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When you think of luxury lingerie, sleepwear, and swimwear, La Perla is a brand that comes to the forefront of your mind. When you think fragrance, cosmetics, and body care, it’s not one you tend to think of. Yet, it should be as the brand has stepped into the world of luxury and mindful beauty.

Earlier this year, the Italian brand launched La Perla Beauty. By doing so they created beauty products with a conscience that are still luxurious and perfect for any dressing table.

Fragrances

La Perla Haute Perfumerie Collection follows the ethos that fragrances are deeply personal due to the memories they evoke. The La Perla fragrance collection is full of unique fragrances that ignite the senses. Each is presented in opulent glass bottles that are refillable; luxurious, and ecofriendly in one.

The ‘My Day’ fragrance has become a #TeamCoco favourite. A citrus and pink pepper opening lead into a heart of jasmine, iris, and orris. Before drying down to a base of tonka bean. Creating a sophisticated and warm yet subtle fragrance that lasts hours on the skin.

Bodycare

Sensual moments call for soft and sensually scented skin. La Perla has created a collection of body products that are as indulgent as they are beneficial. The range of shower gels, moisturisers, and serums all have a subtle scent that provides the perfect base for fragrance. The products are enriched with prebiotics for a healthy skin microbiome. The shower gel is slightly scented and deeply cleanses whilst hydrating your skin. The moisturizer nourishes the skin and leaves a slight sheen to the skin. The serum helps to firm the skin and absorbs quickly; perfect if you’re in a rush in the morning. If you’re looking for more intense hydration, the balm is ideal.. If you’re wearing silk, then silky skin is the perfect pairing.

Makeup

If you need new cosmetics and are looking for luxury, fragrance-free, clean and recyclable then La Perla Make-Up is definitely worth considering. A branch into mindful beauty in the luxury industry, ranging from lip products to mascara, the products are the perfect addition to any makeup bag, especially for simple beauty on the go that can instantly enhance your look.

“Curiosity means we are open to learning something new,” says founder Jacqueline Mozanowski as she tells us about the unique, introspective ethos that informs OBLIVIOUS? “Curiosity helps us grow and develop and to not get stuck in a routine that we might not even be entirely happy with, but to be an active participant in your own life. We seek to inspire others to ask themselves more questions, to understand themselves better, but also to ask others more questions.

OBLIVIOUS? was founded by mother and daughter duo Romi and Jacquie, who have, through endless phone calls between London and Germany, launched their own conscious fashion brand amid pandemic times. In many ways, OBLIVIOUS? is a brand that is perfect for the times we find ourselves in. One that does away with fast-fashion trends and instead challenges its wearers to look inwards, ask questions and reignite their curiosity for the world.

“We believe that as a brand with purpose, our message sets us apart from other brands,” Jacqueline adds. Our aim is to actually inspire people to ask more questions and be curious and for those who see our pieces to consider what their answer to the question would be… Questions and their power run throughout the whole brand, from our products to our packaging, as this is what we aim to inspire people with.”

Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your backgrounds – what inspired you to start OBLIVIOUS?

OBLIVIOUS? was founded by mother-daughter duo, Romi and Jacquie, from Stuttgart, Germany.

My mom Romi is originally from the Netherlands but has been living in Germany for a long time, working in interior design. Meanwhile, I’ve been living in the UK for several years, where I completed my BA and MsC.

My mom and I have always had a tight-knit relationship and this only grew stronger as I grew up. We also have very similar interests and tastes in fashion and design, which is one of the reasons we knew we’d successfully work together on OBLIVIOUS?

We are both naturally curious people and have always discussed potential ideas for businesses. Even when I was seven years old, we were already talking about ideas and how we could bring them to life. When I finished my studies and we were spending a lot of time together, we considered how powerful questions are in our lives and how they can impact us in a positive way.

Fashion has always been an interest of ours, but it also seemed to be a very potent platform to share the message of inspiring more curiosity and highlighting the positive power of questions. Fashion can also have an impact on our mood and help us express our identities.

We quickly decided that if we were to put anything new into the world, we would do it as responsibly and sustainably as possibly. With a brand ethos that prides itself on asking questions, we felt it was necessary to question the standard fashion cycle and try to do better. So, OBLIVIOUS? Is timely and reflective of what we want to put out into the world.

With mom still living in Germany and me in London, most of our work is done digitally or over the phone and we have divided many of the tasks and areas of work between each other. We do occasionally see each other in person, but this has been more difficult over the past year and a half.

I love the concept of the ‘positive power of questions’ how does this philosophy translate to your collections at OBLIVIOUS?

Questions and their power run throughout the whole brand, from our products to our packaging, as this is what we aim to inspire people with.

We try to incorporate the positive power of questions by using different questions on each of our products, either with a print or embroidery. Our range which currently consists of both men and women’s’ t-shirts, hoodies and long sleeves, everything is unisex.

All our products are premium basics designed by us, which often have a little twist so that they are more interesting than a standard hoodie. Each piece shines the light on the question, which is the focal point. We want our pieces to be comfortable but look fashionable enough to be worn from day to night.

