A young entrepreneur who overcame anxiety and depression to launch her own watch business is teaming up with fashion house Master Debonair for an exclusive collection.
When she was in her late teens, Teri Ellington struggled with mental health issues, but after learning coping mechanisms and undergoing counselling, she channelled her energy into working up her own business venture, inspired by her love of watches.
With a mission to create a line of luxury watches that are affordable, she launched Ellington Timepiece, designing and producing her own collections of premium watches, sourcing producers in China to make up the premium fashion accessories and having them shipped to the UK.
Ms Ellington, now 23, worked her way through the red-tape of shipping, negotiating deals with the factory in China, designing and creating the watches, which start at £120 each.
Her first collection of 300 unisex watches was called the Sheba Collection – named after her German Shepherd therapy dog, Sheba, who helped her through her depression – and sold out fast, through an online store, in House of Fraser and in Middlesbrough-based Hillier’s Independent Jewellers.
Now Ms Ellington, who lives in Stockton, Teesside, but bases her business in Jarrow, South Tyneside, has produced a new set of designs and is collaborating with another Tyneside business.
Revenue from the first series of limited-edition watches has enabled Ms Ellington to commission samples for her second collection, which she named Amare, which means To Love in Italian.
Three North East firms win Queen's Awards for Enterprise
Ms Ellington is in the final stages of finalising a deal with sartorial suit specialists Master Debonair to sell the watches in its stores in London and East Boldon, South Tyneside, as well as online. Her stock will feature as an accessory to its premium men’s range of clothes and she is in talks to exclusive supply Master Debonair with a pocket watch.
She said: “My love of timepieces comes from my grandad Norman, who has been a great influence in my life.
“Whenever we went shopping, he could always be found admiring the watches in the nearest jeweller’s window and it was a standard joke within the family if he went missing, that that’s where he could be found.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride, this last year, but it has helped my mental health issues immensely. My intention is to work with mental health charities in the future and hopefully tell my story of how I am trying to overcome my own demons.
“If telling my own story helps just one person, in a similar position to me, then it will all be worth it.”
Ms Ellington is currently working on a third collection of watches and plans to eventually release a design of limited-edition accessories to include handbags and shoes.
Eve Whitaker, owner of Master Debonair, added: “We’re delighted to collaborate with Ellington Timepiece. Teri is a fantastic young lady with a passion for bespoke watches.
“The sheer quality and craftsmanship of these timepieces will undoubtedly prove an excellent addition to our accessories range, an aspect of styling which goes hand in hand with fashionable menswear.”
North East entrepreneur Sara Davies joins Dragons' Den panel
