Author: Izzie James

By Izzie James.

I sat down with Ailis Osobase and Clara Smith to discuss their small business ‘Bottoms Up The Brand’. Walking around Durham, you’re likely to see people sporting their trackies, from the DUCFS exec team to the Durham University Hockey Club. In our interview, Ailis and Clara discuss the difficulties and rewards of owning a small business whilst studying at university.

IZZIE: To start things off, explain to me how you came up with ‘Bottoms Up The Brand’?

CLARA: We started Bottoms Up as part of our school enterprise challenge. We were given £100 to start any business we wanted and we knew that to stand out amongst other brands we needed to have a unique product and it needed to be perfect for our target audience – girls aged 11-18. We wanted to create a product that was comfortable, while still being flattering, and with an aspect of personalisation to ensure that we had a product for everyone. We settled on our straight leg trackies (which still to this day is our USP) with personalisation across the seat. These sold like wildfire around school and by the end of the 3 months challenge we had sold over 500 pairs. While most teams shut down their businesses, we were keen to keep up the momentum, and now we’ve sold over 5000 pairs and continue to sell to schools and universities all over the country. 

IZZIE: Clara, as Financial and Logistics Manager, what have you learnt through your time at Bottoms Up?

CLARA: I have learnt a lot from this business as I’ve worked many roles throughout our time. So my main role at the moment is communicating with our local suppliers and managing our orders and financials, but from the beginning of the business my main role has been tracking our stock and working the more financial side of Bottoms Up. I’ve had to teach myself a lot about Excel and now I would say I’m mildly obsessed with spreadsheets. I’ve also had to learn a lot about data analytics and stock prediction. As our stock comes from abroad our orders have to be put in months in advance and so I use analysis to predict what kind of sizes we’ll need, which has been really tough but incredibly rewarding. 

IZZIE: Ailis, as Marketing Manager, what techniques have you used to promote your brand?

AILIS: In the launch of Bottoms Up, I very much focused on the visual elements first, so the designing of our logo and smaller details such as a colour scheme for us to stick to. The main aspect of our brand that I emphasised was our ability to personalise each order, as I saw this as essentially our USP. I’ve since learned the value of brand partnerships too, both with other companies as well as “influencers” who I feel could be a good match for us. I must say, some of our recent collaborations in Durham like DUCFS and charity ‘Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist’, have been real highlights for me. I’m lucky, too, in that a lot of our consumer traction has been simply through word-of-mouth. Building on this buzz through social media is my usual port of call. I’ve loved sharing photos on Instagram of our customers over the years, and still find it extremely cool that people have been able to spot themselves or their friends on our page. 

IZZIE: How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your business?

CLARA: As for most small businesses, COVID was a bit of a nightmare. Ours started with the trade route from Italy (where our suppliers are based) to the UK being closed and so our tracksuits were held up for months in customs. This was crazy for us. We are all self-taught and none of us had the knowledge on where to go from here. After months of angry emails and refunds we were lucky enough to get our tracksuits and resume production! It was a crazy time for all of us, especially as we were operating via zoom the entire time as opposed to being sat in our school dining room! But for us the pandemic and following lockdowns had a few positives – we were lucky the comfy loungewear was in extremely high demand and so our sales on singular pairs increased massively, which was very new for us as we were so used to catering to schools and societies! It was definitely a hard time for us as a small biz but we came out of the other side better for it.

IZZIE: How does ‘Bottoms Up’ promote size inclusivity?

AILIS: Size inclusivity is something we have really valued from the start. I remember our first tag line launched on Valentine’s Day being to “love your bottom”. Although definitely one of my cheesier first attempts at marketing, it really was what we wanted people to get out of buying from us. With the recent growth of our business and the better functioning supplier network we’ve created, I’m happy to say that we are now a truly size inclusive brand. With both our hoodies and tracksuit bottoms ranging from UK sizes 6-16, we feel proud to be able to cater to a range of sizes and body types. In doing so, hopefully everyone can purchase from us and feel confident in our product. 

IZZIE: How have you navigated managing a small business whilst being at University, as well as being in different locations from the other creators?

CLARA: We definitely learnt a lot from operating during COVID, as this gave us the time to learn how to work efficiently on zoom and we actually haven’t had an in person meeting since before the pandemic! Working with a team definitely makes it easier to balance uni work and life with running a business but it is by no means an easy task. Going into university we had to be really decisive with everyone’s roles to ensure we could each do our work separately, however being able to sort that early on really helped. We are also lucky to be surrounded by an incredibly supportive and hard-working team, we’re all so passionate about this business and I think that’s the most important thing.

