Our Journey so far..
Our Brand Lola Loves is an online fashion boutique selling ready-to-wear collections based in Liverpool. Our premium collections are all hand made by our small team at our studio. Our signature styles have gained a host of devoted followers throughout the UK and beyond, and we continue to grow and thrive in the industry. Our designs are a must-have for every self respecting fashion addict and our brand is known to create those on-trend statement pieces you need in your wardrobe each season.
I built my brand single handedly and created my dream job, designing and creating beautiful garments, and being my own boss...
Our journey began many years ago, before the launch of Lola Loves Boutique in 2007, in a loft bedroom space on a sewing machine with big dreams of one day becoming a leading fashion brand and influencer. This would be me. Let me introduce myself, I'm Debbie, the founder and CEO of Lola Loves Boutique.
Since as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a fashion designer. All throughout my childhood and teenage years, that's all I ever thought about. I was obsessed with Barbie and her wardrobe and started sewing at a very young age. I think I was 14 when I started practicing making things on my sewing machine. I self-taught myself a lot of things as there was no YouTube or social media, just good old books.
I later went to college and studied fashion design, garment construction, and pattern cutting. I had my son in the midst of all this and became a single mother. I literally knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and started mastering my newfound skills right away, designing and making bespoke pieces and selling them to friends, and then their friends. Word of mouth grew, and Liverpool is a great place for this, so I quickly built up my customer base. I started selling to small independent boutiques at first, giving them a few pieces to sell in their shops on a percentage-based sales model. Then, a few months later, I got a market stall on Great Holmer Street Market. This was the place to be at the time, where all the well-established designers in the city showcased their collections. I was in awe of them and inspired by their success.
As the years went on, I jumped in and out of designing and tried a few other creative things related to the industry. I even landed an amazing job as a visual merchandiser for a few years, but I kept being drawn to my passion and the only career path I ever wanted – having my own fashion brand.
I launched Lola Loves Boutique in 2007 in a small studio space in the city centre, and we quickly gained a reputation as one of the most sought-after brands in the city. Our success led us to open our flagship store in the famous Caven Walks Shopping Centre just two years later. However, our journey took a turn when I became pregnant with my second child, and we decided to move studios and change our direction.
I am so fortunate and grateful for all of my experiences, they have all taught me so much about myself and my brand.
During this time, we were fortunate enough to launch our first collection in Selfridges, which was a dream come true. We also had the opportunity to collaborate with River Island for the grand opening of their new store in Liverpool in 2013. These experiences were surreal, and it still feels unbelievable.
In May 2014, we launched our Topshop concession in Liverpool, which was a major milestone for us. Shortly after, we expanded our presence to London and Newcastle. The excitement and growth of our brand were overwhelming. Our website sales skyrocketed as well.
However, despite our accomplishments, we decided to leave Topshop after two years and fully focus on our website sales to further grow our e-commerce site. To this day, that was the best decision for us, and I am so happy and grateful for where we are now.
I have gained a wealth of knowledge about the industry over the years, and I am excited to teach you everything I have learned, and cannot wait for our next chapter, The Academy by Lola Loves.
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