Ina Lombard-Ogilvie and Ellen Ogilvie say they are on a roll with their Tonbridge-based ladies’ motorcycle clothing business, Motogirl.
What started out as a small local business in 2015 has now become a global wholesale and online retail company, with more than 96 retail stockists across 14 countries and customers as far afield as Canada, South Africa and Australia.
Lombard-Ogilvie, 43, and Ogilvie, 26, share a passion for motorcycles but struggled to find comfortable, stylish and fashionable protective motorcycle clothing they would want to wear.
That was the catalyst for them to create, manufacture and distribute their own range of clothing, “created for women, by women” and utilising hi-tech protective materials such as Kevlar.
The garments were “cut to flatter women of all shapes and sizes – from 4-28 – as well as catering for three different leg lengths to ensure the perfect fit in all impact areas”.
Lombard-Ogilvie said: “We are the first all-woman focused brand in the UK, and it’s not surprising that we have received such an overwhelming response, given that the number of female motorcyclists has dramatically increased in recent years – 14% of motorcycle riders are female according to recent surveys, and there has been an increase of over 50% in the past 10 years.”
As for the future, it’s full speed ahead for Motogirl – helped by its new website using a platform by EKM – who are introducing new products, expanding its distribution network and online sales.