Reinventing the outdated bum bag and launching her own collection of colourful hands-free accessories is designer Lisa Robertson. Lucy Budge talks to the West Bridgford creative about the Lisa Lemon brand

Whether it's wading through the mud at a festival this summer or sightseeing through the streets of a capital city, there's a new smart and fashionable way to keep your belongings safe.

Designer Lisa Robertson, of West Bridgford, is launching a collection of colourful bags that are worn around your waist.

But forget the stereotypical bum bag – now they are called hands-free accessories and are made from the brightest and best quality Italian leather.

Owner Lisa, of Lisa Lemon hands-free bags, says: "There are two initial bags available to buy now in orange and purple. They are both worn around the waist.

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"I've avoided using the word bum bag because of their bad image – that's why I've started to c| all mine hands-free bags. It sounds better and they're not ones that you hide away, they're supposed to be seen properly and used as a fashion accessory."

Both the purple bag design and the orange are priced at £140 each.

and can be bought. They are made solely in the UK from luxury Italian vegetable tanned leather.

"I design them myself and the factory then make up the samples, and we can tweak them from there and change things to see what works best and what looks best," says the owner.

"We've got a selection of more than 50 bright coloured leathers that we can choose from. When I was deciding which leather to use it had to have a really good choice of colours to work with.

"Sustainable fashion is really important to me. It absolutely had to be made in this country and also using materials that are kind to the environment."

But despite being bright and colourful, the bags are also a unique way of keeping your belongings safe when out and about.

"They are good for travelling as well as festivals. I know people who have got them who are going to New York and are travelling to cities where they want to feel that their possessions are close by.

"There's a clip on the inside where you can attach your keys and internal phone pocket. You don't have to worry about your precious belongings when they're inside.

"They're perfect for travelling and festivals, when you're out and about sightseeing – any kind of situation where you need to keep your hands free."

But for the owner, the inspiration behind the range came from her struggle to find an alternative to the infamous bum bag.

She explains: "I had this awful old bum bag for years – it was a black leather one – and I couldn't find an alternative. I thought there must be something that looks nice and you don't mind having to wear over your clothes. That's where it came from."

This is Lisa's first time working as a fashion designer. After studying graphic design in Derby, she worked for a number of design agencies in Nottingham and also mentored design businesses and creative graduates from Nottingham Trent University. Most recently, she worked as a commercial director in IT.

And now the creator is hoping for the public's support in her Kickstarter appeal – where she hopes to raise £5,000 to launch her official first collection. The online Kickstarter project aims to help fund creative projects and allows people to pledge money, starting from £5, to independent businesses. Each business must reach their funding target to receive the money from those who have pledged to help.

She says: "You need more than one design for a collection and I am delighted to have added two more to the range, plus some accessories.

"With the help of backers, I hope to produce my first collection of bags and accessories for both men and women."

If Lisa reaches her target, the new range will feature a smaller soft leather bag in blue and a large soft bag with buckle in brown.

But despite only recently launching her initial two designs, Lisa has already received positive feedback from far-flung travellers and festival-goers.

"A group of girls from West Bridgford took one to Leeds Festival and they thought it was great.

"A friend took to one to America and said it was invaluable – she described it as being like her third hand.

"I used mine on a visit to Australia and it was perfect. I wasn't stressing about having my bag stolen. All my valuables, like my purse, passport, phone and tickets were attached to me, which gave me peace of mind."

She adds: "The bags are well made, they are good quality and they're made to last. Throwaway fashion is not what we're about – it's something that you buy and you are safe in the fact that it's going to last."

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