Donegal entrepreneur Siobhan Mc Kenna has been announced as a winner of Visa She’s Next Grant Programme for women in business.
Siobhan, the founder of Moss + Cable knitwear, won a grant worth €10,000 and one-year business coaching through IFundWomen to grow her company.
The Bruckless native is one of just five women to progress to the final stage of this year’s programme.
Moss and Cable is a modern Irish knitwear studio that aims to reinvigorate the declining knitwear and tweed heritage from Co. Donegal, while also creating a more sustainable alternative to fast fashion brands.
Donegal was once a leading international destination for manufacturing luxury knitwear, however, the industry has been in decline in recent decades as established brands move their production overseas.
Owner Siobhan believes this industry should be protected and preserved which is what she aims to do by using traditional practices and working with expert craftspeople, making sure production is always kept local. Siobhan wants to see Donegal as a global signifier of quality and craftsmanship for knitwear, much like cashmere is to Scotland or leather is to Italy.
Globally, female entrepreneurship is growing, with 153 million women operating established businesses. Since March 2020, She’s Next empowered by Visa has awarded more than 1.6 million Euros in grants and coaching scholarships to women entrepreneurs across the globe. Entries were up by more than 60% this year with over 350 applications received.