OBLIVIOUS? has a strong sustainable ethos too – could you tell us more about the sustainability credentials of your range?

Sustainability has gained traction within the fashion industry in the past few years and has become more and more relevant and for good reason! Fashion is a very polluting industry and as a small brand, we wanted to add as little to that footprint as possible.

While some innovations aren’t available to small businesses just yet, there are many exciting projects out there that we can hopefully scale-up someday.

Our aim is to use as little plastic as possible. We avoid it as much as we can due to its polluting effect on our planet. We are also committed to using materials that don’t contain harmful toxins and are more water-efficient.

So far, we use 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton for all our products – the GOTS certification not only ensures our fabric’s sustainable origins and production processes, but it also guarantees that workers involved in the supply chain are ethically treated. We also use water-based inks without toxic chemicals for our prints and our labels are printed on the inside of our products to minimise excess fabrics.

We produce everything in Europe. Our new collection being produced in Portugal – not only because Portugal is a great manufacturing country for sustainable fashion, but also because it is in relative proximity to where our company is based, requiring less transport, and ensuring that employees are treated ethically.

We weave our sustainability mission throughout our whole brand, which is why all our packaging, including hangtags, are made from recycled and or recyclable paper and less harmful inks.

What is the best and worst thing about working together as mother and daughter?

Founding a company and going through the whole process together has added another layer to our relationship. We’ve learned many lessons together and shared our successes and worries with each other.

Working together means that we are in even more contact than before, which is lovely, but sometimes we only talk business and not much else. Having such similar tastes helps and when we do have differing opinions, we can discuss them and find a solution quite easily, as we trust each other and have a strong relationship.

The best thing about working together is learning and growing together and strengthening our relationship in a different way, but the worst thing is that sometimes it can be all about work too.

In your view – what sets OBLIVIOUS? apart from other fashion brands today?

We believe that as a brand with purpose, our message sets us apart from other brands. Our aim is to actually inspire people to ask more questions and be curious and for those who see our pieces to consider what their answer to the question would be. I believe that our basic, minimalist but updated designs make us more interesting fashion-wise.

Where do the inspirations for the questions printed on your products come from?

The inspiration is literally everywhere. When we first started, we started document where we keep all the questions we come up with or have come across and we continuously add to it. When it comes to choosing which ones to use, it comes down to what we believe is relevant, what suits the moment and the collection, and what we deem to be great questions. Whether they act as a reminder or truly ask that you think about something thoroughly.

Lockdown has been tough on our collective mental health. In your opinion, how do curiosity and inquisitiveness help people deal with the anxieties of the world in 2021?

A lot has changed in the last year and a half and there are also many other things happening in the world right now that can accelerate feelings of anxiety and more.

Curiosity means we are open to learning something new and openness leads to a more positive mindset and hopefulness. Curiosity helps us grow and develop and to not get stuck in a routine that we might not even be entirely happy with, but to be an active participant in your own life. We seek to inspire others to ask themselves more questions, to understand themselves better, but also to ask others more questions. Research shows that our relationships can be improved by asking more questions and it’s such an easy tool to show interest and create a closer bond with someone.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become GirlBosses like yourselves?

It is always scary whenever you do something you’ve never done before. Starting a business can seem daunting, but if you have an idea you believe in, you’ll want to do the best you can – so trust yourself that you will. You are capable of great things, if you put the work in, believe in yourself and take opportunities. Don’t shy away from asking for advice from others.

WWW.AREWEOBLIVIOUS.COM

Just like you, we want our clothes to make us feel as good as how we look. This is why we’re all about shining the light on the sustainable fashion brands that are changing the fashion scene, one consciously-made garment at a time.

Our Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies has rounded a few of our top eco-friendly shopping picks so you can maximise your trans-seasonal style and minimise your carbon footprint too.

Lyle & Scott

British knitwear brand Lyle & Scott, who hold a Royal Warrant for knitwear, has done an incredible job of modernising its range for the new age. Founded in Hawick Scotland 150 years ago, this heritage brand has a pretty cool womenswear line, made up of easy-to-wear, casual and contemporary leisurewear is made with 100% organic cotton.

Not only has Lyle & Scott made its way to our sustainable fashion radar, but it has also surely carved out a permanent spot in our pre-fall wardrobes too. Oh — and did we mention that Lyle & Scott has several cool collabs to watch out for too?

Inuikki

Sustainable luxury footwear brand INUIKKI offers a range of contemporary footwear that was designed in Switzerland and made in Europe. All of INUIKKI’s products are made with organic materials and balance form and function with timeless style. Whether you are comfy in a pair of classic sneakers or well-protected in a pair of all-terrain boots – you know that your Inuikki footwear is made to last.

Gaâla

Sustainable French brand Gaâla is a favourite of our Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies. This brand has just released a vintage-inspired capsule collection with model/photographer/artist Shirinita Altsohn which exudes that effortless French girl style and takes inspiration from some of the screen sirens of the Golden Age of Cinema. We like the Corinne Dress (inspired by Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Doris Day), the Lauren Skirt, (inspired by Lauren Bacall) and the Shirin dress, inspired by the glamorous gowns of the 1930s and 1940s.

