An award-winning young designer from Swansea who is making waves
with her fashion collection is encouraging others with business
aspirations to seek support from Business Wales this Global
Entrepreneurship Week.
Ffion McCormick Edwards founded Barefoot Tech in a bid to tackle
the volume of old, unused wetsuits being sent to landfill, and
has since won several high-profile contracts and sustainability
awards, including the Sustainability Through Innovation Award at
the National Environmental Awards.
The business launched with help from Big Ideas Wales, part of the
Business Wales service, which is funded by Welsh Government to
support entrepreneurship among young people in Wales.
Hailing from a family of avid water-skiers, Ffion launched her
business to try and reduce the impact of pollution on the seas.
She creates products using reclaimed neoprene wetsuit materials,
which she sources from surf schools, wake parks and outdoor
activity centres around Wales.
Some of the wetsuits date back to the 1980s and have been turned
into accessories including backpacks, notebooks and purses, with
a number of Ffion's products featuring at London Fashion Week in
2021.
New figures recently showed Wales has seen a record-breaking
increase in entrepreneurial activity, with entrepreneurship among
young people in Wales seeing a remarkable rise.
Ffion said the dedicated support she received from Big Ideas
Wales had been invaluable.
She added: “I would encourage any young person in Wales with a
business idea - big or small - to contact Big Ideas Wales.
“I have benefitted hugely from my monthly one-one-one meetings. I
can put all my plans and ideas on the table and mould them into a
strong business plan week upon week. I always find myself leaving
my meetings inspired and setting more goals for myself.
“I would not be where I am today, working full time as a
self-employed entrepreneur, without their support.”
More than 100 events will be supported by Business Wales across
Wales this Global Entrepreneurship Week, aiming to inspire people
to launch a business venture.
, Cabinet Secretary for
Economy, Energy and Planning, said:
“We are seeing an incredibly positive trend in
Wales in terms of entrepreneurship and it's fantastic to have the
opportunity to celebrate the successes of so many businesses and
individuals, like Ffion, who have made a thriving business from
an idea, with a little help from Welsh Government. All credit to
Barefoot Tech for disrupting the fashion industry in this way,
and with a business model rooted in sustainability.
“It's never too late to make your ideas and business aspirations
a reality and Business Wales offers tailored support to help do
just that – get in touch!”
Notes to editors
- Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 runs from November 18-24.
- Delivering on the Economic Action Plan, the Welsh Government
is committed to developing an entrepreneurial culture in Wales.
Part of the Business Wales Service, Big Ideas Wales raises
aspirations and supports young people's ambitions for business:
Home | Business Wales -
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https://www.barefoottech.co.uk/
