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#GBOGB – Kelly Levell, We do Ethical

Sustainable and ethically-sourced fashion is close to our hearts here at #TeamCoco and we are always looking to find UK entrepreneurs who champion this industry. Kelly Levell of We Do Ethical is the perfect example of this, not only does she run her own successful sustainability consultancy, she also is the girl boss behind We Do Ethical’s Not-For-Profit organisation.

Emma Harrison spoke to Kelly about her mission to motivate people and businesses to be more eco-friendly, why the world of fashion needs to be more sustainable and how a sandman in Ayia Napa was the catalyst for naming her business!

Can you give the House of Coco readers an insight as to who you are and what We Do Ethical is?

I’m a person who loves to discover and share ways to live better and encouraging others to be the change towards better living is my passion. I founded We Do Ethical in 2009 on my second year of study at university. It started with a project that aired on ITV News called “What Is Fast Fashion?” to raise awareness of how and where clothing is made.

I soon realised that fashion is nowism and an influencing industry that was not just about clothing. Being ethically minded is a lifestyle choice and through my research I found that this market sector was something that had huge growth potential and was also something that I really loved!

So, on my final year of study I set up my Not-for-profit (NFP) organisation, with the help of ITV Fixers. Once I had graduated, I soon moved to London and worked writing freelance for publications, PR companies and started work on my own fashion shows, events, WeDoReDo workshops and shopping stalls to give ethical living a glamorous platform.

What was the inspiration and vision behind We Do Ethical?

With the knowledge that fashion is the second largest polluting industry on earth, I looked for ways to create fashion without harming people and planet… upcycling and recycling clothing. This was the start of my journey to live life sustainably but also in style. I started sharing my tips and the products from brands that I loved to help spread the message of buying better to create my vision for a more eco-friendly and socially responsible future.

Your business is divided between your consultancy where you advise businesses on how to be more sustainable and your NFP which runs a series of community programmes? Do you have a different approach to each part of the business?

You could say that I started backwards really, with my NFP before the business. The consultancy started four years after I had founded the NFP. I keep the same approach for both because they are both solving the same problem and building a greener future, just in different ways. The nfp org focuses on helping people/ consumers and my consultancy focuses on assisting brands and businesses to be more conscious of how they buy and what they use day to day.

Was it a ‘lightbulb’ moment or was it more of a slow burning process?

There was one moment I remember fondly… Whilst on Nikki beach, Ayia Napa, my best girl friend from university Jade and I built a life-sized sand man, then sat next to him and got talking about what I could call my organisation. At the time I was upcycling lots of clothing, redoing clothes and selling them at festivals as a pop-up shop. Jade said, “So what do you actually do?” I shouted out… “We do re do,” and that was the first name I got up running with.

Now I had a name for my brand, I set myself a plan and this has grown each year. It has been slow burning in some ways as each year I learn more myself, so I push a new message, take on a new member of staff and develop my key messages. But on the other hand, I always knew what I wanted, so from that lightbulb moment with the name, everything is moving as it should.

Has sustainable fashion always been important to you?

No way! When I was at school, I used to buy all the fast fashion in the high street shops… luxury handbags, shoes, little black dresses’… the list is endless. I was obsessed with getting as much as I could for as little money as possible. I would have my friends stay over at the weekend, get them well styled in my outfits and head off into town to dance the night away; without a second thought about who made my clothes or where they came from. I was uneducated and buying blind.

Did you have any fears or worries when launching your business and how did you overcome them?

This biggest fear for me when starting my business was being self-sufficient. This is something I have always needed to be, and I feel like I carry that same courage and responsibility through to my business. It’s the biggest fear that actually never goes away for me and I guess this is natural when you run your own business. To overcome this fear, I set goals in time frames and working through the tasks, it all falls into place nicely.

How would you describe your business?

My work encourages people and businesses to be eco-friendlier and socially responsible. I find better products and services for people and businesses to use, products with a purpose that reduces the harm to people, animals and our planet.

What were your goals and objectives when you set up We Do Ethical and how are you achieving these objectives?

Our main goal is to help people be the change we need to see in our world for a more ethical and sustainable future.

By running our four community programmes and projects, we achieve our objectives to care, nurture, unite and love ethical and sustainable living.

  • We care by reducing the amount of clothing going to landfill; recycling/ upcycling over ten tons of clothing per year throughout Dorset.
  • We nurture by educating people through workshops and talks at schools, festivals and universities and community events.
  • We unite people with ethical brands, products and organisations online and through our events.
  • We love to share stories and our discoveries through the press, magazines, tv, radio and social networks to raise awareness and inspire positive change.

