Love & Love is a recipient of the Start Up Loans programme. Founded by Manuela Montenegro Moreira Baraad and based in Leeds, it received a loan of £15,000 in January 2020. The company manufactures and sells unique, high-quality, vegan handbags. Its products are aimed at females looking for style, sustainability and empowerment when shopping for cruelty-free fashion.
“Having only just launched at the beginning of 2020, we had a tricky start. It took us some time to get on our feet, having to close two stores in Amsterdam and Barcelona, but the loan enabled us to focus on our Leeds store and increase our online presence, which has led to an increase in international orders. The team has been incredibly helpful, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow and becoming a market leader in high-quality, vegan and sustainable handbags.
Having the support from Start Up Loans, as a government-backed programme, gave me the confidence to believe in myself and fully make the move to building a brand with values that I believe in. I hadn’t come from a fashion background, so whilst the low interest loans offered by Start Up Loans were brilliant, having access to experts in the field was crucial in helping me build the brand.”
