Saint and Sofia strengthens seasonal agility and supplier confidence with TradePay

“We really focus on creating a boutique experience,” says Dessislava Bell, Founder and Co-CEO, Saint and Sofia. “Everything we do is about bringing joy, excitement and delight to the customer.”

Since launching in 2020, the brand has grown rapidly, serving more than half a million customers worldwide. Their collections are designed for longevity. “We design pieces to feel contemporary today, but also season after season,” Dessislava explains. “And because our products are made in Europe, we keep quality high and avoid the supply chain issues that come with producing far away.”

As a seasonal fashion brand, Saint and Sofia experiences natural cash-flow swings. Heavy Q4 purchasing is often followed by a quieter Q1, while many of their small European suppliers require short payment terms. These pressures create predictable working capital challenges — especially during peak production periods.

Before TradePay, the business relied on careful forecasting and internal liquidity management. But traditional lending options were often slow, complex or too expensive for an independently owned brand. When HSBC introduced TradePay, it offered exactly what the team needed: speed, simplicity and flexibility.

“TradePay is designed for fast-growing businesses like Saint and Sofia — giving them quick access to working capital so they can pay suppliers on time, manage seasonal peaks with confidence, and keep their collections moving,” says Stephanie Betant, Head of Global Trade Solutions, HSBC UK.

TradePay provided Saint and Sofia with a fast, reliable way to pay suppliers, a more cost-effective alternative to other eCommerce financing solutions, and a straightforward digital process that reduced administrative burden for their lean team. Most importantly, it worked with the natural rhythm of the business. The team could draw down to fund production, repay when cash flow strengthened, and reuse the facility as needed.

“TradePay is super easy to use, the team is always responsive, and it’s made managing our payments so much smoother.”

TradePay now helps Saint and Sofia manage the high-pressure moments of the fashion cycle. It ensures suppliers are paid quickly and consistently, supporting long-standing relationships and maintaining trust across their European supply base. Same-day payments and a simple digital workflow free the team to focus on growth rather than manual finance processes.

“TradePay has given us flexibility and peace of mind,” Our reputation with our suppliers matters to us and helps us build long term relationships based on mutual cooperation and trust.