Stephen Upton, one half of chic baby bag label Sugarjack tells us what inspires him and how it’s the age of the ‘dadpreneur’. Along with Trevor Hayward, Stephen co-founded the brand in 2009
Mumpreneurs are taking the business world by storm at the moment; it’s unusual seeing dads in this area, where did the idea come from for Sugarjack?
I guess it is unusual for dads to be involved in anything baby-orientated, but times are a-changing. Sugarjack was born out of a frustration at having such a limited choice of changing bags, particularly for the fashion-conscious. Trevor’s wife loves her handbags, but couldn’t find a changing bag style she liked when expecting their first baby. So we thought, why penalise a lady just because she is a mother?
Where do you get your creative inspiration?
From the top-end fashion brands, walking around cities such as Bologna in Italy, Hong Kong, New York, and London.
Are you off on holiday soon? Is there one particular family friendly hotel you would go back to time and time again?
No holidays planned at the moment, but my favourite places to visit with my children are normally overseas where the people tend to be friendlier and more accommodating to children. I love the Hillside club in Turkey; they have fantastic facilities for children but also lots for parents too.
Any tips for traveling with children?
Keep them occupied. Have books, toys, colouring, and then when all else fails go electronic. Parents can make a huge difference to a child’s travelling experience, and we all should help educate them as we move around the world, encouraging them to explore and embrace new cultures.
What book are you reading at the moment? What’s your all-time favourite read?
I’m currently reading a biography of Coco Chanel, an amazing and intriguing woman. My all-time favourite read has to be Hunter Davies’ Beatles and John Lennon biographies, along with Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Are you hands-on dads in the kitchen?
Trevor loves to cook. My wife Lara is so talented in the kitchen, I tend to lose confidence. I enjoy cooking a huge Englsih breakfast for the family on a Saturday morning and also traditional Sunday lunch.
We are always looking for new recipes on StyleNest; do you have a failsafe family dish you swear by?
Corned beef hash. Simple, filling, quick, and warming on a winter’s evening.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing with the kids? Are there any local parks, attraction museums, or activity groups they particularly love?
We live in a very rural setting in an idyllic village, so there is not a lot locally to do. But we love that. We cycle often as a family, usually to a neighbouring village that has a café serving lovely breakfasts. Another favourite is to visit the Science Museum in London, and ThinkTank in Birmingham is also brilliant.