Bundoran teenager Katie McGloin has won the Start-Up of the Year Award at U Magazine’s 30 Under 30 awards.
The awards were announced on Tuesday night to celebrate inspirational young women making significant strides in all areas of Irish life.
Katie, aged 16, established her own business, K.T. Clothing Co. just last year and developed it during her Transition Year at Coláiste Mhaigh Éne. K.T. Clothing Co. is Ireland’s first completely gender neutral clothing company.
Earlier this year, Katie won the Foróige Young Entrepreneur of the Year award of 2017.
Now, with a 30 Under 30 Award, Katie’s company has earned her a place among Ireland’s most inspirational young people.
U Magazine Editor Aisling O’Toole described Katie’s business as incredible.
“Unisex is generally made for the male body, that women can wear, gender neutral is honestly something really incredible,” she said.
On accepting her award, Katie said: “As a 16 year old girl I have a lot of inspirations myself. To be included in influential women is a huge thing for me.”
Thanks to @U_Magazine for a awarding me Start Up of the Year at the 30Under30 Awards last night! Huge to be considered an influential women! pic.twitter.com/hiSO5UdZ7F
— KT (@katiemcgloin) July 26, 2017
The tshirts and sweaters of K.T. Clothing Co. are consciously made to fit the style of both boys and girls and have slogans including I AM MYSELF and STAND OUT.
“I think that there is an unnecessary stigma attached to clothing and labels. I believe that clothes are just clothes until we put male and female labels on them,” Katie told Donegal Woman in an interview last March.
Her ground-breaking neutral clothing line has won Katie McGloin the Start-up award #TuesdayThoughts
— U Magazine (@U_Magazine) July 25, 2017
