Interviewing Working Women: Sadie Ayton of Sadie the Bra Lady
Sadie Ayton is living proof that working women do not have to give up their careers or businesses when they hit retirement age.
Known as "Sadie the bra lady", the 71-year-old owns a chain of bra-fitting shops in the north-east and is still actively involved with her business, which she describes as a passion.
Her unique bra-fitting business has seen her gaining recognition on a national level and receiving many notable awards such as Lingerie Retailer of the Year 2000 and Best Shop Award for Excellence.
Just this month she was among three finalists for the NatWest Everywoman Hera award which seeks to recognise the achievements of working women over the age of 50.
Sadie began her business life in the 1970s by opening a unisex clothes boutique in the town of Consett in County Durham after being inspired to delve into the world of fashion by friends who praised her style acumen.
"When my kids were little we used to go to Butlins holiday camp and being the sort of person I am I used to enter all of the competitions and for eight years running I won the Miss She event which was for poise and fashion etc. I never made it to the final, but when I came back with a trophy each time people said I obviously had a flair for fashion and I should open a shop, so I did," she states.
However, Sadie's career really took off when she moved away from clothes and began to focus on bras, which have since become her self-confessed passion.