Isabel Manns

Isabel Manns is all about bright, colourful and sustainable seasonless clothing. This contemporary womenswear brand has its home in Marylebone and is underpinned by designer Isabel’s own personal commitment to building a 100% circular fashion label. Most of the prints in Isabel Mann’s beautiful silk creations were painted by Isabel herself, taking inspiration from her parent’s garden and the natural world. We love the beautiful silk dresses, tops, and skirts – made in plenty of different fabrics that can be customised to suit your personal tastes too.

Emotional World Vintage

Emotional World Vintage gives a sustainable twist to your luxury handbag game. Emotional World creates one-of-a-kind luxury handbags made with natural and original Boro patchwork, hand-crafted with traditional ‘Sashiko’ stitching methods. Circular, sustainable and with a wonderfully raw aesthetic, no two bags are alike at Emotional World, ensuring a luxury purchase that even the world’s most prestigious fashion houses can’t provide

What goes into a name? For Syl( Yanling Sha) the story behind the name of her fashion brand ‘Rue Agthonis’ started with a revolutionary moment in her life. What started as an unfortunate incident, wherein Syl lost her first collection in Paris, became the inspiration for her to kickstart her fashion dreams. That very street ‘Rue Agathonis’ became the first chapter of the Rue Agthonis brand – a testament to Syl’s distinctive vision and sheer commitment to view even the most tragic moments as opportunities for creation.

“The story behind my brand name comes from a personal and revolutionary moment in my life,” she says. “Although it was terrible at the time, I viewed it as a new opportunity for me to start my own brand, and I wanted to take something from the experience for the rebirth of my collections.”

While only a three-year-old brand, Rue Agthonis has already made significant waves in the fashion industry. Rue Agthonis debuted its classical oil-painting-inspired fall line at Shanghai Fashion Week, with an intimate showing planned on the official London Fashion Week schedule this September. Despite the challenges of the last year, Syl is determined to inspire women to make every moment special with fashion. To her, dressing up is the equivalent of ‘loving yourself well,’ and we certainly agree.

In this interview, our Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies sits down with Syl and talks about the fateful moment that inspired her fashion brand, the ethereal inspirations for her latest collection and fashion’s power to transform a woman and make every moment feel precious.

Rue Agthonis is such a unique name – can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?

There is a cunning meaning behind the creation of the name ‘Rue Agthonis,’ which stems from a street in the South of France. The story behind my brand name comes from a personal and revolutionary moment in my life.

I was in France in the train station on Rue Agathonis, where I lost my suitcase which had my first collection in it. Although it was terrible at the time, I viewed it as a new opportunity for me to start my own brand, and I wanted to take something from the experience for the rebirth of my collections. I found the name Rue Agathonis so enticing whereas in French, ‘rue’ means ‘street’ and I removed the second ‘a’ from the road Agathonis which turned into ‘Agthonis.’ This was the beginning of my fashion dream and I wanted to include this part of my experience in the creation of my brand.

Rue Agthonis is only a three-year-old brand, but you have already been asked to participate in some of the fashion world’s most prestigious shows. What has been the biggest milestone?

Thank you for the kind words! Although we try not to set ourselves milestones — as we don’t want to limit our creativity or potential as a young brand — we’re very proud of the work we’ve done this year. On the 10th of April, we debuted our AW21 Collection at Shanghai Fashion Week and worked hard to produce an incredible collection and show. From the products, styling, and the entire show’s production, we spent lots of time and effort to create a cohesive show. I feel the proudest and satisfied about this achievement, especially with the warm reception it received on social media.

If you could describe the Rue Agthonis aesthetic in three words, what would they be?

Love, quality, and positive beauty

Tell us more about your latest collection – what are the inspirations behind it and what is your favourite piece?

The inspiration for the Rue Agthonis 2021 line was born from classical oil paintings. We integrated oil painting techniques with clothing production, and injected gorgeous contrasting colours, changing winding lines, and complex romantic decorative elements into the collection.

Costume design and classical oil painting are both artistic forms of expression, and when paired together they construct a unique aesthetic space full of colour, light and shade, lines, and texture. We hope that through the incitement of sensations, the aesthetics of clothing will be closer to the pursuit of sensory joy in the world: a desire for sweetness, the pursuit of happiness, whilst rejecting frugality.

The fringed ankle-length coat is my favourite garment from this season. This style uses sophisticated tweed fabrics, where traditional tweed is woven with a fringed texture, like hand-woven raffia, finished with layers of fringed embellishments.

The large tassels caress the ankles, creating movement and soft rustles with each step, transforming every woman who wears it into the centre of attention at all walks of life.

During the last year, everyone swapped high-heels for sweatpants because of COVID. Do you think now is the right time to reintroduce glamour into our wardrobes?

I believe that they’re comparable. In such a special time, the emotions and encounters between people have become more precious and unique. Taking this into consideration, we want to remind women that every moment is precious, whether it be a family gathering or cocktail evening, and every moment can be embellished by dressing up. It’s never a bad thing to make yourself feel special, when you please yourself, you deliver the message of “love yourself well.”

