Designer Bridget Scanlan with a KYT bag.
Designer Bridget Scanlan used a combination of her studies and good old fashioned hustle to realise her concept for a designer bag for people with diabetes.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes seven years ago, the Bachelor of Business Studies and Bachelor of Arts graduate says a major in entrepreurship was particularly influential in convincing her to blend her business interest with her technical sewing know-how into a viable business idea.
Knowing full well the hassle of taking a trove of essential medical equipment everywhere, the Wellington woman designed a bag to carry them in a functional but elegant way.
The bag’s versatility means people with diabetes can go about their daily lives knowing their essential medical equipment is always with them in an attractive, compact kit.
Handcrafted in black leather and finished with brass hardware, the crossbody bag known as KYT ( Keeping You Together), includes two pouches that can pull apart, allowing diabetes equipment and life essentials to be organised separately. Key features include a zipper pocket for sharps and empties, medical ID slot and a dedicated space for all the usual diabetes equipment along with blood-resistant lining that can eaily be wiped clean.
“These are bags designed to look good, and to work hard.”
Ms Scanlan also worked contacts made through her Massey University studies hard too, getting a referral from the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) that put her in touch with business incubator Creative HQ to help with getting her business concept up and running.
She now has pre-orders from the United Kingdom to Japan, and further plans to expand to provide elegant everyday fashion solutions for people using equipment for other medical conditions.
“It’s been great to blend both my business and fashion backgrounds for this kind of purpose.”