Farnaz Khan was on a mission to lose weight for a family wedding, but despite diet and exercise she found that stubborn pockets of fat just wouldn’t budge.

Fed-up and frustrated, the Bradford mum-of-four explored other ways of shedding the pounds – and came across a link between heat and weight loss.

“I started experimenting. It all started with clingfilm and big knickers but as you can imagine it wasn’t very practical,” smiles Farnaz.

“There were strange noises coming from around me – yes, it was the clingfilm – so I started looking at the idea of applying heat into a pair of pants.”

So it was that Farnaz went on to invent Fit Britches, a range of clothing to help slimmers lose inches, reduce signs of cellulite and aid skin elasticity.

Farnaz initially created the pants for herself, but soon they were being snapped up by friends and family, and now she runs a thriving business selling Fit Britches shapewear online. Her website has received 200,000 hits since launching in January.

The clothing range includes shorts, knickers, leggings and tops and is designed to wear to the gym, the office or at home. The shapewear was featured on ITV’s This Morning as the ‘top fashion pick’ by The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins.

“I created the product for myself but when people commented on my weight loss I found I was accidentally creating a demand for it. I kept getting approached by family and friends wanting to know what my slimming secret was,” says Farnaz, who has dropped from a dress size 14 to a size 8.

“I used to hate having my picture taken. Now I’m a lot happier without the excess weight, it has done wonders for my confidence,” she adds. “Achieving a good weight and size also takes years off you. I often find myself having to convince people that I’m a 33-year-old mum of four!”

Despite having no background in technology, Farnaz carried out some research on the synergy between heat and weight loss. “When you think about it, exercising is all about heating your core body temperature which, in layman’s terms, increases micro circulation and metabolism that leads to weight loss,” she says.

Through her invention, Farnaz has drawn on her family heritage. “My family have been in the textile trade for generations and my background is in marketing and innovation,” she says.

“Fit Britches work through using an innovative fibre and knitting. The special yarn is the key ingredient. It emits heat when it comes into contact with the skin – but not enough to be noticed by the wearer – and improves metabolism, blood flow and leads to stimulation of the body’s lymphatic draining system to ‘melt away’ toxins and fat.”

The product was tested on 50 women, aged 20 to 60, all overweight and with sedentary lifestyles, who wore the pants for eight hours a day over 60 days, without a change in diet or lifestyle.

According to the study, the results after 60 days, on an average loss basis, were 5in from the waist, 3in from the hips, 3in from the bottom and 4in from the thighs.

The results show a 92 per cent higher skin-blood microcirculation, eight per cent more skin elasticity, 11 per cent improved cellulite signs, nine per cent more collagen synthesis, 51 per cent better thermoregulation and 33 per cent lower lactate accumulation.

Farnaz recommends wearing Fit Britches as part of a healthy regime, incorporating diet and exercise.

Based in Little Germany, she launched corporate brand 8London, specialising in high technology apparel, to support her Fit Britches shapewear.

But as demand grew, so did her need for external business advice, and she approached Rising Stars. Jointly provided by Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce, the service offers support and assistance with securing grants for businesses with high potential.

It is part of the Council’s Business and Enterprise Programme, helping people become self-employed, and assists new and established businesses.

When Rising Stars stepped in, a business adviser supported Farnaz in finding new premises, and is now working with her on developing a business plan.

“I have lots of plans for the future,” says Farnaz. “Rising Stars helps me organise my ambitions and develop structured plans to get myself and the company there. It helps us control the growth of the company, instead of it controlling us.

“Bradford is a hotspot for entrepreneurism but until Rising Stars there was very little support available for businesses that were growing fast and exceeding expectations. My aim is that as the business grows, we can bring manufacturing back home to Yorkshire.”

Rising Stars business services manager Carolyn Coleman says: “Farnaz is a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit we have in Bradford, and her success with Fit Britches is a testament to the support and advice available to those who want it.”

Bradford Council leader Councillor David Green adds: “Fit Britches is already making waves, there are no limits on what it can achieve. I’m looking forward to seeing this business grow and bring even more jobs to the district.”

For more information, visit fitbritches.com or rising-stars.biz.