Looking back to when you were first coming up with the initial business concept, what advice would you give to yourself (knowing what you know now) and would you change anything?

Looking back at the old me now, when I was setting up my initial business concept, I would give myself the advice of being patient and strategic. I realise now that I was slightly ahead of my time and that the industry needed some more time to grow.

Sustainability is a key element of We Do Ethical – how important is having a sustainable business and using ethically-sourced products to you?

It’s important to me to have ethically sourced products and it’s my passion to show other people the importance too. I think that most businesses will migrate to having more ethically-sourced products in time, as it will become ‘the norm’ eventually.

You also run Love Dorset which is a community festival designed to encourage residents and business owners to become eco-friendlier and socially responsible – can you please tell me a bit more about this?

Love Dorset is an interactive festival I recently set up, which takes place during Fairtrade Fortnight. I discovered there were ten Fairtrade towns in Dorset and thought that was something worth celebrating. The two-week calendar of events lists fair-trade and other eco-friendly events and activities from film screenings to pop-up shops for the local people and businesses within the community to get involved.

You are also involved with Miss Dorset (and from next year – Mr Dorset) where you act as a sustainability consultant? Can you tell me a bit more about what your role is and how you are making the competition more sustainable?

I was asked by Julia Morley to meet with a lovely lady at the Miss World offices in London, back in 2013. The lovely lady was Angie Beasley, Miss England Director. She loved what I was doing with WeDoReDo, up-cycling clothes and asked me to judge the Miss Eco Award at the finals.

This year will be my 5th year judging the award and I am so proud of all the young ladies. With over 50 contestants who create the show stopping up-cycled outfits, coming together on the catwalk for the eco fashion show each year.

I’ve also introduced award rounds like Miss Fairtrade, Miss Natural Beauty and Miss Ethical Vision into the Miss Dorset regional heat that I organise, where the contestants are quizzed and judged on their skills. It’s a great project and I have really enjoyed changing the public’s perception of the contest, because it’s about much more than skin deep beauty these days.

Do you have any people that you personally look up to in business and have you been able to use this within your own business?

I have been very lucky to know and work with some really great people through my career. Recently, I’m really enjoying working with Sunny Bird, she runs a PR company that’s a really KPI focused service for your business as well as the usual service of looking after your press and social media channels. Working with Sunny, our annual brand reach of 1 million, went to 12.8 million in 4 months, which has attracted some great new sponsors to us.

What has been the most surprising thing that you have learnt about running your own business?

I am surprised every day and learn new things about running my business every day. My business life is full of ups and downs and you need to remember your successes and learn from your mistakes to have more positive than negative surprises in the future.

What do you feel has been the defining moment so far for We Do Ethical?

The defining moment for We Do Ethical so far is the awareness we have created from this year’s plastic ocean rescue campaign. We exist to create awareness issues surrounding ecology and social responsibility. Through our community programmes we share information to show people how they can be the change and help solve the issue.

Plastic pollution has been the focus point of our projects, workshops, talks and events this year, which has resonated very well with our readership and followers, our engagement stats have increased by over 1000%!

Not many people realise that so many of our clothes are made from plastic, and it’s not just in the production of garments that is harmful to our oceans… an average UK washing load – 6kg (13lb) of fabric – can release 140,000 fibres from polyester-cotton blend, nearly half a million fibers from polyester, and more than 700,000 fibers from acrylic.

You have just been named as a semi-finalist in the Venus Awards for your work in sustainability – how important are awards to you and do you feel that they help your cause?

Being a semi-finalist for the Venus Awards is a great achievement because it feels like I have been recognised for all of the positive work I am doing in sustainability. It’s very reassuring to know that people are noticing, and it’s given me a lot more confidence to grow. Awards like this also attract other people to your work and it’s a lovely process, where you’re lucky to meet so many other inspiring business women.

You studied Fashion at Arts University College at Bournemouth – did this experience helped you with your business?

The experience I gained whilst studying for my BA (Hons) in Fashion studies has really helped me with my business. It was a real eye opener as I was unaware of the damage caused by the fashion industry before I started my studies at the Arts University College Bournemouth. The things I discovered and learned really helped me to shape the values and basis of my NFP organisation whilst giving me the creative freedom and skills I needed to get started. I learned what the problems are then found my solutions, which really helped me to define the goals and objectives of We Do Ethical.

What steps does the world of fashion need to make to become more sustainable and why is there such a ‘wear it, throw it’ culture in the UK?

