We love meeting fellow female entrepreneurs especially those who are passionate about making the world a better place.

Meet Chloe Stewart, founder of Chloe Stewart Collective. A social enterprise that teaches hand-embroidery skills to women in Soweto, Kayole Kenya, improving livelihoods, one stitch at a time.

Chloe has had a remarkable journey since her studies in Textiles at the University of Leeds. After working with prestigious brands Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Harrods, Chloe gained a role working alongside celebrity stylist Nicky Yates. This gave her the opportunity to style actresses Phoebe Dynevor and Felicity Jones, to name a few! 

As part of Chloe Stewart Collective, Chloe also offers a personalised embroidery service, in which her team can hand embroider something personalised on a garment of your choice. We think our dungarees make the perfect pairing! 

Chloe, thanks so much for agreeing to catch up with us! Firstly how did you go from assisting a celebrity stylist on the red carpet to moving to Kenya? They seem like very different worlds…

They are very different worlds and two worlds which I love more than anything. I loved being in London working in the fast-paced fashion world, the excitement and buzz is like no other, especially around awards season. However, I had a yearning for Kenya, and to move and experience living in a different country felt very important to me. I had the ambition to create a company of my own that could impact and improve the lives of others through teaching a skill and providing employment. At the heart of my mission was the empowerment and support of women and that, coupled with a deep desire to spend more time in Kenya, led me here. I’m not far from the fashion world here still, whilst my products are primarily for the interiors market, I hope to develop my range further in the future to include some fashion products too.

What was it about this part of Kenya that attracted you to help there? Have you visited before?

Kenya has always had a massive pull to me especially the culture the wildlife, it’s a very special place in my heart with unending opportunities and adventure. I had visited Kenya regularly working on riding safaris and then I eventually made the jump and have loved every second since. But most drawing is the people, there is an infinite joy and enthusiasm for life regardless of circumstances that is both inspiring and infectious and when visiting here, I knew I had to be around it. It's therefore such a pleasure to be working with such positive women on a day-to-day basis. 

What’s your favourite part of teaching these women to hand embroider that excites you most?

My favourite part of teaching these women embroidery is seeing how incredibly quickly they have picked up this skill. It’s been amazing to see the beautiful colour combinations they put together with the embroidery thread out of their own instinct and creativity. Since starting to work with them, they have grown in confidence, trying new stitches and experimenting using their creative freedom. Also watching them learn English and recite it back to me when I am working with them, we chat all day about everything and anything. They are a joy to be around and bring so much energy and happiness to every day. 

Have you always been passionate about embroidery? Was this something you did as a child?

I have always been passionate about textiles; I came to embroidery later in life when Covid struck and I was at home in Suffolk at my parents’ house. This was the beginning of it all where I was embroidering t-shirts to keep myself busy. From there it grew into bespoke wedding shoes, jackets, clothes and now I am passing on my knowledge and skills to a group of women in Kayole in Kenya, a low-income neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. I strongly believe that only employment leads to true independence and why, our central mission is to equip local women with the skills and the opportunity to earn a decent and sustainable income. 

How would you describe your personal fashion style? 

I would say it’s very minimalistic, out here in Kenya I wear a lot of linen trousers and shirts, I love a good two piece, and always lots of jewellery !!

What’s your favourite item in your wardrobe and why?

My favourite item in my wardrobe currently is my Frankie Shop pleated black trousers, they are so versatile, they can be casual and nighttime, they are high waisted and very flattering. 

Do you have any tips on how to easily add style to a wardrobe? Any key pieces or accessories that can instantly lift an outfit? 

My top tips to easily add style to your wardrobe is to build up your chic basic collection. Anything like a brilliant white t-shirt, some amazing pleated trousers or jeans, a great trench coat, a chunky gold necklace, and obviously a pair of Dotty Dungarees in every colour !!!

How would you style our adult dungarees? Any tips to take them from a daytime look to evening?  

My favourite outfit, the dungaree! I would style the daytime with some Birkenstocks and a cropped white baggy t-shirt with a chunky gold necklace. For nighttime, swap the t shirt for a pretty white blouse with a pair of boots and statement earrings !!!

What’s next for Chloe Stewart Collective? What are your hopes for the future?

Next for Chloe Stewart Collective, we will be expanding our product range, so far we have been working on lampshades and in 2025 we will be launching with more interior products. Please stay tuned and see the magnificent work these women are doing; we so appreciate the support as we continue to grow. 

Lastly, our quick-fire questions!  

Tea or Coffee?

Coffee to kick start the day, it’s part of my morning ritual. Coffee whilst listening to birds on the balcony is a beautiful start to any day. 

Movie or Boxset?

Movie, particularly love a good old documentary depending on the mood. I’m also up for some easy watching like ‘Cool Runnings’, - an all time banger !!!

YouTube or Netflix?

YouTube I use endlessly for work, to discover new embroidery techniques, and if I am struggling with a product to help see different approaches to solve the problem. Netflix is so good for movies, however I am not great at sitting still for too long…

Cosy night in, or Evening with friends? 

Evening with friends always! Friends give you energy and such joy. Even if it’s a quiet evening in, watching a film, my friends are all so important to me and help me in every aspect of life. I don’t know what I would do without them. 

Beach BBQ or Sunday Roast?

I’m always for a beach BBQ - summer salads and delicious meats. 

Starter or Dessert? 

Starter over dessert all the way. I don’t have a sweet tooth at all, apart from when it comes to Haribo…. 

Summer holidays or Christmas? 

Christmas is always a special one for me, to see my family all together is so important and a rare occasion as we all get older and half of us live abroad. It’s a time we can all be together and we always have the happiest of times. 

Trainers or Heels? 

Trainers all the way, Converse especially. I live in them daily and have an impressive collection. I’m hopeless in heels, I try to get away with trainers for any occasion, potentially sometimes I push it too far!

To discover more about Chloe and get your dungarees personalised, visit her website Chloe Stewart Collective or follow her on Instagram @chloe_stewart_collective.