Alice Halliday is a West Cork-based fashion designer and stylist. Her ranges include ethically-made ready-to-wear, accessories and couture, bespoke bridal gowns and stunning headpieces, all beautifully handmade in her home studio. She lives in Skibbereen with her son Naythan (4).
“The five words that sum up my fashion label are ethical, ethereal, elegant, bohemian and romantic.
I opened my business after winning ‘Cork Fashion Week Designer of the Year’ in 2011, but it’s been my dream to be a fashion designer since the age of nine, so I was always working towards it. It’s in my blood, my mum taught and inspired me to sew by making beautiful Barbie clothes. My granny was also a talented seamstress.
I specialise in Eco-couture. My designs are like wearable pieces of art, but with prices that won’t break the bank. I lovingly make each piece by hand, using the finest locally-sourced and reclaimed vintage materials.
I opened my Etsy store in 2011… but it took me two years to make my first sale! I was so close to giving up and closing, but then I got some tips from my mumpreneur friend Cathy of turquoiseflamingo.com, which helped to get things going. I didn’t have any SEO knowledge at the start and I hadn’t really been promoting it on social media. Thankfully now my sales are increasing and I am also taking custom orders through my Etsy store. I also stock at Atelier 27 Dublin, Isobella Ru Cork and ethicalsoulsboutique.com, with another stockist coming soon…
Every sale and each lovely comment is a cause for celebration. I feel so lucky to be doing what I love and when others love it too that’s what makes me really happy, that’s a success to me. When you’re starting out, sometimes it’s best to just go for it, otherwise you can talk yourself out of things and hold yourself back.
NUA training offer some great business courses and workshops, as well as providing mentors. There’s so much advice online, brazenprofitlab.com is great. It’s really worth reading tips from bloggers on being self-employed. I think friends and family can be the best support, so do ask them for help and advice if you need it.
When you are your own boss, you get to make all the decisions. You choose your own working hours and work space and you take breaks and holidays when you want. It means there’s so much more flexibility, which is great, especially as a parent!
But motivation and self-discipline can be tricky… It can be hard to set your own targets and deadlines and one can end up procrastinating. Going it alone, it’s also easy to over-stretch yourself, which can lead to burnout.
Naythan is in playschool four mornings a week,which is great for us both. There’s a lovely (and very affordable) childminder down the road too. I’m very grateful to have a good support network, my parents are very helpful if I need them and I do swaps with a couple of my close friends and their kids. At weekends Naythan goes to stay with his daddy, so that gives me Saturdays to do fairs and events.
If I was to offer advice to a wannabe entrepreneur, I’d tell them… that networking is so important, it really helps to know people. Researching your target market and competitors is vital. Work hard but be good to yourself, seize opportunities, go to events, enter competitions, stay inspired.
Right now I’ve got a number of bridal commissions on the go, which will keep me very busy. Luckily I have a lovely intern for the summer, she is a great help. I’m focusing on developing my statement headpieces and bridal couture, but also looking to experiment with my best-selling Kimono Scarf Tops and Tunic Dresses to create some new looks. There are plenty of exciting creative shoots in the pipeline, I’m looking forward to working with some of my favorite collaborators again- Kate Bean Photography, Rosa O, Wild Floral Couture and Mari Paduano Stylist, to name a few.
A photo posted by A L I C E ❇ H A L L I D A Y (@alicehalliday) on
Catch up with Alice Halliday daily on Instagram.
