Fashion pair gear up for big Christmas (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Fashion pair from Sotto e Sopra, Twickenham, gear up for big Christmas

10:01am Friday 29th October 2010 in Talking Business By Christine Fleming

Finding a gap in the fashion market and taking on big retailers is no easy thing to do – but for one pair of friends it is a challenge they are ready to face.

Despite the competition, Christine Foden and Pauline Mathewson – whose new business Sotto e Sopra sells quality simple women’s tops – think the reason they will succeed is because they will be keeping things simple.

Ms Foden said: “We’re appealing to this need for a nice, simple, good-quality basic top.

“With Sotto e Sopra it’s not about being the first [to create something] it’s about being the most enduring.”

Hampton-based Ms Foden, 49, and business partner Mrs Mathewson decided to start producing their own clothing range after becoming frustrated by the lack of good quality, affordable, basic tops on the market.

Now after months of sourcing fabrics and manufacturers the proud duo have launched a selection of simple, flattering tops that “feel like a second skin” and “hang well, don’t ride up, wash easily and are made from ‘green’ fabric”.

Primarily an online retailer, Sotto e Sopra launched this summer, but is now branching out into occasional sales in its Twickenham studios, and will be taking tops around Christmas fairs this winter.

But the friends, who met several years ago while picking up their daughters at St Catherine’s School gates, said the most exciting part of setting up their business so far has been when they see women wearing their tops. Ms Foden said: “It feels great, just fantastic, when we see someone wearing one of our tops. It’s early days yet so we don’t see it much, but we’ve had really nice feedback from customers who are as enthusiastic as we are about it.”

Sotto e Sopra’s next studio sale is on December 9, at Unit 19, Crane Mews, Gould Road, Twickenham.

They will also be exhibiting at Olympia’s Spirit of Christmas Fair from November 3 to 17, and the Business Design Centre’s country living Christmas fair from November 10 to 14.

To find out more, visit sottoesopra.co.uk.