Apprentice winner Sian Gabbidon has loved hosting her 'street party' pop-up at Leeds shopping centre

Fresh from conquering business reality show The Apprentice, Leeds entrepreneur Sian Gabbidon has been back in her beloved home city showing off her new swimwear range - and says she wouldn't have done it anywhere else.
By John Blow
Published 1st Apr 2019, 11:01 BST
Updated 1st Apr 2019, 12:04 BST

Designer Miss Gabbidon, 26, won the investment of Alan Sugar after winning the BBC One competition in December.

This weekend, she set up a pop-up shop at Trinity Leeds after the online launch of her business Sian Marie's SS19 range.

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Watch the brilliant moment lady busts out amazing dance moves in Leeds TrinityBut she wanted the event to "make people feel good", so brought along some DJs, put on hair and make-up sessions and invited carnival style dancers, as well as meet-and-greets with some of her friends from The Apprentice.

The winner of the 2018 BBC Ones The Apprentice, Sian Gabbidon, opened an exclusive pop-up shop at Leeds Trinity.The winner of the 2018 BBC Ones The Apprentice, Sian Gabbidon, opened an exclusive pop-up shop at Leeds Trinity.
The winner of the 2018 BBC Ones The Apprentice, Sian Gabbidon, opened an exclusive pop-up shop at Leeds Trinity.

Miss Gabbidon, of Alwoodley, said: "It's been amazing. It was literally madness, it was like a massive street party.

"We had an 87-year-old lady who was getting down, then went to bingo and came back for more."

In Photos: Leeds Apprentice winner Sian Gabbidon reveals stunning new swimwear rangeThe pop-up was placed near the centre's store for Leeds-based brand Marks and Spencer, a fitting location for a woman who loves her home city.

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She said: "Throughout the show I was a massive advocate of Leeds.

Sian Gabbidon front centre with fellow Apprentice candidates, back Tom Bunday, Rick Monk, Jackie Fast, Khadija Kalifa, Jasmine Kundra, front, Kayode Damali, Sian Gabbidon, Alex Finn and Kurran Pooni.Sian Gabbidon front centre with fellow Apprentice candidates, back Tom Bunday, Rick Monk, Jackie Fast, Khadija Kalifa, Jasmine Kundra, front, Kayode Damali, Sian Gabbidon, Alex Finn and Kurran Pooni.
Sian Gabbidon front centre with fellow Apprentice candidates, back Tom Bunday, Rick Monk, Jackie Fast, Khadija Kalifa, Jasmine Kundra, front, Kayode Damali, Sian Gabbidon, Alex Finn and Kurran Pooni.

"For me, I wanted to have a celebration with my Leeds people.

"I couldn't have chosen anywhere other than here to do it."

She added: "I do love London, but you get everything in Leeds."

Shoppers got the chance to meet Miss Gabbidon along with some of her fellow candidates from The Apprentice, including Tom Bunday, Rick Monk, Jackie Fast, Khadija Kalifa, Jasmine Kundra, Kayode Damali, Alex Finn and Kurran Pooni.

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The entrepreneur, who has predominantly promoted her business online, decided to bring the pop-up to people so they could properly see her products, which will be appearing at retailers soon.

"It's about the experience," she said. "This is my brand, it's a bit of a translation of me. It's about making people feel good."

Miss Gabbidon grew up in Whinmoor and went to Corpus Christi School in Halton Moor, then Garforth Sixth Form where she studied textiles, art and English, before a degree in Fashion Design with Marketing and Production, graduating from Huddersfield in 2014.She said: "I've always wanted to do something like this, I love design, even just a pop-up is a dream."

Now things have changed, as her triumph in the competition came with a £250,000 prize money for investment.

"It's just a dream come true," she said.

Related topics:Trinity LeedsBBC OneAlan Sugar