Strathcarron designer 'blown away' by response of public after bagging Creative Scotland boost
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A Ross-shire designer aiming to launch her lovingly hand-crafted collection has been "blown away" by the response from around the world since her appeal featured in this paper.
Iseabal Hendry (27) had been identified by Creative Scotland as a candidate for £5000 of match funding to realise her dream if she could crowdfund the same amount within a set period.
Within 24 hours of its launch, she had doubled that target and now has a fighting fund of over £17,000 and orders from as far afield as America.
The funding will enable the Strathcarron-based Glasgow School of Art graduate to bring her premium, locally hand-crafted bags and accessories fully to market.
The champion of "slow fashion" devotes up to 15 hours for each bag she makes using sustainably produced and sourced materials, including cotton woven on traditional looms that are more than 100 years old and organically tanned leather using natural tannins found in plants, bark, leaves, berries, and fruit.
The former Plockton High pupil said: "I was so touched. I’m so grateful to live in a community like Wester Ross. This is the first time anyone outwith my close circle of friends and family have seen my collection in full and the response has been incredibly positive.
"I’m completely overwhelmed and blown away by the amount of support shown – it really makes so much possible in the coming months."
The Crowdfunder is live until September 14 at www.iseabalhendry.com
Related: Designer hopes to bag boost
