Rosie Lees relishes a challenge.

Which is fitting for Monday March 8 of all days.

It’s International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge.

In Rosie’s case the last three years have been marked by four big challenges:

1. Acquiring The Embroidery Barn near Dorchester in 2018 at the age of 24 despite having no experience of producing promotional and personalised clothing. “The previous owners had decided to retire after 20 years and I heard about it through a friend. I couldn’t get it out of my head and knew I had to own it,” said Rosie, whose previous background was in windsurfing and sailing.
2. Investing more than £100,000 in new and upgraded equipment after the main embroidery machine broke down within months of taking over the business.
3. Successfully navigating The Embroidery Barn through the pandemic by focusing on face masks, initially supplying fabric to homeworkers to make masks for vulnerable people before branding readymade masks for companies and organisations.
4. Launching The Dorset Haberdashery on March 3, an online business with a focus on locally sourced, high quality, crafting items. It is initially providing organic zips, thread, trimmings and fabric for every type of crafting need with plans to offer bespoke gifts, a subscription service and online experiences.

Rosie, now 27, said The Dorset Haberdashery had got off to the best possible start after acquiring the retail side of The Sewing Retreat.

The online organic sewing shop, which teaches people to make their own sewing patterns, launched in 2014.

Its owner, Sarah Rozelaar, will now concentrate on providing courses.

“I’m a huge admirer of Sarah and her business.

“I was just so pleased, and flattered, when she gave me the opportunity to buy the shop side of her business,” said Rosie.

The Embroidery Barn and The Dorset Haberdashery now occupy three units at Herringston Barn, about two miles outside Dorchester.

The business employs seven people.

Customers of The Embroidery Barn, which delivers workwear, sportswear and attire with embroidered details, include Selfridges & Co, The Watercress Company, Weldmar Hospicecare, Aria Resorts, Lush Cosmetics, Nikon and Dorset Growth Hub as well as many schools, clubs and organisations.

Rosie, who grew up in Studland where her parents ran the village stores, is a Living wage employer and a member of the Climate Positive Workforce.

She is one of the people behind Plastic Free Dorchester.

“The environment is a personal passion of mine and one of my goals is to see how sustainable I can make my business,” said Rosie.

“That means being very careful where we source our garments and tools of the trade – avoiding ‘fast fashion’ – as well as being conscious of the process, production and packaging involved in delivering what our customers need.”

The environmental measures include:

• Bringing on board a supplier – Stanley/Stella – manufacturing with people and the planet in mind.
• Digitising internal processes so that the only paper used is for invoices, and they’re on recycled paper.
• Removing plastic from the packaging. Garments sent by post are delivered in a recyclable paper sack with an invoice wallet that is Oxo-degradable.
• Changing into eco-friendly threads with the new machinery using less energy and plastic waste from print production removed entirely.

The green measures are not only good for the planet but also business.

The Green Party is one of The Embroidery Barn’s clients, recently ordering 250 branded organic face masks.

Rosie said: “We all work very hard but we love what we do.

“I have a great team.

“Looking back, I suppose I’ve crammed a lot into my time but there’s so much more I want to do.

“I love a challenge.”

• The Embroidery Barn – is on Facebook and Instagram.
• The Dorset Haberdashery is on Facebook and Instagram.