Our Story

Beginning Elsie Designs was always a dream of mine, to have something for the future and now my daughters future. I was born in 1991 with kidney disease, this then led me to get liver disease. Growing up my parents were always told they would only have so many years with me, and my surrival rate would not be very long. As the years went on medicines improved, and my life expectancy increased. Fast forward to 2006 my kidneys were failing and I had to go on dialysis. When starting this treatment I then was put on the transplant waiting list, I needed a kidney and liver transplant at the same time, the worry was this would not happen... I turned 18 and December 2009 I received the phonecall, I was going to have my transplant! In disbelief I was scared, sad and anxious, but this was my only chance of surviving, my treatment was not working as well, and it was miracle timing I received the call when I did. I received my transplant, there were complications, and rejection, but this was all part of the recovery now, and ongoing check ups. In 2010 I went to Creative Arts College, then in 2012 I studied Textile Print Design at University for the creative Arts. I fell in love with designing prints and embroidery. My final year collection was based on my transplant story, with this I used my transplant scans to design prints, the process and the outcome I LOVED! Graduating in 2015, I then began to do talks for Great Ormand Street and King’s College Hospital, I wanted to help and give hope to families that are going through similar situations to what me and my family went through. I did a presentation with my final collection, and the hospital loved it, this then gave me the inspiration to want to start a business designing prints. In 2015 I met my husband to be, we got married in 2019 and had our beautiful daughter in 2020. Having my daughter was a few years in planning due to my medical history, being the first documented lady with kidney and liver transplant to have a baby, due to my health my daughter was 7 weeks early, I became very ill, and my daughter was in hospital for 4 weeks being premature.

During lockdown, having to shield due to my medical history and being high risk pregnancy, I decided to start my own business, this has been my dream for many years, and seemed like the perfect time to get going. Starting with face coverings showcasing my designs, then developing personalised products including embroidery and vinyl, this was a good way to get my business known, beginning Elsie Designs.

Founding Elsie Designs, I also want to make awareness for organ donation, kidney and liver charity and premature baby charities. Even though it is my dream to design and incorporate stories within prints, part of my journey is to make more awareness.

Elsie Designs is just beginning, please follow to see what our future holds.