Baldoyle woman launches her unique invention

NECESSITY truly is the mother of invention for one local woman and her newly launched fashion product.

Baldoyle mother Grainne Boylan is a first-time entrepreneur who decided to go and invent something she wanted, but could not find anywhere.

Following years of research her invention, The Shapely Sock, described as a ‘Wonderbra for legs,’ is being launched at Omni Shopping Centre from today December 18 to Sunday December 20.

“I designed the Shapely Sock for women like myself and my sister who have skinny calves with poor muscle definition,” Grainne tells Northside People.

The Shapely Sock

“We were having a conversation and we both said how we wished we could wear knee length and over the knee length boots, but because of skinny and bowed calves, these boots never looked good or felt right, the same with skinny jeans, so we sadly avoided wearing them.

“Neither of us could find a product on market that could help, there was nothing like this out there.

“This is how the idea was planted in my mind.”

At the time of her light bulb moment conversation with her sister five years ago Grainne wasn’t a fashion designer.

The mother of four had spent most of her life working as a scientist in the pharma industry before a career break at 39 led her back to college to study midwifery.

“I had studied fashion design before doing a science degree followed by a Ph.D. in Respiratory Diseases from Trinity College.

“I later returned to Trinity to complete a degree in midwifery.

“As a scientist who seeks solutions, I wondered whether I could somehow resolve the problem of skinny calves so that I and others like me could feel comfortable and confident in the boots and jeans that we longed to wear.”

Grainne admits that her invention journey did have its challenging moments.

“Absolutely, there were times when I thought ‘I can’t do this’,” Grainne says.

“You start to think you’ll never get there.

“It was five years of hard work, it was a long and difficult road but we got there in the end.

“I was lucky enough to find developers, called EPS, in Ontario, Canada who had a special machine to make the socks.”

So how exactly does Grainne’s invention work?

“The Shapely Sock is an artfully crafted bamboo/cotton mix knee length sock, with an internal pouch, into which one puts a foam Shapely Shaper to form a curvier look,” Grainne says.

“The bamboo viscose/combed cotton mix is softer and stronger than cotton alone, adding to the sock’s elasticity, durability, and comfort.

“I can now wear the boots and jeans I want, and my legs look beautifully shapely and curvaceous,” says Gráinne.

What advice would she have for any other first-time inventors with an idea rattling around their head?

“Sometimes it is overwhelming, all the expectations, but this is your product, your service, have faith in your way of doing it.

“Break the whole process down bit by bit, into baby steps really.

“When you get to that point and you have a mountain to climb break it down bit by bit too.

“Have faith in yourself and you’ll get there.

“It’ll come good in the end if you believe in it,” Grainne says.

“Throughout my life, in every job, I’ve always sought to create solutions that will have lasting benefit to others physical and mental wellbeing.

“For any of your readers who would like to buy The Shapely Sock, it is available exclusively at shapelysock.com and there’s a special launch offer of 10% discount available for a limited time by using code XmasSS10.”