Danielle was 29 this
week, and it got us thinking. Ellie Ellie has been going for a mere 2 years and
in that time it’s gone berserk. We couldn’t be more chuffed with how people have
embraced the brand, our products and all that we stand for. We continue to grow
and it’s something that gives us such a buzz for the future.
We had a bit of an
interview/chat with Danielle about the birth of Ellie Ellie, what inspired her
and why and where all this is going..
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| Our birthday girl Danielle with her new best friend Gnorman. (if you've been following us on Facebook you'll know the story behind our gnome! Get involved at www.facebook.com/ellieelliecouk ) |
Where
did your inspiration come from to start up the Ellie Ellie brand?
Danielle:
Ellie Ellie was born in 2010 after I came home from traveling for a year
around Asia, Australia, New Zealand and America. My inspiration came
after seeing the environmental impacts of cheap, fast, throwaway fashion.
I
had always been into re-cycling but up until now I never realised how
fundamental it is to our future until then. It woke me up into becoming
passionate that I could do something about it with Ellie Ellie.
By
re-using items that would normally end up in landfills we are reducing the
amount of pollution caused by disposable fashion, and doing our small part to
help the planet. It is an extremely powerful thought to think how much we could
save the environment by simply beginning to re-cycle our fashion; and it is this
thought that fueled the birth of Ellie Ellie.
Why
‘Ellie Ellie’?
D:
My full name is Danielle Ellen, so it just kind of jigged it around and viola!
As we all know Ellie Ellie’s ethos is all about recycling and
remaking something that people will treasure, so this is obviously something
you are passionate about. Where did you get the recycling bug from?
D:My
mum loved buying second hand things, and my childhood was spent being dragged
around charity shops! I didn’t think it was very cool at the time and would
pray that none of my school friends saw me! As I got older and went off to
University to study fashion I found myself in and out of charity shops to find
materials. Whilst I was traveling I became interested in vintage clothes and
loved having a rummage in markets, jumble sales and car boots. Consequently I
saw the true effects of throw away fashion and at the time I was living out of
a back pack and it struck me that I actually didn’t need anything. Melbourne is
paving the way for sustainability and is incredibly artistic; I was constantly
soaking things up and ideas started to flow. I guess that where I got a bulk of
inspiration from.
What’s
your favourite EE product and why?
D:
My favourite has to be. . . . well actually I have two! The scrabble necklace,
I love wearing it myself! It was the first product I designed and made in 2006
whilst I was studying fashion at Kingston University. It is very dear to my
heart and carries huge sentimental value for me!
The
second is the recycled map pendant. I wear one with Melbourne, Australia which
holds close memories for me from when I was traveling. Wearing the necklace
just makes it feel near to me and it always make me smile when I put it on when
I think of all the things I learnt and the people I met- it just feels
like that memory is closer to me.
Where
do you see EE in 5 years time?
D:
Oh, good question! BIGGER BIGGER BIGGER! In 5 years I’d like to have employed
more talented young people within the business. I would love to see Ellie Ellie
on the high street in our own little shop as well as supplying some of the well
known stores. My dream is for Ellie Ellie to become a more familiar name and
for people to know the brand and what it stands for. My mission is and always
will be to have a positive effect on the environment and to encourage more
people to recycle by looking at things they deem as ‘rubbish’ and seeing them
in a new light – therefore as long as we are still supported by our customers
to spread this message I will be happy.
