FROM PUBLIC RELATIONS TO PILATES
Belfast businesswoman Fiona Brown used her lived experience of dealing with back pain through Pilates to set up a new online retail venture.
A Belfast mum, who has suffered chronic back issues since her daughter was born in 2016, has launched a new online retail venture after discovering the benefits of Pilates.
Fiona Brown from Belfast, who runs a successful independent public relations consultancy, has launch VOCÊ, a collection of non-slip silicone grip socks for Pilates, yoga and Barre.
Following the birth of her daughter Elle (age 9), Fiona experienced debilitating back pain, which led to surgery in 2017 to treat a herniated disc that was resting on her spine. During this time, she discovered Reformer Pilates which significantly reduced the pain she was experiencing.
Fiona Brown said: “Over the last nine years, Reformer Pilates has been a huge part of coping with the back pain I experience and it’s a form of exercise that I have fallen in love with. Whilst the back issues I face continue to impact my life, I haven’t let it hold me back. In fact, it has led to the creation of this new venture.
VOCÊ, a word for you in Portuguese, is inspired by my family’s love of Portugal and the idea came to me during our holiday last summer when my sister and I went to a beach Pilates class and I’d forgotten my grip socks. It was a great class, but I missed the stability and comfort they provided. I spent the next six months designing, sourcing, testing and refining the first VOCÊ collection. With over nine years of Pilates practice behind me, I knew exactly what worked, and what didn’t. I also got feedback from friends who also wear grip socks for exercise and struggled to find socks to suit their style.”
VOCÊ has launched with five different styles in a range of colours to suit a wide range of tastes – The Classic, Core, Cute, Frilly and Tall Collections.
“My daughter Elle, has been with me every step of the way and has loved being involved. It has been fantastic to show her from a young age that it’s possible to take a negative and turn it into a positive.
VOCÊ is a passion project for me and I’m grateful to have the support of my friends and family to bring it to life. My sister Lucy, friend Laura and Pilates instructor Lizi were in the launch photos. And working in the public relations industry, I know so many great local creatives who have helped bring my vision together, including Black Circle Group, Alexandra Barfoot Photography and Alexander Boyd Displays,” Fiona added.
“The website launched in January and the response has been fantastic. I have also secured local stockists – SE7EN, with Reformer Pilates studios in South Belfast, East Belfast and Holywood, and Form Pilates & Yoga in Ballymena and Magherafelt. I have exciting plans for the future of VOCÊ and I’m looking forward to adding to the collections in the months ahead.”
To view the new VOCÊ collections go to www.voceactive.com
