Herring Shoes Journal

We are proud to introduce our very first Look Who’s Wearing woman! It has taken us a while but with a number of women’s shoes and boots in our range, it’s time to start shouting about them with Rebecca’s help.

If you have read LWW before, you will know that not all our ambassadors are super famous. Rebecca could have had the chance to be just that, but she stuck to her guns and stayed loyal to what she believed in to find other ways of using her performing talents and squaring up to a few demons along the way.

Born on the Wirral but bred in Devon, she attended a small primary school before heading to high school where life was not so blissful.

“I had been sheltered at a small primary school where I could truly be myself. I loved singing and dancing and felt comfortable in my own skin. At high school, I looked for every opportunity to be involved in music, dance and sport, but that was when I became a target to be picked on. I was bullied for supposedly having a large ego, but also being picked on for being tall and lanky. I did not give up on performing though.”

Rebecca followed her dream of performing on the West End by studying dance and music in Liverpool. She also became a member of a girl band, but as soon as she began to be told what to wear, how to sing and even what lyrics to use, she realised she was not prepared to stick around in such a cut-throat industry. It was a turning point for Rebecca.

“The industry is so competitive, and it felt hard to keep my integrity and remain true to myself.”

She came home to Devon and positive feedback from a single dance session at a gymnastics club led her to opening her own dance school. 

Committed Dance Company was set up 14 years ago and now runs four street dance classes a week with her childhood best friend Lauren, who shares her passion for dance. In the beginning, she was gigging in bands too while juggling a desk job to pay the bills.

“I knew I never wanted to give up dance and music, but this way it was all on my terms.”

The terms are pretty crucial too. Rebecca’s experience at school never left her. She was determined to do something positive to drive out bullying where she could, with Lauren’s help.

“We make it very clear that we will not tolerate unkindness and bullying. We teach our students to spread kindness and embrace their individuality. We noticed that some of our children were really struggling, and dance was their space for one hour to two a week where they could be themselves. With street dance, there is no right or wrong. All children have their own flair. They can do stuff their own way.”

Rebecca’s stance against bullying stepped up a gear when she had her first child, Roary, now aged seven. To raise awareness outside of the dance school, she used her obvious love of fashion (see our photos for evidence) to set up Committed Clothing Company in 2018.

“The clothing range is a statement for what you stand for and being a community of people with those real ideals of being kind. The dance students wear it as their uniform. Their friends see it and comment on it, and the word has just spread.” 

Committed Clothing Company’s leisure wear is not just for children. There are men’s, women’s and unisex ranges. The important thing is that when you purchase an item online, you also sign up to a pledge, known as The #Commitment, to encourage people to be kind to others and themselves. Read it…it’s simple but inspiring.

“People are also buying something that means something. I did not want to just sell loads of clothes to people who did not believe what it was about.” 

Now a mum of two (her daughter Ren is five years old), who she home-schooled through lockdown as her businesses ground to a halt, her fully subscribed dance classes have resumed as usual, there are new lines due to be added to her the Committed range, and she is energised to keep spreading the anti-bullying message.

“I just want people to be the best versions of themselves.”

Follow Rebecca here:

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