AN award-winning industrial designer from Cumnock has launched his own range of luxury travel accessories.

Scott Bradford, 35, has also struck a deal with a top hotel to sell the handmade items which are the culmination of an international alliance of sorts.

They are made in Italy using Scottish textiles designed and developed by Timorous Beasties and Bute Fabrics, with the leather being sourced from the Scottish Leather Group.

Called Ashire, the range includes iPhone and iPad cases, and is now on sale online and at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Edinburgh.

Ashire was launched with support from Business Gateway, combining Scott’s design experience with his love of Italy where he lived and worked for five years.

He said: “Our first range, Rams Head, has proved popular with sales coming in throughout the UK.

“We felt that focusing on lifestyle items such as passport holders and iPhone cases would not only be of interest to people but give us a worldwide market to target.

“Thanks to support from The Balmoral, one of Scotland’s leading luxury hotels, we have an even bigger opportunity to showcase our high-end designs to a global audience.”

“Business Gateway has helped me in a number of areas including how to develop the business, enhance my website and ultimately prepare for growth.

“My Business Gateway adviser also introduced me to Scottish Enterprise who helped me secure a grant.”

Now Scott is preparing to develop the range by adding more products which he hopes to launch in time for the Christmas season.

His business advisor at Gateway Ayrshire, Caroline Duff, said: “Scott is a very experienced designer with a clear vision of what he wanted Ashire to be. We were able to assist him with the practicalities of running a business, and through our DigitalBoost programme, he learned how to make better use of his website.

“Our extensive knowledge of other support organisations meant we were able to signpost Scott to Scottish Enterprise for further assistance.”

It was a hankering to combine the loves of his life, along with girlfriend Eleanor — their connection with Italy, love of Scotland and passion for travel.

“After being made redundant, I got the opportunity to move to Italy to work as a senior industrial designer at a multi-national corporation.

“My girlfriend and I were very lucky to experience La dolce vita but five years later my time at that company was coming to an end.

“I had aspirations to have my own business and I felt strongly that I wanted to do something that brought all aspects of my life together; our connection with Italy, our love of Scotland and our passion for travel.

“Predominantly my experience of designing products is with plastics or metals so it was a nice change to move into using luxurious materials such as leather and fine textiles.

“I’m really enjoying creating the products and the whole experience of starting my own company has been a great learning curve.”

To find out more visit www.ashire.uk while www.bgateway.com/ayrshire has details on starting up your own venture.

Business Gateway also has offices in Kilmarnock, Ayr and Irvine.