I launched a six-figure maternity shapewear brand that can help prevents stretch marks and celebs love it
A SUCCESSFUL mum has told how she quit her day job and set up a six-figure business after befriending a genius inventor – who had discovered a new way to help prevent stretch marks.
Sophie Hooper, from London, revealed soap stars and Strictly dancers have turned to her product in a bid to stop the pesky streaks that spread like lightening during pregnancy in their tracks.
She said vascular scientist, Stephen Barker, inspired her to abandon her office job after sharing his incredible discovery – and they went on to develop their first Stretch Mark Prevention Band Kit together.
Speaking to Fabulous, the Secret Saviours founder said: “So I used to work for a London ad agency and before that I was a producer making TV commercials. Then I sort of got into management.
“Completely by accident I went to a Christmas party, and I was sitting next to a guy who was from a venture capital company.
“He said, ‘I’ve got this inventor who invented this product that can prevent stretch marks, and he’s looking for someone who can take it to market for him.’
“I don’t know what I was thinking but I said, ‘Yes I can! That sounds great!’
“Next thing I know I packed in my job and started working with Steve to raise funds to take the product to market.”
The mum of two was shown his 3-step sytem that involved applying gel under the preventionwear with specialist padding that redistributes pressure evenly across the body.
Back then the patented technology was far from ready for picky customers.
She added: “When I first met Steve the band was white, and looked like a bandage, it looked horrific. And the cream and gel that it came with, they smelled like foot cream. You wouldn’t want to use it every day.
“So we went about going to a clinical trial. That went better than we expected, and in the meantime I created the gorgeous smell.
“We made the garments more wearable. It was really important to me, and I really loved wearing it. It gave me support.”
So far, Sophie has raised over £4 million investment and counting.
The science
Stretch marks start like tiny cracks in a windscreen that represent partial tears in the collagen beneath the top layer of the skin.
Stretch marks always tear in a straight line. Secret Saviours Derma Dot technology uses little pads to spread the tension away from the fault line, so the tear doesn’t get the chance to grow.
Secret Saviours has an 82% success rate and, to date, has saved over 24,600 women from developing stretch marks.
Famous fans
Sophie has garnered a huge online following and says her aim is to empower women and the most transformative time in their lives.
Secret Saviours has now launched a range of bra, shorties and leggings as well as the briefs and underwear.
They each follow the same 3-step system in the gel that acts like a primer, followed by the preventionwear with their specialist Dema Dot technology.
Lastly, the night cream is applied once you take the preventionwear off at night.
She said: “We are a favourite among the Emmerdale and Coronation Street set!
“Michelle Hardwick, Charlie Webb, Laura Norton, on both pregnancies, and in Corrie, Julia Goulding. The word of mouth thing is brilliant.”
Other UK stars slipping into her apparell are Jannette Manrana, who announced her pregnancy earlier this year, Rebecca Vardy, Amy Willerton and Kelsey Parker.
Sophie added: “The only thing about our product is it’s not like when Kate Middleton wears a handbag, and that goes and sells out.
“The whole point is it’s worn under your clothes and no one knows you’re wearing it.
“We got really excited when we had two kits going to Kensington Palace, and the only person we could think of that it could be for was Princess Beatrice.”
Visit here for more information: secretsaviours.com.