Enterprising sisters find business in pompoms

2 sisters who show mountain and moorland ponies are set to revolutionise the fashion for hat silks with a new pompom range.

Olivia and Alice Minns from Tunbridge Wells in Kent bought 20 racoon fur pompom beanies to sell at the ringside last November. They proved so popular that the sisters set up their own company, Amelia Jane, and by Christmas had sold thousands. Even Alice Plunkett appeared in one while presenting Channel 4 Racing.

“We never imagined they would be so popular,” said Olivia, 31, who has given up her job in London to concentrate on Amelia Jane. “We wanted something for spring and thought a silk pompom riding hat would be perfect.”

The £30 silk comes in 9 colours — black, purple, yellow, royal blue, red, green, pale pink, navy and lilac — and 3 sizes, with detachable pompom. Perfect for Easter!

➤Visit www.ameliajanelondon.com

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 April 2014)

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