A new, Manchester-based, high-tech luxury fashion brand has launched after two female entrepreneurs saw the opportunity to combine their expertise in fashion and science.
SNOODY, which is intriguingly based between fashion and creativity hub The Yard, in Cheetham Hill, and Alderley Park, Cheshire’s world-renonwned science park, is set to launch this week when its first line goes live, includes its signature oversized hoody, aptly named Snoody, priced at £75.
The product combines 100 per cent certified organic cotton material, which is completely pesticide and fertiliser free with a lower water footprint than conventional cotton, as well as featuring an in-built snood, which is the science part, providing aerosol filtration and incorporating Virustatic innovation award-winning technology, that can be pulled up and down as needed.
The business has been quick to market thanks to science firm, Virustatic, being awarded £150,000 funding by the Business of Fashion, Textiles and Technology (BFTT) to develop its sustainability-driven, innovative textile coating to replace the use of metal-based chemicals for the antimicrobial treatment of fabric and textiles and has led to the creation of new products.
SNOODY co-founder Karen Seddon, who brings over 25 years of fashion industry experience at Manchester stalwarts including Joe Bloggs and Whispering Smith to the founding duo, said: “This brand really is a culmination of British talent, expertise, and innovation. Lucy and I have brought together a collective to support our knowledge and expertise to really launch something different. It’s not been an overnight thing; it’s been years in the making. We wanted to change the game when it came to sustainable fashion, and we believe we have with our signature launch product the Snoody. Its material and ‘snood’ is somewhat futuristic.”
Partner Lucy Hope, from Marple Bridge, brings the science to the partnership. She is development director at Virustatic and added: “Since the inception of Virustatic we have been keen to develop the use of our award-winning natural protein technology for the greater good and, after meeting Karen and her fashion team, we just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to create something unique.
“We believe this range, and the signature product is the perfect balance between luxury fashion, comfort and in-built science-backed technology that can help not only keep wearers warm but also protected. Virustatic is committed to researching and developing renewable, biobased, antimicrobial textile solutions to reduce the environmental burden of harmful chemicals used in the industry.”
