Shetland-based Boannie Riggit is building a growing following for its bright, bespoke childrenswear, with founder Andrea Abernethy seeing future potential for the brand to enter the wholesale market.
After almost 15 years in nursing, Shetland mother-of-three Andrea Abernethy is turning a childhood passion for sewing into a growing childrenswear business.
Abernethy received her first sewing machine for Christmas aged 10 and attended patchwork classes with her mother. Although sewing later slipped into the background, a refresher course at Christmas 2023 encouraged her to revisit her creative ambitions.
“I’ve always been creative and crafty, and I’ve always wanted to make bairn’s clothes, but when I was at school, nobody really spoke about doing something creative as a career,” she says. “So, I never really had the courage to do it until I went on a sewing refresher course during Christmas of 2023.”
After Abernethy told the tutor that she had always wanted to make childrenswear, she was given a pattern and encouraged to try. “It was far easier than I expected and it just became an addiction from there,” she adds.
The experience led to the launch of Boannie Riggit in December. The brand’s name comes from the local dialect and means, as Abernethy puts it, “beautifully dressed.”
Working from home, she designs, makes, markets and dispatches bespoke clothing for children from birth to 12 years. The brand sells to customers in Shetland, other island communities and across the UK, with its bright patterns and colourful fabrics central to its appeal. “I’ve made a couple of things for myself, but I just enjoy making for kids more. The patterns are nicer and brighter,” says Abernethy.
What began as a creative outlet is now developing into a potential new career. Abernethy began a 12-month career break from the NHS in November and is considering whether to return to her former permanent role. “I can definitely see a really bright future in the business, and I am so passionate about it. I do miss nursing, but if I really think about it, it’s my colleagues I miss the most.”
Running Boannie Riggit has given Abernethy greater flexibility around her three children, aged 11, eight and four, while requiring her to build confidence in customer service, craft fairs and marketing.
Business Gateway has supported the founder during the transition.
After learning about the service through a Mums in Business programme, Abernethy approached it for help to scale the company. She worked with an adviser to develop a business plan and secured a £4,000 Shetland Islands Council start-up grant. The funding enabled her to purchase a specialist cover stitch sewing machine, invest in exclusive fabric prints, and fund a new website and rebrand. The website is expected to launch in November.
Business Gateway also provided guidance on business growth, digital marketing and website development, alongside workshops covering business planning and social media. Further support is planned around areas including copyright.
Also commenting is Jeffrey Gaskell, Business Gateway adviser.
“Andrea has shown real determination in turning a long-standing creative passion into a growing business with clear potential. It has been very rewarding to support her as she has developed Boannie Riggit, from strengthening her business plan and securing start-up funding to helping with digital marketing and the new website. She has embraced every stage of the process, and it is exciting to see her confidence and ambitions continue to grow.”
Boannie Riggit already sells through outlets in Shetland. While the brand is not currently available wholesale, Abernethy believes it has the potential to expand into the channel in future, supporting ambitions to secure stockists on the mainland. Follow Boannie Riggit on Instagram here.