Treasure Chest on Shop Street, Galway will be the place to be on Saturday from 12.30- 2.30pm when fashion designer Sandra Walsh of Canopi Sleeves, who recently appeared on RTE’s Dragons Den will appear in person. This informal event marks the launch of the Canopi Sleeves range launch her product range in Galway’s longest established fashion store. Sandra will show her full Canopi range as well as provide fashion styling advice. Welcoming Tipperary born Sandra to Galway will be Mary Bennett, founder of Treasure Chest. Customers and members of the public are invited to come along to meet Sandra in person who is also happy to share stories about her Dragon’s Den experience.
‘My team and I look forward to meeting Sandra Walsh in person. Canopi Sleeves are a very elegant dress accessory. We love to support Irish design and we can see that Canopi sleeves will bring our lady customers from the company board room to special occasion,’ commented Mary Bennett, Managing Director, Treasure Chest, ‘I know it will be inspiring to chat to Sandra about her product development and her recent successful Dragon’s Den experience.’
Business woman and fashion entrepreneur, Sandra Walsh, founder of Canopi Creative Ltd. ran the gauntlet with the investors on RTE’s Dragons Den just two weeks ago, where she performed with gusto, showing her experience and knowledge in her industry. While all the dragons were impressed by her ambitious pitch, it was the original dragon - Gavin Duffy, of Media Training who offered €100,000 investment for 35% of her business to fund the expansion of Canopi into the UK market and Northern Europe as well as scaling up online sales on www.canopisleeves.com
Sandra spotted a niche in the market in 2012 and came up with a unique innovative product Canopi Sleeves which she designed herself. She is founder of the business which now produces a range of fashion solutions which can be worn under sleeveless dresses, making the dresses more wearable, covering one’s arms and avoiding the need for a jacket or cardigan. This simple, seamless garment worn under a sleeveless top or dress is a great hit with the mature woman, however, growth in the market shows younger professional women also opting for this in the office setting. In just four years, the product is being sold in two hundred fashion stores and boutiques throughout Ireland including well-known Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Pamela Scott and Fran and Jane to name a few. More recently Canopi is now on sale in Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Fenwick on Bond Street, London.
Sandra is full of personality, as well as having extensive experience of trading and selling. She talks about her great belief that all business is driven through relationship building and she developed her sales and interpersonal skills as a young girl helping in her Mother’s ‘Fur Shop’ in Tipperary Town. She sold her first fur coat when she was 13 years old in her parent’s shop to movie star and husband of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, who purchased from her when he was filming Tristan and Isolde in nearby Glen of Aherlow.
Check out www.canopisleeves.com to see Sandra’s most up to date embellished Luxuria range. A full list of regional boutiques and stockists is available on her website. You can also order through the website with overnight delivery in Ireland. Connect with Sandra on Twitter @canopisleeves or Instagram @canopi_sleeves.
