Borders sisters launch their own fashion company

Stacey Hardie-Croan, 25, and Amy Hardie, 21, set up AR+CO in August, releasing two colours of their vegan-leather pouch – which has now been expanded to four shades.

But the idea for the brand was first thought of in 2019.

"After Christmas [2019], as soon as the holidays were over, I got started," said Stacey, originally from Earlston but now living in Galashiels.

"I had my little girl two years ago, so I had to carry a huge changing bag.

"But as she's got older I have less and less to carry, and I didn't want to be carrying a big bag and my child.

"I started using a pouch that came with an old handbag but it was too small.

"And nothing else caught my eye on the market that looked nice and could hold everything I needed."

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So when she couldn't find the product she wanted, Stacey decided to make it herself.

The sisters were cautiously optimistic about their first release, but didn't expect the reaction they received.

"We weren't sure where we'd go at first but when we sold out in August we were taken aback,” said Stacey.

She added that since August, their stock has sold out on at least three other occasions.

And since their launch, the duo have already produced a limited-edition, leopard print style of their 'The Original' pouch.

"We have other products in the works – it just takes so much time,” said Stacey.

"I'm so pernickety, but we're not a fast fashion brand.

"We want to produce as little waste as possible."

When asked why they had called the brand AR+CO, Stacey explained that it was a tribute to her young daughter, Ari, who her "life revolves around".

As well as co-owning a business, and being a mother, Stacey is also in her final year of training as a student nurse.

During the pandemic, she has spread her time across her business, her duties as a mother and serving the community.

She told the Border Telegraph that “she loves what she does”, but the last six months have been “exhausting”.

"I love what I do [nursing], it's a huge passion of mine," she said. "I want to be a nurse because I want to, not because I have to."

Looking to the future, the sisters have big plans for AR+CO – starting with local stockists, and ending with national recognition.

She said: "We want to take the business as far as we can.

"One of our goals is to see our products in national stores – in places like Harvey Nichols.

"It's been completely amazing meeting our goals and achieving so much in a small space of time."

At the time of publication, AR+CO had recently announced the launch of its Christmas gift sets.