The world of fashion is changing, and currently ethical fashion has a market positioning that’s seen as luxury and aspirational. To irradiate the ‘wear it, throw it’ culture that surrounds us in the UK… we need ethical fashion to become mainstream and have accessible price points for the masses to consume the products. To make this happen, we all need to buy products with a purpose and then businesses will supply them.

What’s next for you Kelly and for We Do Ethical?

I am really excited about the future because the ethical living industry sector is now rapidly growing. I am starting work on a new business idea in September and We Do Ethical’s nfp will benefit from the proceeds. I really want to grow our community programmes, giving back more regularly through larger community projects.

The launch of coolconscience.com marketplace is set to be our next biggest defining moment. For the past eight years I have been discovering the coolest collection of eco-friendly and socially responsible products on our planet and want to put them all in one place to help people live better.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs, particularly to those wanting to launch businesses in the sustainability sector?

The best advice I can give to budding entrepreneurs who want to launch a business in sustainability is simply to believe in themselves. You are the biggest asset in your business and you really need to know yourself and be true to yourself when making big decisions. I would also say to focus on the tasks that you are best at and hire people in that are better than yourself for the other tasks, this will really save you time to take the lead and steer your business to grow faster and stronger.

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Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer – features Annabelle from Boss Models and focuses on those shaded summer days when staying indoors is the new going out – Styled by Taheed Khan – Model wears Zeynap Kartal Stella McCartney Roksanda Balmain Gucci Dior Issey Miyaki Fendi Solace London Victoria Beckham Commes Des Garçon and Bordello. Photographed by Asia Burrill – Beauty by Andrew Suleman and assisted by Ruby – Location Gotham Hotel Manchester

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Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Milena Jaeckel on Balancing Style and Function

Iphoria combines cute statement slogans, colourful prints and motifs, and fashionable functionality to create a quirky range of accessories that are definitely House of Coco approved. From graphic rechargeable phone cases, transparent in flight bags, and funky exchangeable strap micro-bags; Iphoria’s accessories are enough to make any wanderlust enthusiast swoon.

Team Coco sits down with Iphoria’s founder, Milena Jaeckel, who started Iphoria straight out of university. We talk about the challenges of being a young businesswoman, the inspiration behind her latest collection, and what makes her a Girl Boss.

Milena Jaeckel of Iphoria

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start Iphoria?
I was born 1989 in Niedersachen. After school, I began studying fashion design before I eventually switched to international management. During my studies, I realised that there were no fashionable accessories for all my technological gadgets — and this was pretty much where the idea for Iphoria came from.

2. What kind of woman you are designing for? Who is the Iphoria woman?
The Iphoria Woman is a modern Cosmopolitan Woman who lives in a big city, loves fashion, works hard and travels a lot.

3. Talk us through your latest collection. Do you have a favourite piece?
Our latest collection is very colourful and super fun. Apart from our classic phone cases, bags, sunglasses cases and other accessories, we added some cool new products; such as the wireless QI charger and our new Inflight bags as well. They are so functional and stylish;one of my favourites. However, I also love the cashmere collection as it looks great, has amazing quality, and it is super comfortable.

4. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as an entrepreneur so far?
The biggest challenge is to keep on going and believing in your idea. Even if you have doubts, you have to stay strong and believe that it will all work out in the end.
Also for me — as I was pretty young when I founded Iphoria. I had to negotiate with people who were twice my age and had more experience than I did. Sometimes it was hard to be taken seriously as a businesswoman.

5. What’s next for you and Iphoria? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?
We have some new projects and cool collaborations planned which I can’t really talk about, but I can promise you that they are going to be super exciting – so watch this space!

6. What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?
Being a GirlBoss means hard work. You have to be tough and confident. Dare to realize your dreams, and most importantly: Believe in yourself and your idea!

“The biggest challenge is to keep on going and believing in your idea. Even if you have doubts, you have to stay strong and believe that it will all work out in the end.” – Milena Jaeckel

IPHORIA

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Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Eden Diodati a Label of Love

Lawyer, model, businesswoman, and philanthropist; Jennifer Ewah has it all. Her brand, Eden Diodati, which takes its name from a combination of the heavenly garden of Eden, and the Swedish Italian theologian Giovanni Diodati; combines fine jewellery with female empowerment. Not only does Eden Diodati donate 10% of dividends to Médecins sans Frontières, their business model creates sustainable livelihood for a cooperative of 5000 women artisans who have survived Rwandan genocide. Beautiful jewellery for an even more beautiful cause? Now that is Girl Boss Team Coco can get behind.

Jennifer Ewah of Eden Diodati

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

Eden Diodati is my label of love. It was started at the convergence of two inextricably linked concepts: love and creativity. At the heart of our ethos is the desire to serve others, matched only by the desire to see inner beauty reflected through outer beauty in design. Luxury fashion is an ideal medium. It is a unique communicator of visual and social ideas as well as a conduit of individual and collective aspirations.

