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As a new mum 14 years ago, and bored with the mundane designs of children’s leggings, Amanda - who worked as a business development manager for a FMCG brand – had the idea for leggings with characters on the crawling nappy bottom, as there was nothing like it in the UK market.

“I was constantly pulling down my crawling daughter’s dresses to cover her bottom, so the idea created a lightbulb moment,” Amanda explains. “My husband Jon was involved from the very beginning, with both of us working on the creation of the idea from our front room. Although I had no design experience, I left my job to concentrate on growing the business and spending more time with our babies, Harvey Blade and Issey Rose. Jon joined me full time a year later. The range started with

New

Blade & Rose will be exhibiting at Home & Gift, Harrogate, which takes place from 16-19 July (stand DP1-A60). “We’ve got five fabulous new collections launching in August, plus a couple of surprise additions launching in September, all of which will be unveiled on our stand,” confirms Amanda.

Meanwhile, the company’s Spring Summer 2023 collection is available now, featuring Chip the Red Panda, Bugs and Hot Jungle across hats, t-shirts, rompers and shorts, as well as the company’s iconic leggings. “We also added a Peter Rabbit Springtime and Beach collection which, while ideal for summer, can also be layered up for the colder months,” Amanda highlights.

A quest to find trendy, designled leggings for little ones led Amanda Peffer to set up her own business, Blade & Rose, in 2010 while on maternity leave. In the ensuing years, the company has gone from strength to strength, winning five prestigious industry awards in 2022, both trade and consumer.

Amanda reveals what’s new for the second half of 2023, along with the company’s ambitions plans to build the brand globally.

just three designs and has steadily built organically year on year, with the business subsequently expanding into premises in Kendal, our home town, to include offices, a warehouse and a showroom.”

Amanda is proud to highlight that many of Blade & Rose’s original stockists, that bought into the signature leggings, are still the company’s top stockists today. “With our 13th birthday around the corner, this demonstrates the loyalty of our trade customers and the strength of our products,” she states. “Plus, winning five awards last year, to include the Gift of the Year’s Branded Gift category, has given retailers even more confidence in the brand.”

She says the focus for 2023 is to expand Blade & Rose’s retail presence in the UK and

Europe. “In the current economic climate, retailers tend to stay with tried and tested brands, and while our online business continues to thrive, we know that the product sells exceptionally well at retail. With its bright colours, quality and unique designs we have gifts for independents, garden centres and holiday destinations. Plus, our price points are perfect as gifts for new babies, birthdays, baby showers and Christmas. Retailers can offer our product knowing they have an award winning, ethical product which will perform all year round. Plus, we have maintained the £10 SRP price point for our leggings, and encourage the message to ‘buy once, buy well’, with all products able to stand the test of time.”

As for future opportunities, Amanda says that she and Jon are looking to building the Blade & Rose brand across the globe. “It’s an exciting time, with the positive reaction to our core collection and new products very rewarding. We have something unique, and going to trade fairs is our favourite thing. We love to meet retailers face to face and see their reaction to the quality and designs we have to offer.”