PR maven and entrepreneur Tessa Hartmann is a champion of trailblazing talent. She was honoured with a CBE in 2016 for her contribution to the fashion & textiles industry and launched her own sustainable swimwear line, HartiSWIM, in 2022

Lead image: HartiSWIM’s sustainable designs

How does the working day kick off for you?

I wake up at around 6.30am and catch up with the headlines. I’ve lived in Jersey for about 10 years now, so I tend to go for a quick walk on the beach. My day at the laptop starts around 8am. I love tech, but I also love old-fashioned pen and paper, and I have a daybook with a never-ending to-do list. I’m still a consultant for lots of different brands, but my side hustle is my swimwear label. If I could focus 100% on that, I would. 

What attracted you to starting a swimwear label?

I’d always wanted to start my own label, but probably never had the courage, to be honest with you. My background in fashion is more in branding and PR but I’d never worked on the production side. It’s been a real learning curve. The inspiration for sustainable swimwear came from living on this beautiful island, becoming very aware of climate change, and also my husband’s art. He creates these incredible, original pop art drawings and paintings. It’s really ignited me again, and the brand has developed beyond swimwear into furniture and homeware. 

How do you stay motivated in the face of challenges?

I am a glass half full person, but I’m also a realist. I think that comes with being a Scot. If somebody shuts the door to me, which they do regularly, I don’t get upset about it like I did 15 years ago. I just go, OK – I’ll find another door. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life with my health and everything else and I always find that one constant is the business. I call it my first baby. When everything else is getting me down, it keeps me sane. 

Would you call yourself a hustler?

Definitely. My dad left school at 14 with no money, then worked his way up and took the risk to set up his own business. I remember being in awe of him and his eternal hustle. He was the best salesman that I can ever recall. He always taught me that you’ve got to find something you love and learn your craft. That kind of entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in me and I’m always preparing for that rainy day.

Scottish Fashion Awards founder Tessa Hartmann

What does success mean to you now?

I’m always balancing the kids and the business, so I’m wearing that maternal yet entrepreneurial hat. As long as my kids are content and happy, that’s success for me. Don’t get me wrong though – I’m still ambitious. I’m probably hungrier now than I ever was, and I’ve got even more ideas. 

You’ve recently been embracing alcohol-free alternatives. What impact has it had on your wellbeing?

When I was first setting up the business, there was a lot of entertaining. Drinking was a big part of that culture, and I was working long hours and staying up late. Then in 2017 I got breast cancer, and suddenly my invincibility was questioned. That was a forever turning point for me, then I had a bit of an epiphany moment at the start of the summer, where I just wanted clarity of mind and to be as healthy as I could be. So I stopped drinking alcohol, and it’s like day and night. My energy levels have turbo-popped, my skin’s great, I’m sleeping well, and I’m coping with everything so much better.

What was your biggest takeaway from appearing on The Real Housewives of Jersey?

I’m a publicist, so when I was approached about the show, I thought it would be great for the business and good PR for Jersey. I was very much involved in using as much Jersey talent as we could, and it gave people on the island a lot of opportunities. Was I prepared for what went on in the show? Definitely not. The first series was amazing. The second series was like going back to school and I didn’t enjoy it. Sometimes I think I miss it a little bit, but I don’t miss the bickering and the unnecessary behaviour of women, which I found disappointing.

You founded the Scottish Fashion Awards in 2006 to spotlight fashion and design excellence. Do you see yourself reviving it in the near future?

I talk about it all the time. I’m honorary president of the British School of Fashion and I also do a lot of work with Glasgow Caledonian University, so I’ve never taken my eye off the ball in terms of the next crop of talent coming through. Will I do the Scottish Fashion Awards in some form within the next few years? Absolutely. I just have to get my head around how it’s going to work. I want to continue shining a light on Scotland’s incredible manufacturing, textiles and talent.