Eden Diodati was born out of a fascination and desire to capture the compassion, empathy, and strength that lie at the heart of the beauty of the women that I know – my mother who is a doctor, being the foremost example. The ethical aspect of the brand is not independent of the aesthetic; it informs and inspires it in the most fundamental way. The mission of our brand goes far beyond selling as many pieces as we can. As an ethically responsible business, we have a message to convey, as well as positive social benefits to be accountable for. I was dissatisfied with the status quo of ethical accessories and the perception of fair trade. So after a trip to Cairo with the World Fair Trade Organisation, Eden Diodati was born. We aim to marry elevated design with social justice.

2. Tell us a little bit about Eden Diodati, what makes this different from other jewellery brands in the market?
A piece of jewellery is not just an accessory, but also a conversation piece. Every Eden Diodati piece carries a powerful message of resilience and transformation from those whose lives have been improved through its creation. This is the essence of the future, as that same future embraces and encompasses socially ethical luxury. We are reaching a tipping point of consumer awareness and concern for people and planet; the sustainability movement is the zeitgeist of our era. It will continue to define the spirit or mood of our time in history and will increasingly become of central importance to the luxury industries.

Our pieces are hand-beaded in a social cooperative with 5,000 women artisans who survived the genocide in Rwanda. This group of women have the highest level of craftsmanship skill and creative sensibility. The Hutu and Tutsi ethnicities working side-by-side, supporting each other as artisan sisters of excellence – in a model of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We have provided income to roughly 150 of the women but our goal is to scale up and support more. We also plan to move to Fairtrade precious metals in our production.

 
3. Talk us through your philanthropic efforts. How does Eden Diodati help marginalised women in Rwanda? 
We provide the social cooperative with extremely lucrative margins per piece, buying stock upfront, but with the added intangible benefit of showcasing the craftsmanship of my partner artisans who have triumphed in the face of adversity.

Eden Diodati is a brand which aims to evoke inner beauty, by actively seeking out socially marginalised women to support, and through an ethical business approach of love and inclusiveness, that is then elevated through design. Our wearable philanthropy means that we donate 10% of dividends to Médecins sans Frontières . We recognise the need to address human fragility on a global scale whilst simultaneously uplifting those trapped in the desperate cycle of economic and social hardship, sustainable enterprise transforms lives.
 
4. Eden Diodati is proudly a sustainable luxury brand. How do you marry sustainability with luxury? 
The roots of luxury are in slow production and artisanal craft, rather than fast and mass production.
It is Eden Diodati’s aim to challenge the paradigm by creating a luxury brand that is constantly serving those who are socially vulnerable through disability, abuse or marginalisation. Across the globe, luxury consumers are becoming less concerned about symbols and increasingly conscious about the value of a product based on its environmental and social impact.
Currently, there are a number of sustainable brands in the market, but they tend to cater for younger consumers and are focused on casual pieces.

5. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as entrepreneurs so far?
The biggest challenge that I have personally faced is running the brand whilst working full time in a senior capacity as a professional (a lawyer) but we are recruiting!

6. What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?
Stay true to your vision, draw internal inspiration from it, never give up, and have faith! And especially to social entrepreneurs – love never fails.

“We are reaching a tipping point of consumer awareness and concern for people and planet; the sustainability movement is the zeitgeist of our era.” – Jennifer Ewah of Eden Diodati

Eden Diodati

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Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Emma Pake and the Perfect Swimsuit

Here at House of Coco, we celebrate the Girl Bosses of Great Britain; women who have taken the brave leap into entrepreneurship and have become all the better for it. We sit down with Emma Pake, whose stunning tropical art-deco-inspired swimwear collection, Emma Pake and the Perfect Swimsuit, has won over both Selfridges and Net-a-Porter in its first year.

After prestigious stints at Giles Deacon in London and Zac Posen in New York; Emma Pake honed her business savvy through a successful buying career before beginning her eponymous label. For Emma, swimwear is never an afterthought. Sourcing only the most luxurious European fabrics, and custom designing each print; Emma Pake is redefining swimwear — one irresistible swimsuit at a time.

Emma Pake and the Perfect Swimsuit

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

I have been creative ever since I was a little girl. Whether it was pointing out the changing colours of leaves in autumn, baking with my mum, or mastering the art of cross-stitch, the world around me has always inspired me to create.

