You're listening to the Schitlach's podcast, your guide to a more stylish life.

And we'd come up with who we thought the customer was and he said, I love it. You can have 10 stores.

The only caveat is they have to be open in three months time.

And we're like, yeah.

Welcome to today's success stories podcast with me Charlotte Collins.

This week I'm joined by Liz Hauten, who's the co-founder of Mint Velvet, which needs obviously no introduction.

Liz, it says here you are a pillar of the British fashion industry having worked with the

Arcadia Group for the best part of 20 years when 2008's financial crash hit, she, you struck out and

co-founded clothing brand Mint Velvet against a difficult commercial landscape

you filled a much needed gap in the market and Mint Velvet.

This says it Mint Velvet has gone from strength to strength but my God has it gone from

strength to strength. It also says here tragically tragically, you lost your eldest son, Will, in 2016,

and you've used your grief to champion the Don't Forget the Doner campaign.

With your family, you've created the Will Houghton Foundation in honor of your son which works with UK charities

to help propel 14 to 24 year olds reach their full potential for your services to business

and charity you're awarded an OBE back in 2017 and you're here today to talk life career and everything in between

So welcome. Thank you for having me. Thanks for being here. I mean so many things to unpack

We've got to start with Mint Velvet.

Mint Velvet which by the way as I said I mean strength to strength doesn't really feel like it even

covers it. You guys are thriving in a market where people are not thriving.

Brands are not thriving.

Let's go back to the beginning.

...