DESIGNER and seamstress Rachel Stanton has opened the doors to her new independently-run boutique off the A38.
A qualified hairdresser, Rachel began sewing country-themed clothes for her children during lockdown and has since founded a business catering to families looking for the same unique products.
The up and coming children’s clothes designer hosted the grand opening of Country Stitches, situated at Whiteball Garage last Saturday (November 16) which she said was well attended by locals and customers from afar.
“It was so busy and I had a couple come from Cornwall to come and see me which is really nice,” she said.
“I really believe that when you’re looking for clothing, it’s got to be unique. You shouldn’t be able to just find it anywhere and I think I’ve found a niche in the market of country clothing for children which you just can’t get in any normal shops.”
Having had a bad experience with a Covid vaccine, before catching the illness and suffering from long covid for 18 months, Rachel had no choice but to close her successful Wellington hairdressing business in 2022.
The award-winning hairdresser was determined to keep herself busy during lockdown and decided to begin making clothes for her children with a countryside theme, receiving praise from friends, family and passers-by.
She said: “After giving up my hairdressing business, I got a little job cleaning in the local school to get some money coming in. Then I started concentrating on this, thinking ‘I wonder if I could make a business out of this’, and I did, and it’s just gone from strength to strength.”
Other than some secondary school sewing classes and an eight-week intensive course at Somerset College of Arts and Technology (SCAT) to get her to grips with the basics, Rachel is an entirely self-taught seamstress and designer.
“I said to my mum, I dropped my hairdressing scissors, and I picked up my seamstress scissors overnight. But yes, I think when you find a love and a passion for something it’s easy,” she added.
“I thought I loved hairdressing, I thought that was my thing. But when lockdown hit, it kind of reset me as a mum because I’ve missed a lot of my children growing up because they were in nursery full-time. Whereas when I’m sewing, I can do it as and when it suits which is really nice.”
One of seven in a family of entrepreneurs, Rachel is a natural business owner, and says she’s got her mum to thank for that.
“My mum is incredible, she’s always worked and I think that’s where I get it from. I take after her,” she said.
“I really like how I work and I’m really proud of the products. It’s a combination of trying to be sustainable, affordable and unique as well, and I think I’ve got it.”
Rachel’s shop Country Stitches is now open at Whiteball Garage from Monday to Saturday. Opening times can be found online on the Country Stitches Facebook page.