This is me, Bryony. Founder of Palava.
I love colour prints and anything old. I can’t spell for toffee, I’m as Scruffy as a cucumber.
I set up Palava in ... exactly when is not even known to me, but I’ll guess around 2009. Cycling all over London working for Cath Kidston, I got a feel for all their shops and prints. I asked lots of times if they would let me into their design studio but there was no chance.
Wanting to put my energy towards something greater, I moved home to Teeside to takeover a my parent’s dormant business Poppy. Between 1980 and 2000 they had seen a whole industry change and UK manufacturing disappear.
I had a dream to start where they had stopped. I was determined to make in the UK and keep the industry going. It wasn't easy - no one wanted to take a risk making for someone at the start of their journey. But we got there eventually.
I made all children’s clothes at the start, selling to Fortnum and Maison, Harvey Nichols as well as travelling around every county fair I could get a pitch at. It was tough!
The internet was not what it is now. Then we were forced to change our name! I thought it was game over but we pulled through and that’s where we got the name Palava. Now I love our name and it’s a reminder of the journey we’ve been on. What a Palava!
Now I’m getting older, the world again seems more challenging than ever. This year has been a tough one. Business has not been easy and we’ve seen lots of businesses we love go under.
Now is the time to support your favourite independents. I have masses of ideas, and I can't wait to get going!