ECCLES SMALL BUSINESS OWNER CROWNED ‘DIGITAL STAR’ AT 2021 SMALL AWARDS FOR HER DISABILITY-FRIENDLY FASHION BRAND

A disability-friendly fashion brand picked up an exciting accolade last night at The Small Awards, an initiative run by Small Business Britain to celebrate businesses often overlooked by other awards.

Kintsugi Clothing, founded in 2018, describes itself as an ‘inclusive’ company, which designs with disability in mind. Its collection includes subtle design features intended to make each piece more accessible. Zips are placed on the side seams of trousers, for example, to remove the pressure point of a typical front button and zip combination and to give wearers with ostomy bags an efficient means of accessing them, when needed.

Kintsugi’s founder, Emma McClelland, a 33-year-old from Eccles, said of the award:

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“I’m absolutely delighted that Kintsugi won the ‘Digital Star’ award and really grateful to Small Business Britain for hosting a fantastic event that brought so many members of the small business community together.

“I’m pleased to be representing Greater Manchester and also to be able to demonstrate the importance of companies including disabled people in their design processes, whether for products or services. Both are better when they’re accessible!”

 

The awards ceremony was held virtually, via Zoom, but in a surprise twist, roving ‘reporters’ arrived at the winners’ homes to hand them their award in person and broadcast their reaction live! For Emma, this meant seeing a familiar face in fellow entrepreneur Dee Mapasure, whose company K’s Wors has had its products – Boerewors sausages – retailed at Ocado and Costco.

The ‘Digital Star’ award category celebrates businesses that operate only online and make strong use of digital channels to engage and grow their customer base. Kintsugi was up against Badass Mother Runners, Delivered Social, ShopAppy.com and Martha Brook.

The Small Awards, launched in 2017 and run by Small Business Britain, targets the whole small business sector focusing on businesses often overlooked by other awards. With 5.8 million small businesses in the UK, there are huge numbers of small businesses doing great things that may not be recognised by awards due to geography, scale or even awareness of the benefits such awards can bring. The Small Awards changes that by reaching out to a massive small business base that its management team have built up over many years working in the sector.