Stonham Barns Park retailer draws on ‘colour and life’ for children’s clothes that are as beautiful as the children who wear them
From pretty doughnuts to gentle giraffes, from mermaids to dinosaurs and unicorns, there’s no theme that Debbie Bongiovanni – from Stowmarket – hasn’t considered for her beautifully designed children’s clothes range.
A bubbly Mum-of-one, Debbie has creativity running all the way through her like a stick of rock. Born in The Channel Islands, she married Paolo – a holiday-sweetheart who she met aged 16 in Cyprus. Now blissfully happily married 24 years later, she is 40 with all the energy of a woman half her age. It was after giving birth to her miracle ‘Rainbow Baby’ that she focused her energy on making adorable children’s clothes that parents would not be able to resist for their loved ones.
‘It was something to do when daughter Abi was young. She was such a gift of a baby. She let me do something creative and rewarding at the same time as being a Mummy. I had not made anything before I looked at a sewing machine over 7 years ago. My mother-in-law was a seamstress and she simply showed me how to stitch something forward and backwards and I was hooked! It was a hobby that turned into a business.’
Debbie showcases all her FuturePresentsNow designs on social media and with over 4000 followers on Facebook she has accumulated a loyal client following with the business that supplies clothes and gifts. As the volume of work grew, Debbie took a retail outlet at mid-Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destination Stonham Barns Park. This helped the business to gather pace – and her reputation in Suffolk and East Anglia as a whole is still growing.
‘My Mum had a little baking business when I was young, and I watched her create beautiful cakes. They were colourful and playful, and I guess that’s me what I am today! I love to select beautiful fabrics for friends, family and my growing customer following and make something they will never throw away so I think it’s highly sustainable.’
‘Children are so unique. They have so many different passions and it’s not easy to find clothes that suit what it is they love. Customers can choose the theme of the fabric and the style. It’s all about having some items of clothes that make your children happy. If they are proud and happy so are you.’
The soft-fabric, easy to wear designs range from beany hats to flowy dresses to sweatshirts and leggings. They are made-to-order so the measurements are always right.
Creativity has made Debbie unwittingly an entrepreneur, she has diversified into the production of hand-crafted mugs, key fobs, slate images, T-shirts and ladies’ fashion.
‘I am not business minded by nature but as the business has grown so have I. I do need to take it to the next stage now. It is something I feel will always grow as people start families and watch their children grow. I have customers who order clothes to match their children together and some parents like to outfits that match with their children. It’s so endearing how much people love to spoil their young children. It makes me happy to supply such lovely outfits that I know will bring real joy to the families who choose them.’
‘There’s a piece of my love in every outfit I make. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!’
To contact Debbie at Future Presents Now, visit facebook FuturePresentsNow, visit Stonham Barns Park or call 07385 794 652.
Retailers at Stonham Barns Park include Carters of Suffolk, Chintzy Lamp, Future Presents Now, Hemingstone Frames, Hot Tub Village, Ideal Interiors, Merit Sheds, Stonham Village Stores, Suffolk Bridal Outlet, The Beauty Barn, The Book Cellar and The Little Dance Barn. Among the most recent retail additions to the village are The Dogs Business, SUP Den, Lydia’s Fabrics, Stephen Watkins Art Exhibition Outlet and just-opened GG Trading Cards.
For more information about retail outlets at Stonham Barns Park please contact 01449 711901 or visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk
