By Emilie Ng
YOUNG Toowoomba Catholic mother-to-be Bernadette Ross is determined to help fellow mums in the Western region find the perfect fit during pregnancy.
The Central Queensland-born Mrs Ross owns Toowoomba’s newest maternity shop where mums can buy fashionable items on sale at her home in Harristown.
The heavily pregnant entrepreneur moved from Melbourne to Toowoomba less than four months ago, right when her pregnant belly was “starting to pop”.
But the search for comfortable and stylish clothes was less than motivating for the first-time mother.
“There was just nothing in Toowoomba, apart from items in the local retail stores which didn’t offer a broad range of items,” Mrs Ross said.
“If you look at the stuff in stores, the majority of clothes are black and quite loose-fitting.
“But I like a bit of colour and shape, because even if you’re pregnant, you still want to wear a nice dress that’s also comfortable.”
Starting her own home business stocking gorgeous clothes from Australian brands Eve of Eden, Ripe Maternity and Motherland was a unique solution to her fashion woes.
The home business is open daily and offers pregnant and nursing mothers bargains on maternity clothes.
Although Mrs Ross considered Toowoomba a town with “one of the highest birth rates in Australia” she was “surprised” at the small variety of maternity fashion.
Mrs Ross said she soon would be introducing more women’s apparel to her range including underwear, swimwear and casual clothing.
With her baby due this month, Mrs Ross said she would “shut down over Christmas” but planned to continue selling to mothers in the new year.
