AN arts graduate aims to create some designer style for dapper Glasgow gents.
Silver Pendants JewelryFrom a workshop in Queen's Park, textiles graduate Sarah Speight has set up Whisky Kisses, a handmade tie and scarf business.
Taking commissions from individual customers as well as creating limited-edition runs, the 23 year old has seen her company, which only put its finishing touches in place this month, become one of the city's hot designer names.
Bizarrely enough, for a business with men's fashion at its core, the concept for the business all started with the staple of any woman's wardrobe - the handbag.
Sarah said: "When I graduated, I thought about making handbags - all women love great handbags, especially one-off handbags.
"But it made me think about whether there was a male equivalent, some sort of hand-made individual item.
"The only similar thing I could think of was a tie. I had lots of samples of fabric from my time at art school, so I decided to leave the handbags to the side and turn my hand to bespoke ties instead."
Sarah's timing has been opportune as there has been a recent shift towards traditional tailoring.
London shirtmaker TM Lewin joined Thomas Pink in Glasgow, opening a store on Buchanan Street earlier this year, and Ralph Lauren has introduced a custom-fit polo shirt to its collection.
Sarah said: "I think there are people out there who are fed up of the 'Primark-culture' and are looking for something special and different. There is a market for designer items."
cheap uggAlthough unique, Whisky Kisses' pricing is realistic. An off-the- peg tie from brands such as Dunhill can cost as much as pounds-100.
Sarah, on the other hand, has two price bands. For simple designs, the prices range from pounds-20 to pounds-30; more complex pieces are priced between pounds-40 and pounds-50.
Another selling tool is the brand's 'Scottishness'.
Sarah said: "The name is meant to be saucy, but it is also meant to identify the product as Scottish.
embroidered patches
"Scotland, and especially Glasgow, is stylish - it isn't all haggis and tartan ladies."
But choosing to be based in Scotland hasn't made things straightforward.
Sourcing supplies of silk is impossible, so a distributor from England has been found, and finding manufacturing support hasn't been easy.
A Glasgow company was hired and subsequently dropped when it became clear that they didn't understand what was required.
Sarah said: "It is a bigger challenge being based here, but I've had support from Business Gateway and setting up a new business is always going to require some head scratching. It is worth it if I can operate in Glasgow.
"Over the next few months, I'll be extending our product range to include tailor-made shirts and cufflinks and the distribution line will be extended.
"The website is also in place, so I'll be able to take the product across the world."
For information, log on to www. whiskykisses. co. uk
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