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Stamford High School old girl sets up her own business Former student at Stamford High School chats to Georgie Fenn about new fashion label Indiana Rose LDN
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OU could say Anna Roe is a Stamford High School old girl only she’s really not that old. At 23, Anna has been through the whole Stamford school process, studied Business at Newcastle University and has landed firmly back on her feet in Stamford at her mother’s beautiful B&B on Rutland Terrace. However, Anna hasn’t moved home to settle into country life again, she’s on a mission to build her own label. Anna has founded fashion company Indiana Rose LDN a few months ago and is currently busy getting her brand out there. Indiana Rose currently manufactures beautiful cashmere jackets for both men and women in traditional Indian textiles and designs. There’s also grey herringbone cashmere for those less flashy occasions and a waistcoat for the men looking to layer up or go a bit casual. “I have always had a passion for a well cut jacket,” says Anna while unpacking the latest stunning designs. “In the future, I envision the jackets paired with a Nehru collared shirt, matching tailored trousers and maybe even matching shoes.” It’s certainly a refreshing image to the classic suit we are so fond of in this country and I’m sure Richard Branson – famous for his tie bashing – would agree. The company was a gutsy move by Anna who has tried her hand in the corporate world but finds she’s just not cut out to work for somebody else all her life. After saving up for consecutive travelling adventures while working for Amazon, Anna cut her trip short while in a silk factory in the middle of Sri Lanka and decided to give the jackets a go. “I actually found a Whatsapp number for a manufacturer in Jodhpur on Google,” Anna tells me while I stare at her in disbelief. “We Skyped that day and have been in business with each other ever since,” she says. This reliable chap over in India in a family run mill is behind the luxurious cashmere Anna has chosen. It takes courage to make the leap and I think every speed bump Anna has reached has just encouraged her even more. With so much focus on British manufacturing these days I did question Anna on her decision to go to India but it turns out there is barely any support for business start-ups in this country and the sample prices from a company based in Northamptonshire were frankly, outrageous. With such quality material and a master of the traditional Indian Nehru style, Anna has clearly made the right decision going across seas; the evidence is in the quality of her products. The jackets start at £175, come in various sizes and if you’d like to stand out from the crowd there is the option to go bespoke. • You can find Anna’s jackets on her website: www.indianarose-ldn.com and also local shows including Rutland Show on the 4th June and The Royal Norfolk Show 28th29th June.
Georgie Fenn
Anna Roe
A most civilised cinema experience
Georgie Fenn pops along to the new cinema experience in Stamford
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HE Bull and Swan in St Martin’s (see also page 39) has had quite the makeover since my last visit, which was clearly far too long ago, and it’s given the place a new lease of life. The once challengingly small car park is now a landscaped Kitchen Garden. Every Thursday, hopefully all the way through till the end of September, The Bull and Swan’s Garden Cinema will be showing a film from 7:30pm and offering pizzas, prosecco, popcorn and more to guests. This isn’t a ticketed event so you can turn up as you like. As we’re in the UK, the evenings depend largely on the Great British weather and if it’s pouring it down, chances are you’ll be indoors with a hearty bit of pub food instead. I went along on the 4th May (a little late to the game) to watch Romeo and Juliet. I took my delightful mother Mary as she was curious to see what I was ‘going on about’. We got there at around 7:30pm, just as the film was starting. If I can offer you any advice at all it would be to get there super early as it’s going to be extremely popular and although it’s a roomy area, it does get filled quickly. Each month will take on a different theme that will correspond with the pizza toppings and films! May has been #Love, Romance hence the infamous Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, The Notebook (blubs), Notting Hill and Atonement. June is set to give you a laugh and July is the very best of the #British.
While we were all chatting, the chef was preparing the most mouthwatering looking pizzas so Mum and I had one of each. They really were delicious and, paired with the house Italian Merlot for me and an Argentinian Malbec for Mum, it was one of the tastiest meals we’ve had out in a while.
STAMFORD LIVING JUNE 2017
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