My Big Idea

Hello and welcome to My Big Idea, an ASOS Podcast.This week our host Caroline Ferry speaks with Sarah Beckett, Ruba Huleihel and Sophie Slater of Birdsong, a marketplace for women who expect more from their wardrobe. Birdsong finds the best female makers and brings their fairly made fashion to you, no sweatshops, no photoshop.Started by three feminists in their twenties, Birdsong began in 2014 as founders Sarah, Sophie & Ruba saw the effects that funding cuts were having on women’s organisations. Many of these women had incredible crafting skills that weren’t being shown off to the world, so the three decided to create a platform to benefit these women. Birdsong now helps to make over £10,000 for women’s charities annually.The three created Birdsong with a very strong ethos behind the brand. Birdsong promises to deliver clothing and accessories that are ethically manufactured, high quality and made to last. They source products exclusively from women organisations and charities and 50-85% of revenue back to them. On top of this, they promise never to digitally manipulate their photographs and advertising, delivering 'fashion thats fairer to women'. Sarah, Ruba and Sophie talk to Asos's Caroline Ferry about how they began Birdsong, the brand's ethics and how the company impacts women's lives. This is Birdsong's big idea.

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Welcome to the ASOS Podcast, My Big Idea. Episode 19's guest is South London's Lerryn Whitfield, Founder and Owner of Peckham's Lerryn's Cafe.Trying to find a way back to New York, following some good advice and encouragement from her friends, Lerryn decided to start her very own business and created much more than just a local Cafe. At the time of Leroy's creation, Lerryn was sleeping on a friends sofa with little money with which to start the business. Lerryn’s welcomed its first customers in April, exactly a month after Lerryn had purchased the former hair salon. She converted the space herself using DIY techniques and calling in favours from friends with very little money to fall back on. Lerryn's soon became an 'unpretentious café that attracts a broad mix from the local area, from young creatives to elderly couples'. Lerryn wanted the cafe to be 'as non-invasive as possible, to be accessible to everyone who walks along Rye Lane', contrasting to the surge in chichi cafes opening all around London. Lerryn's now acts as a cafe by day, bar by night and is increasingly popular with the residents of Peckham. Asos's Lucinda Greasley speaks to Lerryn about how she began Lerryn's, starting a business on a budget and how she plans to expand the cafe. This is Lerryn's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 18 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast.This week our guests are Olivia Snape and Sylvie Gianella of Jewellery brand Gypsy East. The girls, who along with third co-founder Emily-Louise McGuinness, met as Visual Merchandisers at Topshop and Guess?, decided to travel the world in order to draw inspiration which led to forming their very own brand Gypsy East. Now a FestIval and ASOS Marketplace staple, Gypsy East draw many fans including pop sensation Paloma Faith.The mantra behind the brand is hand crafting one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage jewels & crystals they have discovered and collected on their travels around the world. They now stock a jewellery range sourced throughout their travels in India. In addition to this they hand craft floral head crown's and draw gypsy illustrations. Since its creation, Gypsy East has become a creative outlet where mediums such as photography, illustration, film, styling and art are all used by the girls to create the brand image. Olivia and Sylvie speak to Asos editor Lucinda Greasley about how they began the brand Gypsy East, the idea behind the brand and how they plan to continue making jewellery. This is Gypsy East's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 17 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast giving young women advice and inspiration to start their own businesses. This week our guest is the Founder of beauty App Ruuby, Venetia Archer. Venetia created the App as a way for beauty lovers to quickly discover salons and spas across London at their convenience when on the go. Ruby is described as 'London’s first digital beauty concierge', with all the salons, spas and therapists featured being carefully selected and vetted by the Ruuby team. The Ruuby App allows those with busy lives who travel frequently to find trustworthy, luxurious spas and salons free from hassle. Venetia recognised how hard it is to find good quality beauty therapists in unfamiliar places, such as when travelling for work, and decided to create a tool with which people could do just that. Ruby's salon and spa partners include Richard Ward, Daniel Galvin, Errol Douglas, W Hotel and London Edition, with the app being featured in Wired, Grazia and Sunday Times Style, and was voted one of both Refinery 29 and Buzzfeed's top London apps in 2015. Needless to say, it has become very successful. Asos editor Annie talks to Venetia about how she began Ruuby and her plans for the future of the app. This is Venetia's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 16 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast.This week our guest is Creative Consultant, Writer and Stylist, Laurel Pantin. Having previously worked for Fashion magazines such as Teen Vogue, Glamour and Lucky, following a life changing move to South Africa, Laurel returned to Fashion as a successful Freelancer.Laurel has since worked with Asos, Into the Gloss, Topshop and Conde Naste, doing a variety of work from writing to styling. Laurel's classic, causal style, her favourite brands including Isabel Marant and Phillip Lim, has put her in high demand with brands and media alike. Her style icons are Dolly Parton, Lauren Hutton, and Jane Birkin, influencing her timeless style and laid-back approach to fashion. Laurel tells Asos editor Danielle Radojcin how she gained her it-girl status, how she formulated her personal style and how she plans to continue with her work. This is Laurel's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 15 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast giving young women advice and inspiration to start their own businesses. This week our guest is the Founder and Creative Director of Hip Hop magazine BRICK, Hayley Louisa Brown. The London-based photographer and editor conceived the magazine as an intelligent union between fashion and music that rejects traditional hip-hop motifs in favour of clean, contemporary graphic design. The Hip Hop enthusiast created the first issue of BRICK in 2015, fronted by Wiz Khalifa and ScHoolboyQ. Since then, issues have contained content on artists including A$AP Ferg, Vince Staples, Cam’ron, Joey Bada$$ and Tinashe.Hayley previously worked as Clash magazine’s hip-hop editor and noticed the cliched approach to Hip Hop taken by magazines such as XXL and Source. Hayley believes that Hip Hop culture is more than half-naked girls, smoking supplies and gold chains. BRICK explores the cultural elements of Hip Hop and approaches the genre with a timeless and creative outlook. Hayley's aim: 'to create a hip-hop magazine that didn’t feel like a hip-hop magazine'.Asos's Caroline Ferry chats to Hayley about how she began BRICK, how BRICK is different to other Hip Hop magazines and her plans for the future. This is Hayley Louisa's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 14 of My Big Idea, an ASOS Podcast, with this week's guests Alex Hoffler and Stacey O'Gorman.Both trained chefs, Alex and Stacey formed The Meringue Girls after working together in a restaurant in Hackney. The two noticed the lack of female chefs in the catering industry, and subsequently, the lack of meringues. Alex and Stacey decided to kill two birds with one stone, creating the predominantly female baking brand. The two started off selling their confectionary in popular markets such as London's Broadway Market and made a connection with Jamie Oliver's food photographer, David Loftus. With his help, Meringue Girls took off, and is now attracting clients including Dior, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Agent Provocateur, Adidas, Nike and Topshop.Alex and Stacey tell Asos editor Caroline Ferry about how they began Meringue Girls, sexism in the catering industry and their plans for the future. This is Alex and Stacey's big idea

