Top award for green queen

9:36am Tuesday 18th November 2008

Ethical entrepreneur Claire Watt-Smith has been named as one of the top young business people in the country.

Ms Watt-Smith, 25, who runs fashion and giftware company BoBelle from her home in Yarnton, has been voted one of the Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year and will pick up her prize at a special ceremony tonight.

She said: “It is really great to be recognised and I am very proud of the award.

“Encouraging eco friendly behaviour is at the heart of BoBelle, but I am also trying to prove that eco fashion can be fashionable and affordable. Fundamentally, I hope this recognition will lead my message to a wider audience.”

Ms Watt-Smith set up BoBelle as an Internet-based retailer a year ago while working at the head office of Monsoon Accessorize and now runs the business full time.

Earlier this month she opened her first concession at Top Shop’s branch in Oxford Circus, London and today will open another concession as part of a collective of green retailers in a shop in Notting Hill.

Later this month she will launch her own accessories range and she is looking to build up the website as well as ultimately opening her own shop.

“Everything has happened in the last six weeks but in the future I am open to any new opportunities. I really want to prove that eco can be fashionable rather than frumpy.”

The Future 100 Awards which are open to entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35, are organised by ethical business networking and training organisation Striding Out.

Event organiser Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.”