What’s next for you? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

In the second half of this year, we plan to host a small event in the official schedule of London Fashion Week. At the same time, we will continue to run our fashion show at Shanghai Fashion Week. We look forward to seeing the two projects in parallel.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become GirlBosses like yourselves?

In addition to professionalism at work, you can also fun into your work environment when setting work goals, so that in moments of success you can relax and revel in the process of completing your goals.

WWW.RUEAGTHONIS.COM

“Since the beginning I’ve always strived to achieve the impossible,” says Yoanny Garcia when looking back on the early days of launching her eponymous bag brand.

Yoanny Garcia, the brand, is classic, elegant and unique — much like its founder, who has made it her mission to showcase the bold style and vibrant hues of the Dominican Republic on the global fashion stage.

“It is my pride as a Dominican and my mission to represent my country in the fashion world on the global stage,” Yoanny says. “It’s always been integral for me to empower the “Made in D.R” label. It is my vision to develop high-quality handmade products in partnership with local artisans, who have worked in my studio since my day one.

In conversation with Yoanny Garcia, we talk about the inspirations behind her colourful bags, the importance of supporting of local artisans and how her ‘works of art’ can help women feel their most authentic selves wherever they go.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. What inspired you to start your own accessories brand?

I studied Business Administration in the Dominican Republic and then years later I did my master’s degree in International Management in Madrid. Ever since I was a little girl, fashion has always been my biggest passion. I made the decision to start my very own fashion brand when I lived in Madrid. All my friends told me that they admired my style and the bags that I made for myself and that I should start selling them, and so that’s what I did. In 2014 I officially launched my dream project, my Yoanny Garcia brand. My first collection was ‘Let’s Play’ and they were only clutches. It was undoubtedly one of the proudest moments of my life.

If you could describe the Yoanny Garcia aesthetic in three words, what would they be and why?

Classic, elegant and unique.

In what ways does your Dominican culture and heritage influence your designs?

The influence goes beyond my culture. It is my pride as a Dominican and my mission to represent my country in the fashion world on the global stage. It’s always been integral for me to empower the “Made in D.R” label. It is my vision to develop high-quality handmade products in partnership with local artisans, who have worked in my studio since my day one.

For me it goes both ways, I have helped the Dominican artisan community and they have helped make my brand come to life by producing truly amazing products. My country has strong colours, culture, and vibrations that the world needs to see it!

Transparency and sustainability are core to your ethics as a brand. How do you as a brand owner/designer balance profit and purpose?

Yoanny Garcia is a regulated brand, and we strictly follow Dominican regulations by showing everything that happens behind the scenes in the most transparent way.

On the sustainability side, I’m very proud to say that all my pieces are 90% handmade (sometimes even higher) and we are committed to preserving the environment that brings us such amazing raw materials.

Here at Yoanny Garcia, we thrive everyday learning about new materials and techniques so the process of making a bag becomes more and more environmentally-friendly. One of our latest innovations is incorporating natural cork in our bags, and it really looks amazing! We also make donations to different foundations and give back once to our tight-knit Dominican community.

Last year, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic chaos, we started selling dominoes made with our bag acrylic and all the profit went to Save the Children Foundation directly helping pregnant women and mothers affected by the crisis.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome as an entrepreneur so far?

The biggest challenge I’ve overcome is becoming an entrepreneur. It’s a lot of work and sacrifice and it’s been especially hard with the COVID-19 crisis. Because of the pandemic, everything went south with the fashion industry, sales slowed down, and it became very difficult to maintain my business and protect my partners.

As a businesswoman, I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to stay afloat during this difficult period. It’s been a long and challenging road and it still is to this day. I know it will keep being that way forever, but this business is where I found true happiness, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Tell us about your latest collection. What are the inspirations behind it, and do you have a favourite piece?

My two latest collections are called ‘Regina’ and ‘Abby’ with new modifications and colourways. The launch of ‘Colette’ was also a total hit! I get inspired by everything, a texture, a colour, or a feeling. It could be something I see or a combination of everything and for me that’s the beauty of art.

Seeing the final product with my team after countless trials is the best feeling in the world. For me, it’s impossible to choose a favourite piece, they are like my daughters! But I can say that the YG Ladies favourites are Teresa, Camellia, Abby, and Colette these days. I can’t wait for the launch of our next collection! There are many exciting things coming for the brand.

In your opinion, what sets Yoanny Garcia from other fashion brands in the market today?

Since the beginning I’ve always strived to achieve the impossible. I like to create different and unique pieces that I know my YG Ladies will love. I envision that when they enter any room, they will turn heads just so people can see the piece of art they are wearing. My pieces perfectly complementing their whole outfit and presence. For me, I don’t sell just a fashion piece, I create and sell feelings, exclusivity, and the magic of being your true, authentic self wherever you go, with a piece that represents you and your personality.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?

Start and don’t ever stop. If it is your dream, go for it because if you don’t do it, no one will do it for you. Be your own boss and stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. Organise yourself and don’t get distracted or discouraged by others. You got this babe.

