A London-based fashion designer working with high street retailers is preparing to ramp up its product distribution post-lockdown, with the support of Lloyds Bank.

Family-run Design Couture Ltd, which owns plus-sized ladies clothing brand Gatsby Lady London, has experienced significant disruption across its wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Lloyds Bank has helped the business to secure a £43k loan via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Bounce Back Scheme, enabling it to distribute its latest collection as planned. With its order book back on the up, including with stockists in Europe and North America, the business is looking forward to seeing its new ranges being retailed in stores and online this summer.

Established in 2010, Gatsby Lady London is the brainchild of designer Rojda Hoda and her husband Kasif. In addition to wholesale relationships with high-street and boutique retailers, the business sells directly to customers through its website and marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon.

Rojda Hoda, managing director at Design Couture Ltd, said: “The current pandemic is by far and away the biggest threat our business has faced since we started out a decade ago. Naturally, alongside cautious consumers, our stockists have needed a degree of flexibility in terms of when and how they pay for our products which has impacted our cashflow.

“Having Lloyds Bank by our side means we have the resources to provide that leeway, continue trading and make sure our own suppliers are paid on time. The funding was agreed and in our account within 36 hours which has boosted us heading into the new season.”

Nicky Wheeler, business banking manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Rojda and Kasif have taken Rojda’s dream of being a fashion designer and turned it into a highly successful business. Like many, they are facing unprecedented commercial challenges and, through the government’s Bounce Back scheme, are taking the steps to ensure they can negotiate any bumps in the road with confidence for the foreseeable future.”