Woman from Ross-shire creates her own fashion brand to support breastfeeding mothers
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A woman from Ross-shire, has designed her own fashion brand to provide breastfeeding mothers with feel-good clothes.
Alyson Belli became a first-time mum in 2018, and after struggling to find clothes that allowed her to both breastfeed and feel good she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She now runs Murrelli, a successful business based in Dingwall, with her own fashion range that empowers women.
Explaining about the stimulus behind her venture, Mrs Belli said: “ I started Murrelli out of personal frustration.
“I breastfed my daughter for 14 months and during that time I was really disappointed at the lack of choice in breastfeeding clothing for mothers.
“Breastfeeding was a nerve-racking experience for me and the clothes out there didn’t make me feel like my old self or feel confident to breastfeed in.
“I realised the importance of being able to have clothes that made me feel nice and confident and would also allow me to breastfeed comfortably when I was out and about.”
Putting her pencil to paper, Mrs Belli designed a range of clothes that would combine both fashion and functionality.
Her clothes are designed to look good, and have been made with unique access points for breastfeeding mothers.
Having worked as a researcher and in education as a business advisor, going into fashion was a new step for Mrs Belli.
“I’ve always had a bit of a passion for sewing and how clothes are put together but it was always a hobby,” she explained.
“I started with some basic sketches and had a slight base of understanding of how garments are made, but to have a good product for the customer I got myself a manufacturer who was skilled in this area.”
For Mrs Belli, ensuring that her range is ethical and sustainable is incredibly important.
She said: “A big part of this for me is creating a conscious, responsible, slow-fashion brand where I know that everyone involved is treated fairly.
“All my garments are designed and made in Scotland.
“It’s nice to know that they are not flying halfway around the world," she added.
The name Murrelli is a combination of both Mrs Belli’s maiden name, Murray and her now married name.
For her this brand has been inspired by her daughter who has brought the two families together.
Speaking about how she would encourage others to put a business idea into action, Mrs Belli said: “It seems daunting when you think of an idea as a big idea like starting a business or fashion brand.
“It feels like an insurmountable challenge. But one little step everyday can make a huge amount of difference. Everyday, see what you can do to move the idea forward in little bits and just keep going.
“It's hard but for every hurdle there is a massive feeling of accomplishment after.”
Mrs Belli, said: “Women deserve more choice and better garments and things made for their needs rather than it being an afterthought.”
Customers can purchase clothes on murrelli.com or rent items from Scottish hire brand Sioda.
Contact rachel.smart@hnmedia.co.uk if you have a business story you want told.
