EF News
We’re excited to bring you a new Talking Future podcast episode.
Created by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Talking Future focuses on the lives and work of North East entrepreneurs, their views of the future and how they are innovating as they plan ahead.
In our seventh episode, Yvonne Bell speaks to Isabella West, founder of Hirestreet, about tackling fast fashion, sustainable supply chains and her zero waste fashion tips.
About Isabella West
Fashion has always been close to Isabella; while her mum was a fashion and beauty magazine editor, it was growing up with two sisters, who would borrow her clothes and lend them to their friends, that introduced her to the ‘borrow not buy’ approach.
In 2017, fast fashion was thriving, though the negative environmental impact of ‘wear once’ clothing was still relatively unknown. Determined to tackle fashion waste, Isabella launched Hirestreet, a fashion rental business which allows customers to rent a range of occasion wear for an affordable price.
In two years, Isabella has won a multitude of business awards, including the Young Business Executive of the Year Award, and is featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
About Yvonne Bell
Yvonne Bell comes from a background in transport, where the Bell family company spans 4 generations.
During her career, Yvonne spent most of her time in the Mercedes Truck, Van and Car franchises, mainly heading up the marketing function and generally steering the company through the growth that, by the time it was sold in 2017, meant it covered the North East Region from Teesside up to North Northumberland with a staff of almost 200.
Outside of business, she has always been keen to get involved in other things such as community and Hospital radio presenting, local magazine editing, audio editing for a local historical Trust and being instrumental in the setting up a local gym specifically for wheelchair users.
As a long-time member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, she was pleased to be asked to take a seat on the board a few years ago where she is able to offer her own business experience to other members.
Talking Future is available on Spotify, Anchor and YouTube. With a new episode released every 3 weeks, if you like what you hear, help us spread the word by subscribing and sharing!