WWW.YGYOANNYGARCIA.COM

According to Harvey Broadbent, Founder & CEO of sustainable and truly inspirational fashion brand Positive Outlook Clothing, “you should always start with purpose and let your product follow.”

From a very young age, Harvey started with purpose, living a life surrounded by positive energy and encouragement which he now shares with others through Positive Outlook Clothing.

Purpose is everything for Harvey, and this rings true for his company which foregoes fast-fashion trends and instead inspires people to look inward, giving them the right clothes to live their best, most confident lives. Positive Outlook Clothing has people at heart and planet in mind and offers stylish, evergreen pieces that can go from day to night and are made to last.

“We create quality-crafted clothing that focuses on the wearer and helps them to shine and feel their best,” Harvey says. “Clothing that helps you feel and be the best version of yourself every day.”

“Each and every time a customer sees or wears an item of our clothing, it gives a small boost, a smile, a push in the right direction and acts as a symbol of like-minded, forward-thinking, positive people.”

It makes sense then, that for Harvey, profits aren’t the be all and end all for his company. Instead, he seeks something much more valuable – and that is to share his truly inspiring positive mindset with the world, one sustainably made garment at a time.

We sit down with Harvey to talk about his early forays into design, balancing profit and purpose and his goal to build a family of positive-minded people looking to change the world.

“Our motto is ‘people at heart, planet in mind’ and this rings true all the way through our company foundations… Success for me is measured by the impact you have, the love in your heart and the legacy you leave behind… not the numbers on your bank balance!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start Positive Outlook Clothing?

My name is Harvey Broadbent and I guess you could say I was born and raised in the midlands surrounded by creativity and positivity. With the family on my mum’s side all in motorsport engineering, and the family on my dad’s side was in fabrication, upholstery, and carpentry I was destined for a world in design.

My childhood was full of positive reassurance and the general push to ‘try anything’. Our family was not afraid of failure and instead praised it, as long as you gave it your all and regardless, learned from the outcome. Although my passion began in fine arts, I had the standard concerns of “you won’t make any money,” stressed to me by my teachers and friends alike.

To keep the creativity alive, I chose to explore the world of product design with a bachelor’s degree at Bournemouth University in 2008. This was where I gained an insight into each and every stage involved in taking a product from concept to life and my sense for sustainable design was born. Little did I know that this life of positive encouragement and desire to create would drive me to build a company with people at heart and planet in mind.

We love the mantra of “A positive outlook garment is a positive mindset.” From design to production and marketing – how does this ethos inspire your business?

We create quality-crafted clothing that focuses on the wearer and helps them to shine and feel their best. We don’t cater to high street fashion and exotic trends; we look a little further inward into one’s mindset and inner confidence. Clothing that helps you feel and be the best version of yourself every day.

Each chance encounter and shared moment creates a unique opportunity for a transference of positive energy, wisdom, and culture. Each time a customer sees or wears an item of our clothing, it gives a small boost, a smile, a push in the right direction and acts as a symbol of like-minded, forward-thinking, positive people. These are the foundations we stand upon in every aspect of our business and will continue to as we look to grow as a Positive Outlook family.

In your opinion, what sets Positive Outlook Clothing apart from other fashion brands in the market today?

Sustainability, transparency, and accessibility. We have been working in the world of sustainability for over eight years. We’ve made mistakes, tackled controversy, and sailed through the smoke and mirrors that exist within the fashion industry and business world.

We take nothing at face value and instead strive to see first-hand the people and processes involved at every stage of production. For example, over the past 4 years, we have worked with one family-run manufacturer for all our clothing, and we couldn’t be happier about it. We know every member of staff working there at every process, we know where our fibres come from and the energy it takes to turn those natural fibres into fabrics for you to wear and feel fantastic in. This approach allows us to share this information confidently and honestly with our customers.

With fashion being one of the biggest pollutants, sustainability in the fashion industry is more important than ever. In what ways does Positive Outlook Clothing promote conscious consumerism?

Coming from a product design background, for me sustainable design is not a gimmick, marketing ploy or USP, it’s just ‘the way it should be’ and a sign of good wholesome design. This follows through to the type and styling of the clothing we produce – quality everyday essentials.

As a company, we promote a minimal lifestyle, producing quality made items that fit and feel amazing, styled to look as good at the bar with friends or out on your morning run. We aren’t focused on launching elaborate ranges or hitting those high-street trends. A Positive Outlook item is an everyday item that will last. Our botanical fabrics and fibres work with your body, aiding movement, allowing your skin to breathe while being durable and stylish to suit any

surrounding.

As a business owner with such strong ethical foundations, how do you balance profit and purpose?

Our motto is ‘people at heart, planet in mind’ and this rings true all the way through our company foundations. I have no dreams of incredible riches but rather to succeed as a company, to reach our goals and build a family of like-minded ambitious people that are living the life they want to live and positively impacting as many people as they can while doing it. Success for me is measured by the impact you have, the love in your heart and the legacy you leave behind… not the numbers on your bank balance!

