:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/D54SGLAWANRF7DGFJJMMJSTERM.jpg)
A clothes maker for the healthcare sector has secured €665,000 in funding, it said on Monday, facilitating its expansion into the US market.
Theya Healthcare raised the funds from private investors in addition to Enterprise Ireland and intends to create four new jobs as a result.
The company is known for its post-surgery lingerie range, designed primarily for use by breast cancer patients, which currently retails across Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US.
Theya also signed a deal with the Greenhealth Exchange, a US purchasing co-operative which sources high quality products for its members. The move will see Theya become a preferred supplier to 11 US healthcare systems including Mayo Clinic.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EV4WDQDGEJCYGWYIK6BSTXS5LA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/FQ6XP5OCITRBJS74Q2AUHEHJLE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/D2PMMPKEY5W2AUKJC77JY6KLOA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/4HDZCNAFYAEGOALXXR6G3DMNVM.jpg)
Launched in 2015, Theya uses a fabric mix made from bamboo, a material it says is ideal for post-operative products as it is anti-bacterial, breathable, 59 per cent more absorbent than cotton and extremely soft.
Chief executive Ciara Donlon said the funding will allow for the company's expansion into the US and "coincides nicely with our range becoming available on Walmart. com later this month".
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/9bc8a699-d948-478d-b026-5aa3ac069fdd.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/VR3765MFOBH2NMV2QNICYDF67M.png)