This is quite a special moment for me. The jumpsuit is my favourite style I’ve ever designed. I made the first sample back in 2021 and I’ve been wearing them about 70% of the time since. That’s never happened before. 

This is my third go at launching this style. The first was in early 2023 when my mental health took a sharp decline due to much under discussed, perimenopause, under my previous brand, Gwyllem. 

I was so attached to the idea of everything working perfectly, immediately, that when initial sales weren’t what I expected, I lost my shit. My brain was simply not working properly and I couldn’t make sense of what was happening. 

This was the moment I really lost confidence in myself. Lost confidence that I could reinvent my business or that anyone would be interested in my art.

Then the opportunity arose to recreate the jumpsuit using @dalee.ella.printmaker ’s artwork. This felt so much safer to me, because it wasn’t my own artwork. The earth tone, nature inspired lino print designs by Dalee Ella, have been a definite hit and they’ve developed a nice little cult following. 

About three days after I started taking HRT my brain began coming back online and I could suddenly see how DOABLE it would be to bring in my own artwork onto this now tried and tested style. It didn’t need to be instant, just start. Slow fashion is SLOW. Thats the point.

It’s taken about six months from that moment to get here, ready to launch this mini run of jumpsuits with my artwork. FINALLY it’s time to get bright, loud and kooky! 

I’ve already had amazing feedback that folk are loving my quirky fabric designs, so I feel confident, even if sales aren’t ground breaking, it’ll grow. Transitions take time and thats okay. 

With my confidence and cognition back I know I can figure out what needs figuring out, to make this work. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. 

Thank you for reading this story of mine. I know so many women will relate to the downward spiral that can be perimenopause and especially when it comes to our inner confidence. Sharing stories is in our DNA, so I hope my experience can help you process your own, in any tiny way.