Bestie's Story
This is Ava Morton-Cutt, aka ‘Bestie’. The story behind Bestie’s Bags began in 2025 when Ava made a dozen delightful crochet bags as gifts for some of her best friends.
Not only did Ava really enjoy the process, as she is super creative and has a keen eye for fashion, she also found bag making an excellent way to carry out some of the daily physiotherapy exercises which are super important to maintaining and maximising movements in her hands, elbows and shoulders.
The bags were loved so much that, through word of mouth, she became inundated with requests for more.
When Unloc’s Spark Tank youth entrepreneurship program visited Ava’s college inviting applications for business grants, she was inspired. The bags were a natural choice, coupled with her love of designing jewellery, she decided to combine them with trendy bag charms and the idea for Bestie’s Bags was born.
Ava was incredibly proud to successfully win full grant funding, beating some stiff competition in the process. She hopes her tenacity and creativity will inspire others into entrepreneurship, regardless of having a disability.
Ava is affected by the rare genetic disorder Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. MLD is devastating condition which destroys the nervous system and, if left untreated, typically results in death in childhood. However, thanks to a ground-breaking clinical trial in Milan in 2014, Ava’s disease has stabilised and she is living a happy, healthy life, including attending college and launching Bestie’s Bags!
Ava is keen to donate a percentage of all profits to ArchAngel MLD Trust, a registered charity which helps other children suffering from the same disease and which was established in her honour.
Bestie's Story
This is Ava Morton-Cutt, aka ‘Bestie’. The story behind Bestie’s Bags began in 2025 when Ava made a dozen delightful crochet bags as gifts for some of her best friends.
Not only did Ava really enjoy the process, as she is super creative and has a keen eye for fashion, she also found bag making an excellent way to carry out some of the daily physiotherapy exercises which are super important to maintaining and maximising movements in her hands, elbows and shoulders.
The bags were loved so much that, through word of mouth, she became inundated with requests for more.
When Unloc’s Spark Tank youth entrepreneurship program visited Ava’s college inviting applications for business grants, she was inspired. The bags were a natural choice, coupled with her love of designing jewellery, she decided to combine them with trendy bag charms and the idea for Bestie’s Bags was born.
Ava was incredibly proud to successfully win full grant funding, beating some stiff competition in the process. She hopes her tenacity and creativity will inspire others into entrepreneurship, regardless of having a disability.
Ava is affected by the rare genetic disorder Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. MLD is devastating condition which destroys the nervous system and, if left untreated, typically results in death in childhood. However, thanks to a ground-breaking clinical trial in Milan in 2014, Ava’s disease has stabilised and she is living a happy, healthy life, including attending college and launching Bestie’s Bags!
Ava is keen to donate a percentage of all profits to ArchAngel MLD Trust, a registered charity which helps other children suffering from the same disease and which was established in her honour.
