Isabelle Ugochukwu, founder and creative director at Isabella Queen, explains why the business should win the Startup of the Year category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition:
Founded in 2014, Isabella Queen is a British-based brand offering luxury Italian leather accessories handcrafted in London. The collections comprise clean, classic and structured shapes with a well-designed element of colour contrast throughout the styles. These elegant structures, stylish designs, and exceptional British craftsmanship strikes a chord with discerning consumers and a sophisticated clientele who seek out the quality and unique nature of the London-based craftsman.
Manufacturing in the UK is key to the brand’s ethos. Each bag is handcrafted in London using qualityItalian leather. The chic satin lining artwork representing London, designed in-house and in collaboration with British illustrators, graphic designers and artists, changes with every season.
With a goal of creating a global luxury business, Isabella Queen has attracted outside investment and the company has embarked on a significant mission to launch and expand across product categories, channels and geographies.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the top three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
