A CRAIGAVON firm which makes brightly coloured luggage products has been named among the UK's top 50 "new radicals".
MadLug, which sells luggage, backpacks, gymbags and journals was launched last year by youth worker Dave Linton.
With just £480, he set up the brand, bought some bags and started selling.
Mr Linton started the business after being struck by how many children in care had no option but to move their belongings in bin bags.
And now each sale of a MadLug bag - there have been 600 to date - is matched with a donation of a bag to a child in care.
The MadLug names stands for Making a Difference Luggage with the strapline Life Goes Inside.
Mr Linton said it was "amazing" to consider how far the company had come in 12 months.
"We’ve come a long way in a short time and we have been particularly encouraged by how many people have already shared our vision for MadLug and giving children in care the dignity of moving their belongings in a proper bag," he said.
"The level of support has been fantastic - I’ve been working closely with health trusts and charities from across Ireland and UK. Some of the most moving messages of support have come from people who have grown up in care and have experienced putting all they own in bin bags.”