What’s next for you? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

Where do I start! I’d say out of everything we have going on now, I am most excited about the podcast concept we are currently creating as a company. The podcast we’re launching will ultimately be an extension of our heart, championing various youth organisations across the country, starting local to us.

We will be sharing the amazing work they do, breaking down the challenges/stereotypes they and their members face and chatting 1-2-1 with the inspiring young people these organisations work with.

We have 6-7 projects lined up so far at different stages and already each conversation we’ve had has been eye-opening and powerful to say the least! Keep your ears peeled and eyes open for this one…

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own fashion brand?

Start with purpose and let your product follow.

www.positiveoutlookclothing.com

“Creativity was always the road I wanted to take in terms of work and mixing this with a passion for crystals felt like the perfect medium to combine the two,” said Full Moon Designs Founder Carole Mourier as she looks back on the inspirations that led to her starting her own jewellery brand.

Full Moon Designs is a boutique jewellery shop that offers truly unique accessories. In fact, no two pieces are alike and according to Carole, each crystal has its own story to tell.”

“One of the things I love about making jewellery is that designs are endless, and a single stone can make a product different to the next, “ she says. “The beauty of having complete artistic freedom is the ability to start with a particular idea and end up with a completely different but equally attractive design.”

We sit down with Carole and talk about the biggest challenges and rewards of starting your own business, the beauty of pursuing your creative freedom, the healing power of crystals, how to support independent businesses and why now could be the best time to take the leap and start your own business too.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background – what inspired you to start Full Moon Designs?

After leaving France, I travelled for a few years and came to the UK only intending to stay for a short period of time. I started various art courses and then studied jewellery design for three years.

After studying various techniques and styles I wanted to be in control of my own creativity and designs, which inspired me to start my own business and launch my store in Brixton Village. I feel that I have complete freedom of expression in order for my designs to flow.

Creativity was always the road I wanted to take in terms of work and mixing this with a passion for crystals felt like the perfect medium to combine the two.

What made you fall in love with jewellery design – and why did you decide to work with natural stones?

Since a very young age, I was always interested in art and jewellery. When travelling, I was fascinated by the jewellery women were wearing, especially tribal jewellery as they hold a sense of history and ancient traditions. Working with natural stones which have a unique shape and texture, I centre my designs around the crystal itself paying a lot of attention to colours also as they play an important role in the composition of a piece.

One of the things I love about making jewellery is that designs are endless, and a single stone can make a product different to the next. I am also interested in the healing side of crystals which is an important part of my jewellery business. The beauty of having complete artistic freedom is the ability to start with a particular idea and end up with a completely different but equally attractive design.

What do you think sets Full Moon Designs apart from other jewellery brands today?

What sets Full Moon Designs apart, is the versatility of the designs from the small and delicate to the big and bold, different shapes, styles and each piece being unique.

One of the key differentiators of Full Moon Designs is that no two pieces are alike.

Could you tell us more about this and why you believe that “each piece has a story to tell?”

When making jewellery, I never think of doing two pieces alike as I feel each crystal deserves its own design. Each piece is a representation of a shape which often has a meaning.

For example, geometric shapes are fascinating as they have a connection with everything from natural occurring organisms to everyday man-made objects. Organic shapes are also interesting as they often represent nature and the unique flow of life. Crystals can combine these two factors with almost perfect geometry seen in certain crystals such as quartz or a raw uniqueness of a Lapis Lazuli. They can also enhance this as they bring meaning in a physical and spiritual way, so the result is always positive.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome as a businesswoman?

As a businesswoman, one of the biggest challenges has been raising a family, not giving up designing and making jewellery. I’ve always felt that expectations from society as a mother were not always the ones, I had of myself.

It was difficult at times to even feel inspired but took a lot from these experiences and I now look back on these periods of time and feel proud that the business survived. The other thing is a lot of businesses I deal with in terms of supply, materials etc… often do not have enough women as owners.

What advice do you have for our readers who want to show their support for independent businesses like yours amid the COVID-19 crisis?

This last year has been extremely challenging for all businesses but especially small businesses like mine. I believe it is crucial that people support small independents like myself, not only to help us survive and create but also to make the world of retail more diverse, unique and interesting.

During the pandemic most small businesses have now gone online so there are opportunities to shop from independent retailers, but the experience of entering a small shop or boutique and having a face to face interaction with someone will never be replicated through a laptop or a phone. Especially for artists like myself where customers can come in, browse and see the jewellery, enquire about it, it brings a personal touch! We can all transcend this situation as long as people think that we bring them value and something different.

What advice do you have for our readers who want to become a Girl Boss like yourself?

I think it is a very good time for women who want to start their own business as a lot of people have had time to evaluate their life and maybe want to change and have a different experience with new values and new outcomes.

There is a huge reward to being your own boss with the benefits and the responsibilities that it incurs and brings infinite rewards to create something that brings value to others. A lot of women think it is too scary to start a new business now but if you have an idea then why not try? As we are in a time of change, it might actually be the perfect opportunity. I have found that since last year that there has been an awakening and a new awareness in the way a lot of customers want to shop, bringing hope to all small businesses.