IZZIE: What advice would you give to other small business owners who are studying at University?

AILIS: Firstly, not to underestimate the workload. Even if your business is still relatively small, it’s an inevitable commitment as you’ll want to avoid letting customers down or falling through on promises made. However, if you are passionate about what you’re selling and have that initial love of your business idea, putting in the work will become enjoyable rather than a chore. To make the whole process more manageable, you’ll need a collaborative team with varying strengths, and a supplier you can count on to deliver or otherwise communicate with you effectively. From there, it’s just a little faith and patience that keeps the whole thing moving! 

IZZIE: And finally, what are your future plans for ‘Bottoms Up’?

AILIS: Next year, the majority of our team will have graduated from university, and we plan to really capitalise on this. Our more short-term plans include the launch of our website which we expect to have up and running in the coming weeks. I’ve loved partaking in the whole design process of this, and it’s particularly exciting since we’ve solely taken orders via email and Instagram DM for some time now. However, we felt this perhaps wasn’t a sustainable option for much longer if any of us hoped to have a life outside of Bottoms Up! Down the line, we are also keen to expand our collection of loungewear. You’ll have to wait and see, but I can say that I’m really looking forward to these next steps- we’re starting to feel less like small fish in a big pond, and it’s exciting to think where that might take us.  

For more BottomsUp content, follow them on social media: @BottomsUpTheBrand on all platforms

Also keep an eye out for their website, going live on the 15th of May! https://bottomsupthebrand.com/password

By Izzie James.

When thinking about combatting homelessness, and providing dignity to those experiencing it, the significance of language is not something that first comes to mind. Of course, being proactive is important- donating to charities, listening to people’s stories and showing compassion to those experiencing homelessness. However, something that we can all do easily (and daily) is to change the way that we speak about the experience of homelessness. Though it seems like a small step, changing our everyday language can be significantly helpful in working to destigmatise homelessness.

If we look into the word ‘homeless’, it is easy to see where the harmful connotations start. To simply label someone ‘homeless’ suggests that their entire identity centres around whether they have a stable housing situation. It reduces the person to a product of their social position, refusing to acknowledge the complex issues that can cause homelessness. The word ‘homeless’ is an arguably easy term to use. It’s an umbrella term that means we don’t have to think about specific issues relating to individuals. It allows us to gloss over problems rather than thinking about the different complexities associated with homelessness, and leading to the classification of different living situations as all the same. For example, some people experiencing homelessness may have access to non-permanent housing through friends and family, yet others may not have this option.

The word also has a sense of permanency, and by labelling someone as ‘homeless’, instead of ‘a person experiencing homelessness’, it suggests that they are stuck in that situation, rather than just experiencing it temporarily. Furthermore, it creates an ‘othering’ of the people that are experiencing homelessness. The single word has the ability to create an ‘us’ and ‘them’ situation. If a person experiencing homelessness is characterised by the word ‘homeless’, then people with stable living conditions will feel different to them, forgetting that someone’s housing situation does not represent a person.

Joe Smith, who works for a homelessness charity in Bristol, phrases it well. He stated in an article: “We want to say that homelessness is more than visible ‘rooflessness’. It’s about the lack of stable, secure and affordable accommodation and intrinsically linked to poverty. It’s about cutbacks to preventative services, inadequate welfare support and the traumas that can severely impact people’s lives.^_“1 As a society, we need to look beyond the idea that homelessness is an individual’s fault, and broaden our conversations to consider the complex causes of homelessness. 

Another problem with language surrounding the word ‘homeless’ is that it is often used in a derogatory manner. Many people are guilty of stating that they “look homeless” when they look dishevelled, or are wearing unflattering clothing. Though it seems like a harmless statement, using ‘homeless’ in a derogatory way is only fuelling this sense of otherness and disrespect towards those experiencing homelessness. It strikes a similarity to people who say they ‘are bipolar’ when they have a mood change, or that they have ‘ADHD’ when they get distracted. It generates miscommunications about the actual behavioural sides of these diagnoses, and misconstrues awareness towards mental health issues. Society generally does not think about misusing mental health vocabulary, which can also be said for the misuse of the word ‘homeless’.  With both of these instances, it is harmful to make cruel generalisations towards a group of people that all have different stories, backgrounds and struggles.

