Gracie Symon - HerWorx
What is your idea, and when did it start?
HerWorx- a women’s workwear brand specifically designed for tradeswomen in construction and other manual industries. As a female engineer myself, I am constantly frustrated by the lack of properly fitting and comfortable clothing available to women. After talking to over 100 women in industry it became clear that this issue was much bigger than I originally thought. That’s when I decided to take action and build a workwear brand that allows women to feel comfortable, confident and most importantly safe in their role.
What was the inspiration behind your idea?
The initial inspiration came from my personal experience. As a woman in the construction industry, I’ve spent one too many days wearing clothing that simply doesn’t fit my physique! However, the real inspiration came from the conversations with other tradeswomen who expressed their frustration around discomfort and lack of representation that they face on a daily basis.
The bottom line is that most of us are wearing men’s clothing that do not fit the female physique, pose safety risks, and makes us feel overlooked.
Share the problem or need you are looking to address and how your business meets this need.
HerWorx aims on closing the gap for women’s workwear in trades, construction and other manual roles.
Women have a hard time finding workwear that fits correctly and comfortably. Unlike most brands that mainly tailor for men, HerWorx will be a female-only brand that offers a wide range of workwear that provides comfort and safety at a reasonable price. Physical discomfort and safety risks caused by unsuitable clothing can simply be resolved by designing workwear that is better suited for the female physique.
What in your latest - and greatest - milestones?
HerWorx has recently reached an important milestone – our first trouser sample. This process has been longer than initially expected, but it has been invaluable to our journey. Since starting the idea, I have experienced several setbacks early on when working with designers. This has actually been a blessing in disguise as this path lead me to meet the right people and has ultimately strengthened my communication skills, taught me resilience, and not to compromise on the original vision.
Working with my current designer has been a key turning point. We have designed the trousers from the ground up, creating a design that is unique to HerWorx. Unlike the current market, HerWorx trousers are designed specifically to the female physique rather than being adapted from men’s workwear. We are addressing the issues around incorrectly fitting and unfunctional workwear that women in manual industries face.
Although we are still in the pre-launch phase, I have grown the brand to nearly 200 followers on Instagram and a mailing list of over 100 women. We are excited to share the final design with our community. Although frustrating at times, I am happy we have taken this amount of time to properly develop the design – it’s a product that genuinely addresses what is missing in women’s workwear.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs just starting their journey?
I have been developing HerWorx for over a year, and only now are we beginning to see results. My advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to commit fully and to believe in your idea but most importantly, be patient with the process.
Every minute invested in research, refinement and understanding your product, service and customers leads to knowing your idea inside out. This results in confidence and stronger outcomes.
How has LSBU supported you in your entrepreneurial journey?
Where do I begin! The LSBU Enterprise team has pushed me far out of my comfort zone which has enabled me to grow in ways I could never have imagined. They have taught me the fundamentals of how to start a business, introduced me to CEO’s, offered 1 to 1 mentoring sessions and helped with funding. Most importantly the team has helped boost my confidence and provided me with the tools to go out into the big entrepreneurial world!
When I first started this journey back in October 2024, you would have had no chance of seeing me pitch to anyone. By June 2025, I have pitched to several panels of judges and in front of an audience that filled a lecture theatre. I have took part in HelpBnk’s Elevator Of Dreams, which I was then congratulated by Richard Branson and I have also met Simon Squibb and featured in his YouTube show.
Without LSBU, none of this would have been possible.
Follow Gracie's entrepreneurial journey and watch HerWorx continue to develop on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herworx_/
