Barbie Writes

I’m about to introduce you to the next big thing in the jewellery world dolls, so sit up and pay attention! Screw your Scrabble rings, forget name necklaces, it’s time to get even more personal. Meet Becky Lovatt, founder of Bekl Motivation Bracelets…

BARBIE: Lovely to meet you Becky, I’m a huge fan of your work! Tell us, what makes a 20-year-old girl from Chesterfield decide to branch into business?

BECKY: I started my own business after I finished my part time job that was funding me with a little pocket money through the first two years of university. After the company [I worked for] ran into difficulties I left and needed to get a bit of money from somewhere. I’d always done a lot of buying and selling on eBay, but after I got a little bored with that I decided to go for a new venture, and so Bekl Motivation Bracelets was born.

BARBIE: Money is always an excellent motivator, especially for us girls with a shopping habit! Where did the idea for Bekl Bracelets come from?

BECKY: I was sat on the sofa one day in August 2011 watching Waterloo Rd and it was quite a sad episode, I can’t remember which one it was, but everyone in the episode was so down and upset. Simultaneously I was on Twitter and discovered a couple of new celebrity (handmade) fads – Clairabella and Jinkksy.

Also whilst on Twitter, Rebecca Ferguson had tweeted one of her daily quotes which she does, and it just triggered a little idea in my head, so I went rummaging in my sewing kit, cut up some scrap material and sat and made these bracelets all night… Bekl Bracelets was born! The next day I set up the website, and the rest, as they say, was history.

BARBIE: You’re one fast working doll and have achieved a lot for a brand which was born just six months ago! Congrats! Tell us a little about the new limited edition catwalk collection.

BECKY: It’s a collection of bracelets inspired by new prints we are seeing on the catwalk. I’ve always been very interested in high fashion – I started out doing a fashion course when I left school, but as I didn’t know what I wanted to do I moved to A levels, as this had more choices at the end.

I bought the new Vogue on the way back from a trip to London a couple of weeks ago and was just so inspired by some of the beautiful prints now filling our catwalks, so, the catwalk collection will fuse a traditional Bekl Bracelet with the prints and trends from the catwalk, bringing you a fashionable and on-trend motivation bracelet… we’re kind of killing two birds with one stone!

BARBIE: Great idea! When this design sells out will you be taking inspiration from another designer… and if so can you tell us who?!

BECKY: Yes, once the five that we sell on the website are sold (there are only three left of the Prada print at the moment), then we will introduce a new catwalk collection bracelet. I haven’t fully decided on the print for the next one, but I do have a couple of ideas in mind, and I am open to suggestions! At the moment I love Jil Sander’s paisley print, and the beautiful water prints from Versace, but we will see.

BARBIE: Oooh I do love a bit of Versace! Is there anyone in the fashion/jewellery/business world whom you are particularly inspired by?

BECKY: Obviously I take inspiration from everywhere, but I’m a particular fan of handmade fashion and jewellery, so anything ‘crafty’ but unique I like. I don’t wear a lot of jewellery and I’ve always been big on festival style so the Bekl Bracelets suit me down to the ground – they add a little colour to day wear, where I’d usually just wear a t-shirt and jeans. Business wise I think Richard Branson is an inspiration to me. He started with absolutely nothing, and has built up his empire with a cocktail of hard work and luck, and I think that’s inspirational!

BARBIE: It is that, if Dickie could bottle his success and sell it he’d be a millionaire… oh wait… anyway, I hear you have a famous fan or two! Spill!

BECKY: We do indeed, we’ve had a few celebrities tell us they love the bracelets, and some even have one. Jaiden from the new show Desperate Scousewives is a big fan of the bracelets, as is Gabriella from Made In Chelsea, and Brianne Delcourt from Dancing on Ice. Amy Childs and Caggie Dunlop (MIC) also have bracelets.

BARBIE: Wow, that’s pretty damn cool! If you could make a bracelet for anyone who would it be and why?

BECKY: Tough question! At the moment I think I’d like to give one to Kate Middleton or The Duchess of Cambridge as she is now called. With Prince William away in the Falkland Islands, I think she might need a little bit of added motivation, plus, she’s a massive style icon, they’d sell out in seconds!

BARBIE: She seems like a pretty down-to-earth gal, if you manage to get it past palace security I’m sure she’d rock a Bekl Bracelet! Speaking of important and busy girls, you’re also a law student, but could you ever see yourself making Bekl your full-time job?

BECKY: I would love for Bekl to be my full time job, if I could make enough money for it to be a full time job, I’d do it in a heartbeat when I finished my degree! What could be better than waking up in a morning and loving the work you’re doing?

BARBIE: Exactly, that’s the dream! Do you have any plans for expanding the business, or do you just take it a day at a time?

BECKY: At the moment I have a few plans to expand but nothing concrete. After I finish my degree I will have a lot more time to put in to the brand and expand, but watch this space as I do have a few little ideas…

BARBIE: Oh don’t you worry, I’ll be watching! Very intrigued! Finally, famous quotes and sayings are obviously a focal part of your bracelets, do you have a favourite quote of your own?

BECKY: I think my favourite quote would have to be by Walt Disney… ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ Simple, but one of the best quotes I think I’ve ever come across.

BARBIE: Can’t say fairer than that! Thanks Becky x

And on that note we bid a fond farewell to Miss Motivation! You can buy your own Bekl Motivation Bracelet from just £2.99 at http://www.beklmotivationbracelets.co.uk, follow Becky’s brand on Twitter @beklbracelets or Facebook stalk her at Bekl Motivation Bracelets.

P.S This is my very own Bekl Bracelet! Killer quote, huh?