She's a big hit with Corrie fans as Nicky Wheatley in the ITV soap and actress Kimberly Hart-Simpson has been supported by her castmates as she shared exciting news about her other job. The star, who returned to the long-running soap as Nicky earlier this year, is also a businesswoman and a dab hand as a seamstress, reworking and upcycling charity shop bargains.
Kimberly, who first arrived on Coronation Street in June 2020 and struck up a close friendship with school teacher Daniel Osbourne, has seen her sustainable brand Hart-Work launched in Urban Outfitters. She was joined at the launch by her Corrie co-stars Elle Mulvaney and Jack James Ryan, who play couple Amy Barlow and Jacob Hay, and Jack's sister Rebecca Ryan who played stalker Lydia Chambers in the show.
Kimberly was also supported by Tanisha Gorey, who plays Corrie's Asha Alahan, and fellow soap star Jessica Ellis who played Tegan Lomax in the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks. Sharing snaps on Instagram she wrote proudly: "Get your sustainable brand into Urban Outfitters. Just Did It."
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And she added: "Unreal weekend. Thank you so much to every single friend who passed buy this weekend and all customers. Needed more pics tbh but the memories will last forever. Where to next?"
Jack told her: "Mad proud of you." And Tanisha praised: "You’re amazing my love!!!!!" Kimberly replied: "Thank you so much for coming down." Kimberly recently shared a post from her 'Hart Work' Instagram page which revealed that people would soon be able to grab her designs on the high-street.
She wrote: "All confirmed - my brand @hartwork._ will be launching @urbanoutfitters 20th May in Manchester Branch." She then added: "Grateful for every bit of support thus far. The movement continues..."
The actress set up set Hart-Work in 2018 and all the items are handmade by the soap star herself. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News and other press, Kimberly said it was buying the cheapest sewing machine she could find, which she 'put on an Argos card because I couldn’t afford it outright' that she credits to saving her mental health.
"I’m from a working-class family that went to charity shops so it’s in my bones. I’ve not changed, I’m not going to change despite whether I’m on a high wage or a low wage. It doesn’t matter. A bargain is a bargain at the end of the day," she said.
"I got a sewing machine a couple of years ago and that saved my mental health massively because I had this thing where I could turn something that was destined for landfill into something beautiful again and that resonated with me in life and your saving the planet and you’re working on yourself. What’s not to love about that."
She added: "I’m also sick to death of seeing influencers push a narrative of Louis Vuitton and Gucci and all of these other things which have a direct impact on young people’s mental health, looking up to them thinking that is who they need to be like and that’s not sustainable on so many levels.
"I’m not saying be like me but I’m saying please don’t be like everyone else. There are other routes. There’s nothing wrong with what influencers are doing, good for them if they want to put their achievement on there, I’m all for that but I’m just trying to offer an alternative."
Earlier this month she wowed fans with her latest dazzling look while sending out an important message. The soap star posed in her black and red embroidered number which bought from the British Heart Foundation for a bargain £3, and she said she felt 'a million dollars.' The praise came pouring in as the actor shared an 'inspirational' Instagram post about snapping up second hand clothing.
"They (society) are going to try their best to make you believe the price of a persons outfit is a direct reflection of their success," she wrote. "Someone in designer gear is surely doing better than someone in second hand?"
And she added: "Let me tell you I have met a few p****s in Prada and some of the most inspiring, well rounded and driven humans in hand me downs. People with a social media following will post their designer items (good for them and no shade) but forget accountability when it comes to the impression that leaves on their followers who want to be just like them.
"What does that do to someone’s mental health when they feel worlds apart? The point is this , these summer events coming up are going to put strain on peoples image, the price of the product does not amount to the value of the human. Your heart is the asset."
Kimberly's character was given a job as a teaching assistant working alongside Daniel after she returned in March. But she was suspended when her previous job as a sex worker was exposed by pupil Max Turner.
