'It was more of a side-hustle at first': Business helps overseas mums in need

Andrea is based at Brunswick Heads where she runs her DeLata product at local markets and across the country.

She was part of the Enterprise and Training Company (ETC) MySmallBiz Expo at Ballina RSL Club on April 16.

Andrea, originally from Colombia has a passion for sustainable fashion and new trends in the clothing industry.

The core part of her business is trading designs and ideas with a group of 14 single mums in Colombia.

It supports craft-making and provides the women with tools to help them to showcase and protect their culture.

The women are from they come from a remote underdeveloped area Martires, in Bogota.

The opportunity of creating art with recycled material, provides them with an income to improve their quality of life and support their loved ones.

Andrea co-designs the products, and creates a collection at a time, depending on new trends and ideas.

"I think people like innovation and how versatile we are," she said.

"It's a conversation piece and everyone wants to know the story behind it.

"You can walk to any morning market with one on and take the same bag out to dinner that evening.

"It's a unique product that I love, I wouldn't be putting some much time into it if I didn't believe in what we were doing it.

"Our newest collection is my most favourite, so it's only getting better.

Prices range from $100 for a necklace up to $340 for a handbag.

The concept has been around for about four years with Andrea now solely focused on growing the business.

Her background and skills include fashion photography, graphic design and marketing.

"It was more of a side-hustle at first, but I've been doing it fulltime since August.

ETC runs the expo events to help new and small business owners network among their peers and industry professionals.

The MySmallBiz Expo is held across regional areas with guest speakers with traditional and new methods of running a business.

The Ballina event involved visiting and local guest speakers who showcased their business ventures with advice and idea sharing.

"The MySmallBiz Expos are part of ETC's commitment to supporting the growth and development of small businesses in the communities where we operate," program manager Rachel Turner said.

"(It) benefits being part of a supportive and vibrant small business community."