‘It’s really about inspiring and supporting women’
By Maurice Garvey
AN AWARD-winning entrepreneur from Tallaght has experienced serious growth at home and abroad since starting her business only 11 months ago.
Sharon Keegan (36), is the owner of Peachy Leans, which sells custom made workout leggings and bras for women.
Sharon Keegan started her business 11 months ago
Originally from Springfield, Sharon experienced post-natal depression after giving birth to her first child Liam in 2015, but bounced back to create a business model that has proved incredibly popular with females of all sizes.
Her products have been exported to the US, Canada, UK, and endorsed by Irish celebs including Síle Seoige and new mum Vogue Williams.
“It’s really about inspiring women and women supporting women,” said Sharon of her whirlwind year.
Describing her post-natal depression, Sharon said: “I spent 22 and a half hours caring for him and he was my bundle of joy, but I was a bundle of nerves and sadness.”
Relieving stress in a local gym which had a creche, she took up Olympic weightlifting but couldn’t find appropriate gym gear for her “mum tum”.
“I looked for high-waist support leggings that took my hips and pelvis into consideration but they weren’t there.”
Developing a business idea in between nappy changes, she graduated from a UCD Innovation postgrad course – learning how to research the product, design a website and run a company.
The products proved an instant hit, and it seems only a matter of time before she will outgrow her garden shed in Walkinstown, where Peachy Lean currently operate.
“Initially, it was designed for post-natal women, but it took off mainstream,” said Sharon.
“Vogue Williams wore them in her Instagram posts, and one day when I was leaving the gym, I thought I was hacked because of the massive response to a social media video from Síle Seoige.”
Sharon’s recent success is all the more remarkable, seeing that she became pregnant with her second child to partner Sean in January, and was due on October 9.
“It wasn’t planned but the business had just taken off so I hadn’t time to think of the pregnancy,” said Sharon.
DCU Ryan Female High Fliers programme
In May, Sharon won the DCU Ryan Female High Fliers programme.
Acknowledging support received from the LEO South Dublin office, Sharon is exploring investment and export potential via Enterprise Ireland.
Although planning to hand over the reins to her newly hired staff member Rosemary Fogarty when she gives birth for a second time, Sharon is already looking forward to next year.
“Last week, we held a casting event to find the faces of Peachy Lean 2019. Women of all shapes and sizes faced their fears to become real fitness models.
“Our brand is about loving the real you, giving every girl a fabulous shape from size 6-26. We support women to be their best.”
