Our Patch JUNE 2016
COVER STORY
CLOTHES THAT IMPROVE
Shepherds Bush mums put their creations to the toughest test of all - being worn by their harshest users and sternest critics
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fter testing their creations out on their own children , two Shepherds Bush mothers have launched a range of clothing which is designed to improve with the rough and tumble of wear .
Rebecca Freeland , 41 , and Milly Von Westenholz , 42 , who met at the school
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gates and say their children have all grown up together , both live off Askew Road . They call their young fashion label Toto – the Swahili word for ‘ cub ’. “ We want to create hard-wearing yet beautiful clothes for our little cubs to have fun in ,” said Rebecca , whose trio of Zachy , nine ; Harry , eight ; and Marina , six , test the resilience of the garments .
“ They are our wearer trial testers ,” said Rebecca . “ If a piece can survive being worn by this lot , we know it ’ s going to last . They are also our biggest
If our clothes can survive being worn by this lot , we know they ' re going to last critics in terms of the cut and style , which is incredibly helpful .”
Milly , who also has three children ( Otto , nine ; Ferdy , seven ; and Albie , four ), said that she and Rebecca had decided to get weaving now that all their children are at school .
“ We wanted to be the masters of our own destiny , having come from fulltime jobs which didn ’ t allow us any flexibility or the opportunity to flex our entrepreneurial muscle ,” she said .
“ The fact our children are all such good friends helps as it means we can have meetings as they charge around the playground .”
Fabrics were sourced from local shops in Goldhawk Road , designs drawn up and a Hammersmith-based manufacturer enrolled . They cut their