“Balancing between being an artist and being a businesswoman, I would say I am more of the first,” says Claire Fleury who talks us through the early days of her career and dishes out the details of her latest sustainable and genre-bending collection, ‘Kaleidoscope.’

Claire started out in theatre before getting involved with the New York fashion scene in the 1980s. What started as designing small collections here and there, soon gave way to a stellar career in the fashion industry. One look at any of Claire’s pieces and you’ll instantly see her own personality reflected back at you. Bold, colourful, subversive and always, always avant-garde.

In this interview, we sit down with Claire and talk about her inspirations, the state of the fashion world through her eyes and the hodgepodge of projects she has upcoming. And if there was one thing that we came away with, it’s that Claire is on top of her creative game and we can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start your eponymous fashion line?

I’ve always been inspired by fashion, mostly the avant-garde kind, but I never thought to start designing clothes myself. I come from the European theatre scene, and when I moved to NYC almost ten years ago, I transformed my performing arts career into making costumes and outfits for nightlife performers and dance companies in New York. From there I started making small collections, selling at Patricia Field — who was most known for styling Sex & The City, but has some designer fashion stores in NYC since the 80s — and later at groovy pop-up shops all over NYC. My designs were also available in SoHo retail stores, art galleries, nightclubs and even the Brooklyn museum.

Tell us about your ‘Kaleidoscope’ collection. What’s the story behind it?

The collection is based on the specific cuts of motocross gear and is entirely made of surplus fabrics. These fabrics are left over from my own studio’s earlier collections, as well as small pieces of fabric donated by designers leaving town due to COVID-19.

I called it Kaleidoscope, as a reflection of how scattered our lives are right now, and how we might need to protect ourselves with armour. However, the ‘soft armour play suits’ as I call them, are made from lace and mesh and faux fur and sequins…. So, they are another kind of armour altogether. One to have some fun with!

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a businesswomen so far?

Balancing between being an artist and being a businesswoman, I would say I am more of the first.

What are your thoughts on virtual fashion shows, and do you believe the fashion world will go back to a physical runway format soon?

I think a virtual show is better than no show! It is obviously a different format but if you treat it as such, it can be its own medium. I believe we do love live performances and will get back to that as soon as it is safe to do so.

What’s next for you? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

Always! I’m working on a few things simultaneously (also always). The first is a new collection which is called After Party. These are pieces that we would want to wear after the pandemic is over

Second, I’m designing a small line of garments with a fabric print I am obsessively drawing right now.

It is a modern take on a traditional French ‘toile’ and is based on a photoshoot that my partner/photographer Cash Levi Exum and I did in the park with some of our favourite models….

Finally, I am also thinking of designing a collection based on 1970’s women in rock, there’s just not enough time in a day!

What advice do you have for women who would like to become GirlBosses like yourselves?

Hmm. Listen to and trust your own voice, but also learn from the people you admire. Oh, and take your best friends advice: they know you best!

A thousand miles may stand between designer sister duo Lizbeth and Gianella Cevallos, but it certainly hasn’t stopped them from taking over the fashion world with their sustainable denim brand, Glim Studios.

“Glim Studios is all about celebrating style, creativity and personalisation,” Lizbeth and Gianella say. “We saw an opportunity to reinvent denim as a sustainable and ethical brand.”

Glim Studios offers high-quality denim garments, made from sustainably and ethically-sourced materials in small, locally-produced quantities. It is a denim brand with heart and one that stands firmly against the consumerism of the fashion industry.

In this interview, we sit down with Lizbeth and Gianella and talk all things fashion, the best and worst things about starting a business with your sister, and how Glim Studios is changing the fast-fashion tide, one impeccably made denim garment at time.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start Glim Studios?

Lizbeth and Gianella: We were born and raised in Ecuador and grew up inspired in all the pop culture from the 90’s and the last of the 80’s, including art, architecture and music from the era.

Lizbeth is a Fashion designer, and Gianella is an Industrial engineer. We both love to travel and explore new cultures and moved oversees to live our dreams. Lizbeth lives in Madrid, Spain. Gianella lives in Miami, US.

Lizbeth: I went to study Fashion Design in Barcelona, and then moved to Madrid to work and study. I did an MBA in Fashion Management, and then a Master’s in digital business and Innovative Technology.

Gianella: I graduated as an Industrial Engineer in Ecuador and then moved to California to study an Applications Programming (Computer Science), and Design Communication Arts, then a Master’s in international business in Florida.

Even though we live in opposite sides of the world. We share the same values and found common ground by sharing the dream of creating a brand that reflects both, and their beliefs, founding Glim Studios in 2019.

2. What is the best and worst thing about working together as sisters? Why did you decide to focus on denim?

There isn’t a worst thing about working together because we really enjoy working together as sisters and business partners. It’s an exciting adventure for both us, a true discovery.

We know each other well enough to recognise our strengths and weaknesses in order to support each other. We may disagree, but then find a way to see each other’s perspectives. Most of the time we ended up combining our ideas. From the business point of view, we try to use every advantage to make things work in the best way possible.

