There's a new name in fashion in Newport after Lola and Me decided to rebrand at Mayker following a successful Crowdfunder campaign.

Lola and Me was originally set up by Heidi-Louise Griffiths, who is now managing director of the new venture.

She said: "Following the successful Crowdfunder, rewards were sent to locations globally, with bags, scarves and purses making their

way to as far afield as Australia.

"Since then our small but ambitious team has successfully refined and re-launched the company with the rebrand to Maykher and most recently we have launched an e-commerce shop to spread our wares and social purpose even further."

Heidi said: "Maykher is a profit-with-purpose women’s accessories company. Dedicated to supporting makers and their crafts, the team actively supports ethical and sustainable fashion practices and encourages the positive social programmes facilitated by their partners. This includes women’s literacy, counselling and support groups and community health programmes."

Currently working in Guatemala, Haiti and India, Maykher is passionate about using authentic and local craft techniques for its pieces, such as block printing and backstrap weaving. Each process is rich in history and culture, but these techniques are often replaced with cheaper alternatives due to the demand for fast fashion.

Heidi said: "Maykher was launched with an agenda to help tackle the recurrently discussed international social issues - education and inequality in the countries we work in. People throughout the world are desperately campaigning for gender equality; the right for equal opportunities and the right for girls to grow in a world where opportunities rise as triumphantly in front of them as they do for our boys. But in the developing world, these inequalities are devastatingly more acute.

"There are approximately 62 million young girls/women out of education. That’s nearly the entire population of the UK and more than two-and-a-half times the population of Australia. The truth is that educated girls are less likely to fall victim to child marriage, slavery, trafficking and other consequential issues, such as death at child birth."

She said: "Many of the artisans that we choose to work with have suffered in poverty, been victims of domestic violence, and have lacked opportunities and an education. This is why we are dedicated to investing at least 10 per cent profit into getting young girls in deprived areas into school.

"Educating girls is a viable solution to end poverty completely and can empower young women in areas of poverty to create positive change for themselves and those around them."