Magic Pants – How did it start?

Over 25 years ago Karen Hutchings, founder of Goose Island UK started her company from her home in Swansea, South Wales. Her aim? To create a shop with a range of comfortable, affordable, one-size clothing that actually fit a large proportion of women. At the time, the label ‘one size’ was more of an insult than a size guide, leading women across the country to feel ashamed that their bodies didn’t fit this illustrious shape. However, Goose Island’s Magic Pants are designed to fix that with a design that accommodates most bodies and any fluctuations in size they may experience. The Lurex Tie Magic Pants in Charcoal have made their way into women's wardrobes across the UK and Europe, keeping them stylish and comfortable all year round.

But let's take a step back, how did it all start? After deciding to ditch her job in financing, Karen took a sales rep role at a nearby clothing manufacturer. There aren’t any manufacturers left in Wales now and this one closed just 6 months after she started. Not able to afford her last paycheck, they offered her a sample rail of clothing as payment, an offer many of us would have scoffed at, but instead, Goose Island UK’s CEO decided to run with it, setting up clothing parties to sell some of the stock. And it worked. Shortly after she upgraded her clothing parties to market stalls and craft fares supplying first from London, then Bali, the place that had sparked her initial interest in the business. Over the next 25 years, the ball just kept rolling, far too fast to summarise in a blog post. If you want to hear the full story, you can watch Karen sit down with the Purpose People podcast to talk through everything that happened between that initial career move to what is now Goose Island UK. In short, the business went from stalls to shops stocking jewellery from Bali and then clothing from Italy. During the pandemic, we then broke into the online space not just with our online shop which has existed for ages but with posts to Facebook Live. Creating a community, not just customers. This leads us to now, a shop stocked full of one-size, luxurious clothing, a dedicated community of supporters and the star, the Magic Pants. 

Made sustainably in Italy, these magic trousers are made in the country most renowned for their incredible fabric quality and craftsmanship. And with the production being so close to the customers, they also boast a far lower carbon footprint than most other brands available today. This low air mileage and quality-to-cost ratio also helps with another one of our aims, to create a product that is luxurious in its quality, but not in its price tag. Now of course, the magic of the Magic Pants isn’t from some mystical being, they’re made with a combination of elastane, viscose, and polyester. A man-made blend that utilises the best qualities of each, making them incredibly stretchy whilst still being opaque and durable enough for everyday wear. For many, the magic trousers are an office staple, styles like the Lurex Tie Magic Pants come in classic colours such as Charcoal, Black and Khaki and can be paired with just about anything for a fun, comfy work wardrobe. Unlike natural fibres, these fabrics aren’t dyed which makes them incredibly resistant to fading so they’re going to stay looking like they did when you bought them. The Magic Pants now come in a range of styles, colours and lengths to ensure a bit of magic on every occasion. If patterns are your thing, try the Animal Print Magic Pants; they come in a selection of colours, Khaki being a fan favourite, and will add a unique boost to any outfit. Each season will have its own collection so make sure you’re staying up to date with our latest styles by joining our Facebook group. 

So, what's happening now? We currently have two stores in the UK as well as our online website, both stocking multiple ranges of women’s clothing that promote individuality and comfort above all else. Not content in just curating fashion lines, we have also donated almost £100,000 to our local community since starting and Goose Island UK is also no stranger to winning awards. In 2017 and 2019 we won the best Welsh fashion and accessories store in the Welsh SME business awards. Looking forward, our entire range, including Magic Pants, will continue to develop with new styles and colours to ensure they keep up with the times whilst remaining timeless.