A start-up specialising in British-made women’s snowgear has launched a Kickstarter bid for £30,000 of investment.

Snooks, which was launched by Loughborough graduates Susie Beere and Sophie Kelly in 2014, sells cool clothing for female skiers and snowboarders.

The pair, who are both snowboarders, went into business because they wanted to do their bit to make women’s ski wear less girly.

They now have a range of ski pants, jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, caps and other items.

Operating out of the Studio design school at Loughborough University, they have just launched the next stage in their investment strategy via entrepreneurial website Kickstarter.

Snooks want women to look cool not frilly
Snooks want women to look cool not frilly

Since launching the campaign last week they have already secured £10,000 of backing from 181 individuals – including an initial £7,000 in the first 48 hours.

There are 22 days of the campaign left to run.

Susie Beere said: “Snooks is the first British ski and snowboard clothing brand dedicated solely to women.

“We’re out to encourage more girls into challenging themselves in snow and action sports, as well as life and we try to reflect that ethos in our brand and in every product we make.

“Our Kickstarter is designed to put our customers at the forefront of how Snooks develops in the coming months and years and we’re so excited to see the results.”

Their gear is made in Wolverhampton and they work with a number of Leicestershire suppliers.

A Snooks jacket
A Snooks jacket

The pair said their Kickstarter campaign would help them carry out product research, increase production, and distribute their products across Europe.

All the investors will get access to Snooks rewards including limited edition hoodies, T-shirts and first reserves on their winter 17/18 collection before it hits the shops.

Over the past year, the pair have supported a number of winter events in the UK and Europe and are sponsoring up-and-coming winter athletes Thea Fenwick and Angelica Sykes to grow their brand internationally.

Sophie Kelly said: “We believe women deserve products that are a true reflection of them, not for the stereotypes of women.

“Snooks is a brand founded and run by women who snowboard and ski.

“We understand what women want, expect and need in their gear.

“So we strive to create outerwear that fits exceptionally.

“Our outerwear is made in the UK to a very high standard of quality and technical performance, because we know only the best will do.”

Snooks were winners in the new business category at the 2016 Leicester Mercury Women in Business Awards, and runner’s up in the young executive section of last year’s Mercury’s Business Executive Awards.

Susie Beere (left) and Sophie Kelly launched Snooks in 2014
Susie Beere (left) and Sophie Kelly launched Snooks in 2014

Snooks also landed the £20,000 top prize in the Baldwins Accountants’ KickStart Young Entrepreneurs Awards last autumn after impressing 500 business representatives with their plans for the company.

Susie and Sophie collected £10,000 in cash for their business and £10,000 worth of mentoring and accounting advice from Baldwins, which has offices in Ashby and across the Midlands.

Sophie said their publicity campaigns had reached thousands of winter sports enthusiasts worldwide and they count snowboarder Jenny Jones and adventurer Sophie Radcliffe as fans.

She said they had also received support from the Women’s England Rugby team and several other prominent women in business.

To support the business, click here.