It has already been established that using the term ‘person experiencing homelessness’ is less stigmatising than the label ‘homeless’, yet there is more potential for positive linguistical evolution.  It is important to reject any ‘othering’ language, and to call people out if they use words or phrases that may be considered derogatory. It is also important to avoid language or terms that suggests any kind of personal responsibility or blame- remember that every person experiencing homelessness will have different individual circumstances. Choosing to use empowering and inclusive language is a small but essential step.

The London-based charity Under One Sky has recently arrived in Durham, with its aim to change the narrative of homelessness, and to form empathetic relationships with those who find themselves without a home. My reference to this charity, and the amazing work it does, is relevant here due to its very name. Thinking about the term ‘Under One Sky’ is the perfect way to conclude. We are all living on the same earth, all under one sky, all equal. This should be in the forefront of our minds when considering how to treat people experiencing homelessness. My hope is that by making our language more inclusive and empathetic, we can create necessary change and continue to destigmatise homelessness.

If you’d like to hear more, or get involved with Under One Sky Durham, please email: underonesky.dusvo@durham.ac.uk

Or follow their social media page on Instagram: @uosdurham

¹ Joe Smith, ‘To end homelessness, we need to change how we talk about it’, 2019https://thebristolcable.org/2019/03/to-end-homelessness-we-need-to-change-how-we-talk-about-it/

By Izzie James.

Content Warning: References to Sexual Assault

This past week, fans of the artist Alexander O’Connor, known by his stage name ‘Rex Orange County’, were left heartbroken when it emerged that he is being taken to court over sexual assault charges. Although the trial is yet to happen, the idea that their favourite artist could do something so horrible sent shockwaves through his fanbase and the internet. 

Many people took to social media to express their disappointment and disgust. O’Connor’s music was a source of comfort. Those who have been supporting him for years found themselves unable to listen to his music. Thoughts went out to the victim, who remains anonymous, with fans tweeting messages such as: ‘this has broken me but my sympathy only lies with the victim’ and ‘we’re truly hurt but can’t imagine how the victim feels.’

The case against O’Connor brings back a question that has been asked for many years: Should we separate the art from the artist? How can we? Should we no longer listen to someone’s music, watch their movies or consume their artwork after they have been accused of something so terrible?

For fans in 2022, separating the art from the artist seems different. This is because social media has created a new insight into the lives of the artist. Fans will feel closer to the artist because they can view their everyday life through social media, creating this sense of knowing the artist on an intimate level. Before social media, you couldn’t just log onto Instagram to see what your favourite celebrity is up to, or interact with them through your phone. With O’Connor’s charges coming to light, many fans feel that a personal connection, and a form of trust, has been broken. It goes to show that social media is not a reality, and that following and watching someone religiously through a screen does not mean that you know them.

There is another strange dimension to separating the art from the artist. Some artists are able to push past their controversies and accusations. Chris Brown has had numerous charges against him, with the most notorious being his assault on Rihanna in 2009. He’s also been accused of theft, sexual assault and has had a restraining order filed against him. Despite all this, he still has a huge following, with his music continuing to be played around the world.

Although O’Connor has pleaded not guilty, with his trial date set for January, his reception after the case will be interesting. Rex Orange County is considered a ‘nice guy’. His music centres around love, heartbreak and healing. His lyrics include statements such as:

‘It ain’t new to me, feeling this lonely’

‘There ain’t no one else more beautiful in this damn world’

‘I can show you everything’

In contrast, Chris Brown’s lyrics are littered with profanities, objectifying women and boasting about his actions:

‘These hoes ain’t loyal’

‘I can make a broke bitch rich’

‘She f*** me for the fame’

Chris Brown’s ability to continue to thrive in the music world suggests that the image an artist perpetuates affects people’s reactions to their controversies. O’Connor, if proven guilty, will induce a huge feeling of betrayal in his fans, as they saw him as the reliable ‘nice guy’. In contrast, Chris Brown embodies the ‘bad boy’ trope, an unapologetically controversial figure who does not shy away from it in his lyrics. Where O’Connor opens up about sadness and loneliness in his songs, creating a bridge between listener and singer, Chris Brown keeps you at a distance, his songs never really breaking through surface level materiality. 

If O’Connor is proven guilty, he should not be allowed the privilege of having a platform or continuing to produce music. Chris Brown should not either, but unfortunately, he has come out of his controversies fairly unscathed. Expectations aside, it is important to hold all artists to the same standards. We shouldn’t be giving a platform to assaulters. Social media is a great way to support your favourite artist, but it is not always an accurate portrayal of that person.

