Sophie Thorne
Lusting for some seductive lingerie that's got the style and attitude of luxury designer brands, but without the price tag? Look no further than Twisted Lingerie and read on to find out how entrepreneur Sophie Thorne has overcome her hurdles to launch a scandalously successful brand.
Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
I am the founder of Twisted Lingerie, the home of deliciously provocative lingerie designed to unleash your carnal side, set pulses racing and bring delight to your knicker drawer. Our mission is to empower women to embrace their desires, and make every day that little bit naughtier but without breaking the bank.
How did you get your idea or concept for Twisted Lingerie?
Frustrated by the fact that women could pick up a new dress from Topshop for £30 but couldn’t find well-made and well-priced racy lingerie to wear underneath it, I started Twisted in 2016. With its accessible pricing (the range starts at just £17), Twisted is looking to fill this gap in the market but without compromising on the designs or quality of the production. Simply put, it’s seductive lingerie made for after-dark frolicking with all the style and attitude of luxury designer brands but none of the price tag.
Running your own company can be incredibly challenging. What keeps you up at night?
Nothing. I know that may seem like a glib answer but I think it’s super important to switch off – and actually sleep! It’s not always been easy for me to mentally and physically shut down; my mind used to race every night – be it with excitement or worry – and I really struggled to sleep. But there’s nothing you can really do about your cash flow problem at 2am so I learnt to go to sleep and think about those problems in the morning, when I’m refreshed and ready to deal with them.
How do you stay motivated without feeling absolutely burnt out?
I’m insanely organised and whilst that doesn’t necessarily keep me motivated, it does ensure I’m productive and efficient. About five years ago I read a Vanity Fair article about Barack Obama. In it he explains that he only wears blue or grey suits because he doesn’t want to waste time making decisions about what he’s wearing when he has so many other decisions to make. The concept really resonated – having a fixed routine means I’m able to be more productive as I don’t get distracted by trivial things; for example, I decide what I’m going to wear and eat the following day before I go to bed, I only socialise (be it for business or pleasure) once in the workweek, and if something comes up that isn’t on my to do, I won’t do it (at least not that day).
This is a great tip! If you had one piece of advice for someone who is just starting out, what would it be?
Stay focused. When someone is just starting out, they invariably have limited resources so keeping things basic and remaining laser-focused on what you are trying to achieve is critical. I think with new businesses there’s often a temptation to do too much or to try to appeal to everyone but I believe that zeroing in on one idea and executing it exceptionally is the key to success as an entrepreneur.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from founding your own company?
Starting a business is ridiculously hard and takes a huge amount of dedication, late nights, weekends and many, many compromises. One thing I quickly learnt is that if you’re not passionate about the business you’re building, you’ll feel really burdened by the work.
Do you have a particular life motto that you live by?
Yes, it’s:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson
We love this quote! What are your goals for the future?
To be doing what I’m doing now – I don’t think it matters what I’m doing but if I’m working hard, enjoying it and doing the best I can then I would consider that a success.
And finally, which women inspire you?
I’m constantly inspired by and in awe of the many women around me – from the stay-at-home mums trying to do a million things at once and the working mothers who manage to find time for everything, to the women who work 60+ hour weeks, and the ladies who are somehow able to fit vast amounts of charity work round all their other commitments. I see many daily examples which inspire me to be a better person in all areas of my life.