Sisters’ fashion firm YANA Active realises dream ambition with Fenwick pop-up shop

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The creators of a Tyneside fashion firm are toasting success after opening a pop-up shop in department store Fenwick.

Sisters Charlotte and Sophie Wilson, 33 and 26, founded YANA Active three months before the first coronavirus pandemic in December 2019, with a mission to empower women by designing and manufacturing high-quality, sustainable activewear in the North East.

Now they have made one of their dreams a reality by securing a space inside Fenwick ’s Northumberland Street store.

Sophie said: “We’ve had an exciting start to 2021; a front cover feature on the North East Times, a fantastic week in Newcastle’s John Lewis store and most importantly launching our brand new 2.0 Collection, but securing a pop-up shop in Fenwick truly is a dream come true.

“Fenwick has long been our go-to department store in Newcastle, we always find something special for ourselves or someone else, so for us to be adding to the shopping experience, even for a week, is very exciting for YANA, but also for us on a personal level.”

Charlotte added: “In our very early business development stages, we always planned – but mainly dreamed – of seeing YANA in Fenwick stores one day.

“Our customers and brand values are closely aligned; we both offer luxury items, champion British-made and want to offer our customers the highest quality products.”

The Fenwick listing comes two months after they secured a second partnership with John Lewis, giving them a platform for their clothing, which is all designed and made in the region.

The pair, who are originally from Skelton in North Yorkshire but settled on Tyneside after both graduating from universities in Newcastle, used the John Lewis pop-up to showcase their second collection, which used recycled fabrics and pieces manufactured in facilities using renewable energy.

YANA Active’s pop-up shop will be in Fenwick Newcastle’s new ‘The Studio’ space on the first floor, opposite Ted Baker until Sunday.