By Izzie James.

When discussing contraception with friends, there will often be someone who has a negative story to tell. Experiences of acne, mood swings, depression and weight gain often come up when talking about the contraceptive pill. 

Although this isn’t the case for all women, and the pill can be an effective option to prevent pregnancy, it is difficult to ignore the long list of side effects that taking the pill can have. Recently, a viral TikTok trend where women held up this list of side effects to the camera sparked a wave of frustration, with comments comparing the list to the ‘size of a large blanket’. It is hard to comprehend that a contraceptive option that is used so widely and by so many young women can have this many adverse impacts on the female body.

It should be made clear that I am in no way discouraging the use of contraception or saying that the birth control pill should not be used. Sometimes pills can even be helpful in combating problems such as acne, or reducing painful period cramps and heavy bleeding. However, I think that our attitude towards the impacts of the pill should be improved, and we should be attempting to dismiss the stigma around discussing birth control. Starting a broad conversation about the contraceptive pill and making sure that it is the correct option for you is essential for your health. Both mental and physical health should not be compromised by birth control, especially as educating women on their options can make an important difference.

Too many women settle with the pill they are first prescribed, thinking that experiencing effects such as acne, weight gain or tiredness is a small price to pay for preventing an unwanted pregnancy. A large number of women also experience stomach cramps from period pains, meaning that they’ll be used to the uncomfortable realities of the female body. However, being aware that your current pill is not suited to your body can make a world of difference. 

For women considering taking a combination pill, knowledge of something called ‘the pill ladder’ can be very useful. Combination pills contain both oestrogen and progestogen, however there are many different types, some containing more oestrogen, some containing more progestogen (it should also be noted that there is the option of a progestogen-only pill). If a woman takes a combination pill with higher levels of oestrogen, and experiences effects that can be blamed on this, she should consider taking a pill with lower levels of this hormone. The same can be said for progestogen dominant combination pills. This means the woman would move along ‘the pill ladder’, moving left for less oestrogenic impacts and right for less progestogenic impacts. An example of this would be if a woman is experiencing acne and mood swings on a progesterone dominant pill such as Microgynon, it is worth moving right across the ladders to a more oestrogen dominant pill such as Cilest.’ (This is quoted from the ‘GP Notebook’, which is linked below and highly recommended for more in-depth detail.)

I decided to open up a conversation with my housemates. These opinions are not being included to discourage anyone from taking the birth control pill, and I would like to preface them by stating that we all agreed that access to birth control is extremely important for women today. One girl emphasised that she found the birth control pill to be effective and stress-free, and that she did not experience any negative side effects. However, the general consensus of the group was that to improve women’s experiences on the pill, we all need to prioritise education, conversation and support. 

It was clear that some of my housemates thought that the pill was prescribed to them flippantly, and one claimed that she was advised to persevere through any immediate symptoms, as they could ‘settle’ after some time. She now regrets staying on this pill for so long, as she later found another form of contraception much more compatible with her body. She added that taking the pill becomes built-in to a daily routine, so much so that transitioning off it seems like a huge step. This leads to further worry about the sudden hormonal change that women could experience all over again, even though, for my housemate, this transition actually helped her find a more suitable form of contraception.

Another one of my housemates spoke about how she had gone to her school’s medicine centre with some friends, and they were all automatically prescribed the same pill. Looking back on the experience, she spoke about how they all would have had different hormonal makeups, and that their individual reactions to this pill would have been different. However, none of them were told that a check-up on their birth control journey was necessary. She thought that a scheduled check-up with her GP would have been very useful, as she could have listed any side effects that she had experienced and they could have considered whether that specific pill was right for her. 

We all agreed: the realisation that you do not have to settle for birth control has only come to us in our twenties. Although the fault does not lie with us, we all wished that we had been educated on information like ‘the pill ladder’, so that we could have had more productive conversations with our GPs about what was best for our bodies. It is therefore vital that young girls who want to begin taking the contraceptive pill have the right information and education to put their bodies first.

Recommendations:

https://gpnotebook.com/en-gb/simplepage.cfm?ID=x20130725203135685340

Sophie Smith Galer’s ‘Losing It: Sex Education for the 21^st Century’

‘Your brain on birth control.’ From Women’s Health Weekly (available through Durham online library)