Earrings designed in memory of Issy Phipps raise thousands after Princess of Wales is spotted wearing them

An Ascot-based earring brand has raised more than £10,000 for a mental health charity through sales of a pair of earrings designed in honour of a young rugby player who passed away last year.

Earring brand EarSass has raised the funds for Brave Mind through sales of its ‘Issy Star’ charity earrings in honour of Issy Phipps, after the Princess of Wales was seen wearing them.

Issy, who died at the age of 17 last year, was an U18 girls’ rugby player who had played for Maidenhead RFC, Reading RFC and the England U18 touch rugby team.  

Sales of the 18k gold-plated and white-gold plated star shaped earrings soared after Kate Middleton was spotted wearing them at two official events in October last year, including on World Mental Health Day while hosting Exploring our Emotional Worlds, a Royal Foundation event, and while participating in a mental health fitness workshop with SportsAid.

Sophie McGown, Issy’s cousin and owner of EarSass has been donating £5 from every pair of the Issy Star earrings that are sold to Brave Mind.

The Berkshire-based mental health charity works with rugby clubs, schools, colleges and universities to educate, provide support and raise awareness of mental health issues.

The earrings were gifted to The Princess of Wales in June when she took part in team training at Maidenhead Rugby Club as part of her Shaping Us initiative.

During the visit, Kate met Issy’s mother Sarah Renton, who told her that the earrings were designed in memory of her daughter, who had played at Maidenhead RFC since the age of four, before moving on to play for England’s U18 touch rugby team.

The Princess' support continued when Sophie, Sarah and Brave Mind founder Simon Trower were invited to attend the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas event at Westminster Abbey in December.

EarSass Founder and designer, Sophie McGown said; “It’s feels truly monumental to have hit over £10,000 in funds raised for Brave Mind from sales of the Issy Star.

“We’re going to do all we can to keep supporting the charity’s crucial work in educating and putting mental health issues at the heart of communities.

“It still feels surreal that the Princess of Wales has a pair of our earrings, possibly sitting on her dressing table.

“I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to The Princess, for keeping her promise to wear our earrings, not just once, but twice.

“The impact of the Princess wearing the Issy Star earrings on World Mental Health Day has been phenomenal and hugely significant for Brave Mind and our beautiful, Issy’s memory.”

Brave Mind Founder Simon Trower added: “We’re lost for words on the outstanding effort by Sophie and her amazing EarSass team.

“We will be forever grateful for these funds.

“This will give us the platform and opportunity to reach a huge number of people within the rugby community who require our support.

“There is a huge job to be done, especially with our younger generation. We will continue to celebrate Issy’s legacy in driving forwards the vital job of improving and saving lives.”

Brave Mind has also recently collaborated with its team of chartered sport and exercise psychologists to create a pilot research study called the Anxiety Kit Bag for all students that play rugby at 2-4 universities in the UK.

It aims to facilitate education surrounding mental health among university rugby teams and to equip young people with the resources to help their individual anxieties by boosting their mental health literacy.

The Issy x Brave Mind earrings cost £25.50 and can be found at: https://earsass.com/products/issy-star-brave-mind-charity