BFA X UO: Cowgrl Crochets

Key details

Date: 25th Jul 2022

Author: Jade McGhee

Type: Blog

Our partnership with Urban Outfitters has given 40 small, ethnically diverse ran businesses the opportunity to feature their stall within Urban Outfitters stalls across the UK. From fashion, floristry, board games and Illustrations we are bringing you it all.

Following along with the series as we will be giving a glimpse the people involved, where they started off and where they are today. You never know, it might even inspire you to chase your own dreams!

Everyone in lockdown had a hobby or two to pass the time. Maisy turned hers into a business. With her friends encouraging her to start her own business and the rumours of ‘Freedom Day’ approaching, she knew that festival season was her time to shine. She started with an Instagram page and the rest is history…

Originally from Somerset, Maisy to London to study in textile design at Central Saint Martins. When they are not working on their business during the week, they are usually exercising or working on their degree. Here is her journey, from a lockdown hobby to Urban Outfitters…

 Why did you decide to apply for the Blueprint for All X Urban Outfitters marketplace?

Being honest, I thought this was a shot in the dark applying for this opportunity. I loved the idea of giving small businesses a space within a larger high street store and was eager to be a part of this experience – as I am sure many people were. I had not done any face to face sales with my products as, I am based online so I knew it would be a create opportunity for me to interact with my customers.

What are your plans for the future? 

Being real, I actually have no idea – but I am okay with that. My focus at the moment is to finish my degree (and also boss it lol), after that I am excited to put together the skills I have gained from my business and degree and see what opportunities this will bring me. I don’t think I am quite ready to grow my business further and solely depend on it just yet, so I imagine I will most likely work below someone within a bigger fashion company whilst keeping Cowgrlcrochets as a side hustle.

What were you hoping to get out of partaking in the Blueprint for All X Urban Outfitters marketplace?

 I hope to gain some in person interaction and exposure. It has been incredible to get the footfall at the Urban Outfitters store and seeing everyone witness my creations and a few sales wouldn’t hurt.

What is your advice for anyone wanting to start up their own business?

I think the main thing that has driven my business forward is my constant dedication. I have a genuine passion and love for my business; it is literally my little baby!!! My grind quite literally never stops haha, I often have dreams about crochet and Instagram post ideas.

If you really enjoy doing something and you can see a way of turning it into a business, speak to people who you know will give you honest opinions about your business idea and see what they think… getting my ideas out there gave me the confidence to try. Social media is also vital for a business’s success in this day and age so put a lot of time into that.

What has been the most challenging thing about starting up your business and how have you overcome this 

I found initially gaining exposure was quite hard. I used my uni loans to make Instagram ads which helped to get a bit of reach. I also gifted some stuff to celebs which meant that I gained a wider audience through them sharing; this obviously took me a lot of time and effort to hand make each gifting, essentially for free which at times was frustrating as not every person shared it as they had promised prior to sending it out to them.

What does diversity and inclusion mean to you in the working world? 

Within my practice I think it is vital that we scrap the mentality that craft is just a woman’s ‘hobby’ and not taken seriously. Crochet and textiles are for everyone and there are so many unbelievably talented individuals within the arts, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity.

Do you want to keep up with all things Cowgrl Crochets? Take a look at Maisy’s work…

Instagram: @cowgrlcrochets

Website: www.cowgrlcrochets.com