<p>My guest this week is Sally McLaren, founder of Ivy - a women’s essentials brand made with certified organic cotton. </p><p>In this conversation Sally traces her early exposure to her parents’ family publishing business, her passion for textiles, and a fashion design/buying degree that led to 12 years as a clothing buyer at Boden, George, F&amp;F at Tesco, and Sweaty Betty, where she learned product development, manufacturing, and the ethical and quality compromises driven by margin pressure. </p><p>After redundancy and motherhood, she discovered flaws in 50 of her own T‑shirts and launched Ivy in December 2017 with six tees, self-funded by redundancy money and savings, initially fulfilling orders from home while raising two small children. </p><p>She describes learning marketing, SEO, and e-commerce by doing, using Instagram, gifting to influencers and stylists, building high repeat purchase through product quality and personal customer relationships, choosing Portugal production over higher-margin options, and aiming to make getting dressed simpler through great essentials and community.</p><p>We also talk growth, future plans, and the virtues of running a lifestyle business. </p><p>Find Sally and Ivy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ivy_thebrand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here </a></p><p>Find Ivy&#39;s website <a href="https://ivyt.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here . </a>Use code TWC20 for 20% off your first order</p><p>The woman Sally shouted out was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_redirectory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Leigh Morris (The Redirectory) </a></p><p>Join the conversation with me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nickydensonelliott/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here</a></p><p>---------</p><p><strong>This episode is sponsored by </strong><a href="https://ivyt.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Ivy.</strong></a></p><p>Ivy makes organic cotton essentials - t-shirts, sweatshirts, Breton stripes and more - designed for women who are done compromising on quality.</p><p>Founded by Sally, a former fashion buyer, Ivy exists because she couldn&#39;t find what she needed: sustainably made, great quality basics that actually fit real women living real lives. So she built them herself.</p><p>Every piece is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, produced by a Portuguese factory running on solar power with zero waste to landfill. Good ethics and exceptional quality, in the same place.</p><p>The fabric is soft, the fit is considered, and the pieces wash and wear beautifully. Which is why Ivy has one of the highest returning customer rates in its category.</p><p>Use code <strong>TWC20</strong> for 20% off your first order and shop Ivy <a href="https://ivyt.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here</a>.</p>