Paisley business Tout Petit goes POP at kids fashion trade show London Bubble

A luxury knitwear maker from Paisley has made a big splash at talent showcase of emerging fashion brands in London.

InCube entrepreneur Dyane Lanez, the woman behind baby and children’s knitwear company Tout Petit, went down to Bubble London to feature her kidswear collection in the POP section of the trade show, which is dedicated to up and coming brands.

Tout Petit’s colourful kids fashion earned her a final place on the Rising Star Award, which is watched by industry influencers and buyers looking to spot the tomorrow’s best-selling kid’s brands.

Dyane started her creative business journey last year when she applied to join Renfrewshire Council’s business incubator, InCube. Speaking of what she calls ‘humble beginnings’, Dyane said: “To be honest I wouldn’t be where I am now if I had not been part of the InCube programme. At the time I was a stay at home mum who decided to start a little business while bringing up my children.

“The reason I started was with a frustration of not being able to find, modern, bright, quality knitted goods for my girls, so I decided to make my own. Coupled with a love for craft and knitting, I enhanced my skills gained from 10 years working in the fashion industry in London and begun to build the humble beginnings of a small brand. Ultimately, there was only so much I could do on my own. When I started at InCube doors started to open for me and I had opportunities I would never have had on my own – learning from industry experts, meeting other designers, developing my brand for the market place and my target customers.

“Everyone at InCube was in the same boat and we all supported one another. It was an invaluable spring board for us. The team at InCube are fantastic; always helpful, always there and always offering new ideas to inspire us.”

Dyane describes Paisley – the one-time centre of the world’s textile industry and home of the Paisley Pattern – as an inspiration to grow her business.

She said: “I always felt a strong bond with my home town, Paisley. The drive towards regenerating the town centre through its heritage makes me more determined that I can ignite a little corner of the town that will be part of a new bright emerging textile industry in Paisley. I would love to build a co-operative of knitters and designers and breathe that passion once more as we have seen it in the history books.”

The Council’s ambitious regeneration plans to use Paisley’s internationally-significant heritage and cultural assets as part of wider regeneration plans for the area have already seen the town shortlisted for the UK Government’s UK City of Culture 2021 competition.

Regeneration plans are working towards transforming Paisley into a hub of creative and cultural excellence and a world-class visitor destination that will drive investment to the whole of Renfrewshire.

Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “Paisley’s rich textile heritage is transforming the town’s future as local makers emerge to set up creative businesses in town. The Council’s business incubator, InCube, has supported many businesses since it opened its doors and these businesses are a vibrant part of a new town centre economy based around heritage and culture.

“Seeing new and emerging creative businesses from Paisley and Renfrewshire making their mark on the global fashion and textiles world is significant news for the town. It comes just after Paisley being shortlisted for the UK Government’s UK City of Culture 2021 competition, which is a major endorsement for the town.

“The competition has really changed people’s perceptions of Paisley and we are starting to see investment come into the area, which will drive economic benefits for the whole of Renfrewshire and support our ambition for the town to be known as a hub of creative and cultural excellence.”

For more information on Tout Petit, visit toutpetit.co.uk.

To find out more about new business incubation in Renfrewshire, visit www.incuberenfrewshire.com.

Danielle Editor

Danielle McGuire is one of the editors behind Paisley.org.uk, a prominent website dedicated to chronicling and enhancing the community spirit of Paisley, Scotland.

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