect with other people supported by The Prince’s Trust, and their experiences and advice have been so beneficial to me”.
She was one 64 young people who received a 2020/21 award. The awards centred around innovations developed to help tackle current societal challenges, including reducing the use of plastic, and helping wheelchair users and stroke victims.
Blossom & Best is committed to sustainability, having been certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) assurance system. Michelle is determined that the production of her products will not impact the environment negatively as far as possible. She supports small fabric suppliers in the Lincolnshire area wherever she can.
She said, “From the beginning, I wanted to ensure the business was socially and environmentally responsible. It matters more than ever now, especially to young people, and they’re the people I’m trying to help the most”.
2021 will see the launch of her brand new website, a project also made possible with the grant included in her recent award. She is excited by its progress so far.
“The most rewarding part of my work is when I make a parent’s life less stressful, and give comfort and confidence to a child. I hope this is the year, with the help of the new site, that I can reach more people than ever before. I know from experience that it’s important to really trust the capabilities and ethics of suppliers in this particular market. I want to show my customers that I understand them, and that I’m here to help”, she said.