Former council worker moves on from bags to waistcoats

Sharon Winfield left her job as a principal scrutiny advisor at Leeds City Council four years ago to open Bolsita – Spanish for “little bag” – in York. She and a network of Yorkshire artists and designers make several types of bags as well as accessories.

Now she has set up York Waistcoat Company, selling individually designed waistcoats aimed at specialist fashion boutiques. The waistcoats are in a mix of fabrics from tweed to linen and silk with vintage details.

Ms Winfield, 42, said life running a small business was a contrast to working for the local authority. “It is much more exciting when you are running your own business and when you start from scratch.”

She has market-tested the bags in her shop and she eventually wants to build a brand without mass production and overseas factories, by developing a network of home workers with traditional sewing skills.

“I want to revitalise a skilled trade which has seen a decline, mainly due to increases in imports, offshore assembly and productivity gains from automation. It’s an ambition of mine to create jobs for women who have had traditional dressmaking skills passed down through generations and who take great pride in their talent.”

The York Waistcoat Company launches its first autumn-winter collection at Pure Spirit in London, which opens on Sunday.