We live in different countries, with different time zones and thousands of miles between us. This poses many challenges, but the passion and the dream we share for Glim Studios helps us overcome them.

We decided to focus on denim because we love denim. We saw an opportunity to reinvent denim as a sustainable and ethical brand. We decided to work very close with our partners to develop denim garments with the lowest impact on the production cycle and find ways to recycle the leftovers materials by only making limited quantities of each style. This is the quality of clothing we like to wear, and we want to share it with others.

We went one step forward by bringing the opportunity to customise our customer’s denim items using patches and pins from our ‘Customisation Bar.’ This makes every item more special and unique. At Glim Studios, we celebrate style, creativity and personalisation.

3. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as businesswomen so far?

The global pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced as businesswomen. We’d never imagined that almost four months after we officially launched Glim Studios in November 2019, that we would be facing a global pandemic which has been lifechanging for everyone. The first three years of any fashion label are crucial and so we approached the situation in the best way we could, reinventing and adapting to changes we were facing with our community and our customers.

It was hard, but we have managed to keep learning from every little thing that was and is still happening around us. We are very lucky that we are a small business that can make changes fast and reinvent easily.

4. What difficulties do you face as a sustainable and ethical fashion brand?

As a sustainable and ethical fashion brand we believe fashion can be a force for good, and a vehicle for change. Nonetheless, on this path we have faced many difficulties on every level such as:

Finding the right partners. It has been a real challenge to find responsible businesses. Not just any person, or company, but certified businesses that support sustainable and ethical production with transparency. At the same time, partners that can provide us flexibility to order limited quantities.

Some of our styles come in very limited stock because we need to satisfy our suppliers, and at the same time, we try to maintain our sustainable ethos because we know that’s the best way.

Another difficulty has been to inform and reach our customers to explain why our garments have the value they have. We make high quality items, focused on detail, and responsibly-sourced materials, which turns our operations into more costly processes.

And finally, our surplus (items from past collections, and material from past collections), have always been in a part of our plans. So, we try to minimize them from production and reuse them in future collections. This part of a planning process and this takes time.

The contradiction is that we produce for consumption even when we do produce limited quantities. We recognise how this inherently contradicts the current fashion industry which thrives from newness and consumption. So, we are committed to making better choices every day across the business. Every small action matters.

On this front, we decided to work with small factories, most of them family-owned, where we are able to watch each piece be made. We have seen and met the workers who are hardworking people that create each piece of clothing for Glim Studios.

5. “Glim Studios is all about style, creativity and personalisation.” Tell us more about this ethos and what sets Glim Studios apart from other brands in the market today?

When we refer to Glim Studios ethos, we wanted it to represent young people at heart. We want to celebrate style, creativity and personalisation because we believe everyone is different and that make this life so wonderful. We believe that what sets Glim Studios apart from other brands today is that we don’t categorise ourselves and we welcome everyone, every individual.

We celebrate being different, being unique, we celebrate style and with it comes creativity and personalisation.

We create unisex pieces where our customer decides how they will wear each item. We produce limited quantities which means every style is unique in their own way. Beyond that, we also have our ‘customization bar’ where you have the opportunity to customise your pieces by adding patches and pins with freedom because we want to empower uniqueness and authenticity.

6. What’s next for you? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

That a good question! For sure, we will keep working hard and dreaming big with Glim Studios. We are very focused on the things we want to achieve and explore with the brand, for us there’s no limit so we are 100% excited for what’s to come. We have been working non-stop in a few projects all related to the brand that will come to light later this year.

7. What advice do you have for women who would like to become successful entrepreneurs like yourselves?

The best advice we could give any women out there fighting for their dreams is the same we received from our parents from the very beginning: Work hard, be consistent and believe in yourself and your dreams with all your heart and never take anything for granted. It may take a while to see the results you always dreamed of, just remember ‘the day you plant the seed it’s not the day you eat the fruit’, be patient and keep working hard.

Now that parks are the new restaurants and romance is strictly prohibited to the great outdoors, we’re finding new ways to ramp up our winter-walk style this Valentine’s Day.

If you still haven’t found THE gift for your beau, then our editors have hand-picked some timeless and functional pieces to impress even the most discerning outdoorsman.

  1. Dark denim Jeans by Spoke available at www.spoke-london.com
  2. Submersible Goldtech OroCarbo 44mm Watch by Panerai available at https://www.panerai.com/
  3. Green 1460 Smooth Leather Ankle Boots by Dr. Martens available at https://www.drmartens.com/
  4. Fair isle Crewneck Jumper by Barbour available at https://www.barbour.com/uk/
  5. Bulletproof Trousers by Spoke available at www.spoke-london.com
  6. Brown Corduroy Jacket by Levi’s Made and Crafted available at https://www.levi.com/
  7. Black Roll Top Bag by Stubble & Co available at https://stubbleandco.com/
  8. Black Leather Washbag by Bennett Winch available at https://www.bennettwinch.com/
  9. OS Baffle Gilet by Barbour available at https://www.barbour.com/uk/