Corby woman to use her own story of survival to launch fashion brand Lost Girls
A new fashion brand will be launched next week by a Corby entrepreneur who wants to help other domestic abuse survivors.
Lost Girls is a Corby-based women's fashion line created by Sarah Rigney.
Sarah previously ran hugely popular Threads & Ink but had to close the brand suddenly after an incredibly difficult time in her personal life.
But now she’s launching Lost Girls, combining fashion with a purpose: building a community around women finding themselves again, raising awareness of domestic abuse and supporting local services.
Five per cent of every Lost Girls order is donated to the Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS) and EVE.
Next Tuesday, October 27, Sarah will bring the Lost Girls Launch Show to The Core at Corby Cube. The evening will combine fashion, dance, music, drama and domestic abuse.
For Sarah, Lost Girls represents much more than clothing — the brand was created following one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Sarah ran local printing and embroidery business Threads & Ink for eight years. When things in her personal life came to a head, she reached breaking point, closed the shop and considered walking away from business altogether.
Eventually she regained her strength and decided to start again, opening Threaded Girls alongside business partner Nicola — returning to the industry she knew, but with a fresh start.
While building Threaded Girls, Sarah had another idea: Lost Girls.
She said: "I wanted to create something completely different. Lost Girls came from understanding what it feels like to lose yourself and then have to work out who you are again. The name isn't about staying lost — it's about finding your way back."
That idea has now grown from a clothing brand into a full theatre production.
Because of ongoing court proceedings, Sarah is limited in what she can publicly discuss about her own circumstances. Rather than share those details publicly ahead of the case, she has used music, choreography and performance to help tell her story through the show.
"The show tells a story that I'm not able to fully put into words publicly at the moment,” she said.
“Every song and every section has been chosen for a reason.
"There are parts that will be fun and empowering, and there are parts that I think will make people stop and think. It will educate people about domestic abuse while having an amazing evening of fun, upbeat performances too."
The evening will feature incredible performances from local dance school Ignite, who have worked tirelessly donating their time and energy to bring the story to life. Rising Stars will also perform, dancing and acting in a specially created drama exploring the red flags that can appear within unhealthy and abusive relationships.
"I think teaching young girls red flags is incredibly important,” said Sarah.
"Why isn't it taught in schools? Surely that could help prevent the national emergency of domestic abuse this country is in right now.
"Well, if they won't teach it, I will. I'll take my brand and my girls into schools, I'll do pop-up events, workshops and more. I'll create a safe educational space which will hopefully help the younger generation of today."
Singer Sonny Stevenson will also perform, alongside guest speakers from NDAS and EVE, who will talk about the work they do supporting people affected by domestic abuse.
Lost Girls clothing will feature throughout the evening, with each act wearing a piece from the collection, bringing together the fashion side of the brand with its wider message.
Inspirational messages are embroidered on the sleeves of the brand's hoodies, which are also manufactured with secret pockets in the pouch, should women ever need to hide their money or phone.
The night will also include a raffle, with prizes generously donated by local businesses, making the event a genuine community effort. Local performers, organisations, businesses and volunteers have all contributed towards bringing Sarah's original idea to the stage.
Sarah said: "If you'd told me when I closed Threads & Ink and felt like giving up that I'd soon be running Threaded Girls, creating Lost Girls and putting on a show at The Core involving all these incredible people, I wouldn't have believed you."
"But that's exactly what Lost Girls represents to me. Finding your super power and not being scared to start again. So please come to our show — come for the dancing, come for the messages, come and support your town in educating people about domestic abuse. Something has to change, and hopefully this is the beginning."