How Rediscovering My Artwork Sparked the Creation of IHAMORA

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by patterns.

Whether in nature, human behaviour, artwork or systems, I've always been drawn to finding connections and seeing beauty in things that others might view as chaotic. Looking back, that curiosity has shaped much of my life, even when it has appeared in different forms.

After school, I studied Art at college and spent those years immersed in creativity, building a portfolio of artwork and surface pattern designs. I loved experimenting with colour, texture and composition, creating work that explored the relationship between structure and freedom, movement, order and chaos.

As I moved into the next chapter of life, my interests led me in a different direction. I became fascinated by psychology, which eventually led me into nursing and later a career in Quality Improvement within the NHS. These experiences have shaped who I am today and continue to be a huge part of my life.

Over time, my creative work quietly slipped into the background.

Years passed. I built a career, became a wife and mother, and life became full of the many joys and demands that come with raising a family. So much time had passed that I had almost forgotten about that chapter of my life entirely.

Then one day, while clearing out old buggies that my daughters had long since outgrown, I came across my art portfolio.

I wasn't looking for it. In fact, I had forgotten it was even there.

Curious and suprised, I started flicking through the pages and suddenly memories came flooding back. Drawing after drawing, painting after painting, pattern after pattern, I was reminded of a creative side of myself that had been dormant for years.

The artwork felt familiar, but it also felt new.

It was as though I was reconnecting with a part of myself that had quietly been waiting in the wings while I focused on other things.

That moment sparked something.

At the same time, I was also reconnecting with another passion that had been an important part of my life in my twenties: strength training.

Like many women, the demands of early motherhood had meant that fitness had taken a back seat for a while. As my children became older, I was beginning to prioritise movement again and rediscover the enjoyment, confidence and sense of wellbeing that came with it.

As I spent more time in gyms and activewear, I found myself increasingly frustrated by what was available. I had experienced poor fit, disappointing quality and designs that simply didn't excite me. Much of what I came across just didn't bring me joy.

Around this time, I shared some of the rediscovered artwork with a friend.

While I was simply excited to have found the portfolio again, they immediately saw something in the work and encouraged me to explore it further. I remember joking that perhaps I should quit nursing and follow my dreams, but the conversation stayed with me.

For the first time in years, I started to wonder whether this creative side of me deserved more space in my life.

As I began creating again, I remembered my long-standing interest in textile design. It wasn't a path I had pursued, but it was something that had always fascinated me.

At the same time, I was rediscovering my love of strength training and becoming increasingly frustrated by activewear that felt uninspiring.

Gradually, an idea began to take shape.

What if I could create something that I would genuinely want to wear?

What if the artwork could become wearable?

What if other women were looking for activewear that felt expressive, individual and joyful too?

What began as a forgotten portfolio and a rekindled passion for creativity slowly evolved into a vision for something bigger.

I started exploring how my artwork could be transformed into repeat patterns and applied to activewear. The more I experimented, the more excited I became by the possibility of creating something that combined creativity, movement and self-expression.

That journey became IHAMORA.

Today, every collection still begins with artwork. Every print starts with creativity and is transformed into activewear designed to help women move with confidence and express their individuality.

In many ways, IHAMORA represents the coming together of different parts of my life; creativity, curiosity, movement and a lifelong fascination with finding beauty, meaning and connection in unexpected places.

Looking back, finding that portfolio didn't just reconnect me with my artwork. It reminded me that passions don't always disappear. Sometimes they simply wait patiently until we're ready to rediscover them.

Tope Forsyth

Founder, IHAMORA

Shop the Collection https://ihamora.co.uk/collections