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Hello and welcome to episode 13 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast, with this week's guest Phoebe Lovatt.Since moving from London to Los Angeles in 2012, freelance Journalist and moderator Phoebe missed her close network of friends, described as 'a group of insanely smart, creative, focused, and driven women', more than she could've imagined - not least when it came to finding support and motivation in her working life. After two years unable to find anywhere to meet and work with like-minded women, Phoebe figured she should do something about it. In late 2014, she decided to build a space - both physical and virtual - that would be a meeting ground/support network for working women in LA and beyond.The WW Club allows creative, career-minded women to meet with kindred spirits, collaborate and swap business cards over happy hour cocktails. Phoebe recognised the lack of resources helping working women to further their careers and enabling them to collaborate creatively and support each other. This inspired her to create a space where working women could do just that, in a world which doesn't always accommodate for women who have careers. Asos's Nellie Eden speaks to Phoebe about what inspired her to start The Working Woman's Club, how the idea took off and her life as a working woman. This is Phoebe's big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 12 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast giving young women advice and inspiration to start their own businesses. Wired PR is a London-based PR agency specialising in music.Wired handle all aspects of publicity, from bespoke features and interviews, to acoustic sessions, photo-shoots and cover stories, across national print press and global online outlets. They only take on artists they truly believe in and pride themselves on delivering fresh ideas that start conversations.Wired represents many contemporary musicians including Stormy, Fetty Wap, Young Thug, Jorja Smith and Tom Odell, and many more young rap, R&B and pop singers. Wired has an impressive list of clients and collaborators, being described as an 'outstanding, creative and bespoke PR service' by Sophie Hall, head of MTA Records and as an 'absolute revelation' by Stacey Tang of Columbia Records, the label representing Beyonce, Adele, Bob Dylan and Haim. Asos's Shannon Mahanty speaks to Rachel and Joss about how they began Wired PR and their tips for young women looking to start their own businesses. This is Rachel and Joss' big idea.

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Hello and welcome to episode 11 of My Big Idea, an ASOS podcast.This week's guest is Amber Atherton of My Flash Trash, a jewellery brand based in London that creates playful and bold accessories to bring out your sassy side. She shares a passion for not taking life or fashion too seriously, and believes in empowering girls to run the world.Amber’s passion for building brands began at the age of 9 and since then has developed several businesses, modelled and starred in Channel 4's Made in Chelsea.Amber is not your average Londoner, she was born in Hong Kong and attended school there and in the Caribbean before her family settled in Britain permanently. She also had a successful modelling career before starting My Flash Trash, appearing in Vogue, Love and Tatler. Since its creation, My Flash Trash has become popular with celebrities including Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and The Duchess of Cambridge, and is now stocked in Topshop, Adhoc, Fenwicks and Shop Super Street. Claire has also built a network of ambassadors for My Flash Trash known as the 'Charm Gang' including model Maddi Waterhouse, sister of Suki Waterhouse. Asos editor Danielle Radojcin speaks to Amber about her impressive list of accomplishments, how she created My Flash Trash and her plans for the future. This is Amber's big idea.

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