Impressive small businesses from across the fashion industry have been included in a line-up of the UK’s 100 most inspiring entrepreneurs for 2025, launched by the Small Business Saturday campaign.
Ally Patterson of Avo Activewear
As the annual campaign kicks off its call to celebrate and support the nation’s favourite businesses, an array of small, independent fashion brands from across the UK are included with this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up:
| Based in Bristol, Avo Activewear is the UK’s first petite activewear brand designed for women 5’3” and under, founded by Ally Patterson. | |
| Based in Cardiff, Black & Beech is a feminist fashion and lifestyle brand founded by Stacey Grant-Canham, combining ethical production with cultural activism. | |
| Founded by Alison Riley this bridal studio in Caistor offers a curated collection of pre-loved, ex-sample and sustainable wedding dresses at affordable prices. | |
| Founded by Hannah Teale in 2023, this fashion boutique in Warwick offers sustainable occasion wear to buy or rent, providing eco-friendly, flexible options. | |
| Founded in 2005, this family-run business in Somerset supplies sustainable, ethically sourced fabrics to makers, supporting environmentally conscious design. | |
| Based in South West London this lingerie boutique owned by Jackie Upton has been on the high street since 1999, offering personalised fittings and customer care. | |
| Founded in 1998 by designer and mum Zoe Mellor, Toby Tiger is a family-run ethical children’s clothing brand specialising in colourful, unisex designs. With a flagship store in Brighton, it now exports across the EU from a site in Germany. |
Each business will be showcased as part of a 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December. The campaign aims to celebrate and uplift independent firms by encouraging the public to support and spend with small businesses.
Despite signs small business confidence is returning, the UK’s 5.45 million small firms continue to face an array of economic challenges. Campaigners say public support will be vital for small businesses heading into the final critical peak period of the year and essential to powering much-needed economic growth.
Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,. From family-run cafés and local restaurants, to independent makers, services and traders, this year’s SmallBiz100 represent some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is exciting to kick off this year’s campaign with so many fantastic businesses featured. With small firms still facing lots of challenges, public support makes all the difference as independent firms enter their most critical quarter of the year.”
Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”
Optimism among the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses has grown for a third consecutive year, according to American Express’ ‘SME Barometer’ research conducted in partnership with Small Business Saturday, which surveyed decision makers at 1,000 UK small and medium sized businesses. Almost seven in 10 (69%) say they are confident about the future of their company — rising from 67% in 2023 and 65% in 2022. There are also encouraging signs when looking ahead to the remainder of the year; almost three-fifths of respondents (57%) believe sales will be better this year than in Q4 2024.
Bridal Reloved
