BRANDS
The products available for women felt like an afterthought. The industry was firmly rooted in the “shrink it and pink it” approach, where men’s products were simply made smaller and a pink flower or go-faster stripe added because, apparently, that’s what women wanted... wasn’t it? By that point, I’d spent more than 20 years building a career
in the fashion and textile industry, designing knitwear and technical clothing for global brands, so I knew what thoughtful product design looked like. Looking at what was available and at what my fellow female riders were wearing on the trails, it was obvious that women were being let down, not just by the clothing itself, but by the way we were represented. It felt as though we weren’t being considered, we weren’t being listened to, and we certainly weren’t being made to feel that the outdoors and the trails were places where we truly belonged. Standing in that shop, I thought about the incredible
women I rode with every weekend. They became my inspiration. I felt strongly that they deserved better-designed clothing, better representation and a brand that genuinely understood them. That was the moment the seed for FINDRA was planted, and the mission that has guided us ever since began to take shape.
Tell us about yourself. What is your professional background, and what outdoor activities do you enjoy? I live in the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders, where I run FINDRA. Three main threads have been woven into the fabric of my
life for as long as I can remember: family, creativity and the outdoors. From a very young age, I have loved being outdoors.
Although I grew up on the outskirts of Glasgow in a fairly urban environment, I always found a way to be in nature. Whether it was helping my dad in the garden, riding bikes with friends or playing rounders in the street, I simply loved being outside. As I’ve gotten older, spending time outdoors has become
even more important to me. Just before launching FINDRA, I went through a difficult time personally when my marriage broke down, and I found myself raising three growing boys on my own. Like so many women, I struggled to make time for myself. I can clearly remember going to my doctor looking for a quick fix, but he took a very different approach. As a mountain biker himself, he understood the power of time in nature, and the prescription he gave me was permission to ride my bike more. So I did, and it transformed my life in more ways than I could have imagined. Creativity has always been a part of who I am. When I was
wee, I loved making things and always knew I’d pursue a career in the arts in some way. I studied Industrial Design & Textiles at Heriot-Watt University, specialising in knitwear, before gaining an MA from the Royal College of Art in London. For
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almost 20 years before launching FINDRA, I built a career as a knitwear designer and product developer, working with luxury global brands. My last role before starting FINDRA was as Design Manager for a large South Korean retail company. My career took me all over the world, but I always loved coming home to my family, the rolling hills of the Tweed Valley and the slower pace of life.
When I launched FINDRA in 2014, my three sons were still
young. Twelve years later, they’re all involved in the business. FINDRA is primarily an e-commerce business, with around 95% of our sales coming through our website, but we also have a beautiful shop in the heart of Innerleithen. Housed in the town’s former jail, it’s a space that reflects our values and creates a place where our community can come together. In 2022, we added a café serving locally roasted coffee, home baking and lunches, and today it’s run day-to-day by my three sons. It’s very much a family affair and, while it’s not always easy, I love that we’re building something together and that my boys have chosen to make their lives here in the Tweed Valley too. As for outdoor activities, I still love riding my bike, whether
that’s on local singletrack or simply cycling to work. I also love walking and hiking whenever I get the chance, and over the last six months, I’ve discovered cold water dipping, which I
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