Guardian Weekend August 2009

'It was a bit of a pipeline dream'
Losing or leaving a job needn't be the end of the world. It can sometimes lead to the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition, as three fledgling designers reveal.

LAURIE ROBERTSON
I was working at a trends forecasting company when they laid me off just after Christmas. My boyfriend was made redundant a few days later, from his job in advertising. I'd always had this idea for a company selling homewares and outdoor accessories inspired by low-budget, 70s British camping holidays, but I never had the time to get it off the ground, and it seemed obvious to use this opportunity. That's how Anorak (anorakonline.co.uk) was born.
We sell sleeping bags, cushions, picnic blankets, bedding: I studied print textiles at the Royal College of Art, and some of these designs go back to my Masters degree. Anorak is about being affordable, with a low carbon footprint. In this climate, people are buying things that are more functional.
When we started, I was terrified, but that generated a lot of energy. My brother joined us, and the three of us now run the business together.
Starting up in a recession has been a worry, but all our manufacturing is in the UK, and we've found people willing to work with us even though we're small. They're worried about what's going on in their industry, too, and are happy to have people who are passionate about something.
It's been stressful - it's like keeping up with a snowball - but working on a project you love makes all the difference. My parents have been really supportive, and happy to see us all working together; Mum even helps with the accounts. It does make you appreciate each other in a different way. It feels as if you're building something for your family, more so than a nine-to-five. But it's bloody hard work.