A mum has created her own fashion brand to help new mums feel like themselves again after giving birth.
Fashion design graduate Chloe McColgan combined her passion for loungewear and her experience in becoming a first-time mum to twins to create her clothing brand 'Inchlomo', taken from 'In Chloe Motion', meaning at my own pace.
For Chloe, her dream to have a family and run her own business came from taking advantage of her own life experiences and her drive to help others.
Read more: Derry woman reunited with wedding ring after it was lost on beach for two months
Chloe, from Strabane and currently based in the Re:Imagine small business pop up in Derry, spoke to MyDerry about the establishment of her brand.
She said: "Shortly after my graduation in 2017 and starting my new graduate job as a print designer, I found out I was having twins so decided to up sticks from London and move home. I then joined the Fashion & Textiles Design Centre in Derry and completed the designer enterprise programme which is what gave me the actual confidence and push I needed.
"I always think back to how I felt about myself after my twins were born. It's a wonderful and weird time - completely in love like you've never experienced before with these two bundles of joy alongside this weird grieving feeling for the life you're 'leaving behind/girl you once were'.
"I remember being so confused about myself. It was like I forgot what way I liked to dress, what my personality was, my own style and identity. So through my 'journey' of remembering who I was pre-motherhood and discovering who I am post motherhood the goal of Inchlomo as a brand was set."
For Chloe, her experience in regaining her self-confidence through her style as a new mum drove her to believe that her new brand would succeed in providing what new mums needed.
She said: "I feel as a mum I can easily relate to other mums. I know what they're going through, I know their priorities, I know their struggles - after all, I have been there and worn the spew-stained t-shirt. I want Inchlomo to be the brand women can turn to when needing that bit of confidence in their daily lives that they may be lacking."
Naturally, Chloe's twins have taken centre stage in sporting lines that match mum and child in their outfits, creating a trendy and unique range of comfy clothing perfect for mums and kids.
Chloe said: "It means everything and more for me to be able to include my twins in the business. I would love nothing more than for them to grow up one day and be proud of everything I have done as it's all for them.
"I hear a lot of feedback from mothers who want something a bit different for their kids to wear where the quality actually meets the price without breaking the bank. I have been putting in the work the past few years sourcing the best sustainable fabrics and suppliers and I can happily say with our new "Cool Mums Club" & "Cool Kids Club" collections we are finally there."
For Chloe, juggling a new business and becoming a mum of twins has not been easy. However, she is now reaping the rewards of her hard work in her place within the Re:Imagine pop up in Foyleside as well as taking part in the Foyleside Mothers Day fashion show.
She said: "The biggest challenge for me whilst starting my business has definitely been trying to juggle being a first time mum of twins and getting my work done. At the start I was being a mum all day long, never being able to turn your back, never getting a minute alone. Then getting the twins settled at bed time and then starting my 'working day'.
"Sitting at my sewing machine or sitting down to draw up new designs as well as fulfilling and packing orders. Looking back I'm surprised I survived, but I did and the opportunities I have experienced since have made it all worth it.
"Being a part of the Foyleside Mothers Day fashion show being one of them. The twins and I got to wear our brand and walk the catwalk together which was just amazing for me as a brand owner and their mum to watch how exciting it was for them."
READ NEXT:
- Tributes to Derry man Johnny McKane- a 'stalwart' of the Civil Rights movement
- Culture Night in Derry: Everything that's happening
- Derry councillor hits out at 'extremely worrying' lack of GP appointments
- Creggan Burn Masterplan approved by Derry City and Strabane councillors
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