After training in Central Saint Martins, I embarked on a career in buying. I covered a wide range of categories; most recently specialising in Lingerie and Swimwear. My husband and I had long dreamed of having our own business; and the more we thought about it, the more it made sense to build on my experience and passion for the category I was so immersed in. During a New Year’s break in the sun, we decided to pool together our savings, take the leap, and create something together. A few months later, our new adventure began.

2. Tell us about your brand. Why have you decided to focus on swimwear?

With my knowledge of the industry and background in buying, swimwear was a natural choice for me. However, what it really came down to, was a desire to create beautiful things; be it a one-of-a-kind swimsuit, or a dress to take you from beach to bar. Our beachwear is a celebration of colour and design. I custom design every print, carefully placing it on each garment to flatter the body and create flattering lines, complimenting these with bold solid silhouettes. I love exploring unexpected elements such as tassels, elastics, and matte hardware, dyed to match the specific colours of the season. That’s what excites me the most — all the little details that go into making an irresistible piece.

3. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a businesswoman so far?

The biggest challenge for me so far has to be managing the business after the birth of my son, Max, in December. I am lucky to have an incredibly supportive network of family and friends who have enabled me to able split myself between being a Mummy and being a businesswoman – but it’s not easy. I try to keep focused on one day at a time and plan my weeks with military precision. My son Max, however, often has different ideas!

4. Talk us through your latest Collection, the inspiration behind it and if you have a favourite piece.

This collection is inspired by primary colours and the simplicity of black and white. I wanted to create a beachwear wardrobe that was more in tune with a traditional wardrobe; one with a clear shift from day to night. The black and white net print and monochrome solids have an air of evening wear, while the bright colours of the electric rainbow and deco wave prints are more playful and dynamic.

We have introduced many new silhouettes for Spring 2018, including the Valentina spliced mesh, high-neck swimsuit, which is a personal favourite of mine. It’s bold, confident, and feminine – the perfect combination.

5. What’s next for you? Are there any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

As a young brand, we are still learning and building on what Emma Pake means to people as a brand; so it’s a really exciting time for me as we try new things and evolve who we are. Over the next year, we will be growing our Ready to Wear/Beachwear category by over 50% and introducing a wide range of new fabrics to complement our swimwear. We are also looking to launch pop-up shops to help bring the Emma Pake world to life and meet even more of our customers in person.

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

Love what you do, because it’s both the hardest and most rewarding job you’ll ever have. A passion for your business, self-discipline, and a commitment to innovating and evolving are all essential. Stay positive through the lows and remember to celebrate the highs, it is after all why you’re doing it.

“Stay positive through the lows and remember to celebrate the highs, it is after all why you’re doing it.” – Emma Pake

emmapake.com

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Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Talking Shoes & Boyfriends with Snowy Li of S.Novio

On a chilly London eve, we head to Bob Bob Ricard to have a glamorous sit down dinner with Snowy Li of S.Novio. A woman of undeniable style and taste, it is no wonder that Snowy has created the perfect shoe brand for the stylish and goal-getting women of today – S.Novio.

Taking its name from the latin word for boyfriend “Novio”, S.Novio is a shoe brand for women that shares the qualities of an ideal boyfriend — warm, protective, and most importantly comfortable. With a pair of high cut S.Novio boots in tow, you are ready to take on the world in style. Snowy herself, is a businesswoman first and a designer second; and is a true embodiment of Girl Boss goals. She understands the need for stylish wardrobe staples that not only transition from day to night, but also season to season. With a good pair of S.Novio shoes, who needs a boyfriend? According to Snowy, she would have both. Why? – because she can.

1.Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? How did you get into fashion design?
I grew up with a mixture of both Asian and Western influences. Having studied and spent most of my life in the UK and coming from a traditional Chinese background, I have had exposure to both cultures. I feel very blessed that through my business I am able to seamlessly bring together both Eastern and Western influences.

From a young age I was always a creative and energetic child, who was full of curiosity – I always loved fashion and had a passion for style. Most of my family work in traditional business, so it would have been a natural step for me to progress into something like finance. Alternatively, I decided to start my own fashion production company instead of working for someone else – I would organise fashion shoots for Chinese magazines and helped Chinese brands shoot abroad and built it from there. Although I really enjoyed travelling, working with beautiful people and even more beautiful clothes, I didn’t always feel completely satisfied. A part of my brain was craving for projects that involved numbers, contracts, statistics and spreadsheets.

Ever since I can remember, I have always been surrounded by business-minded people and I guess, that’s what had sparked by interest in creating a start-up. I found myself wanting to dive in, head first. At this point, I had left fashion and went into finance. However, my passion for managing a company never faded away and years later I founded a luxury shoe brand, S.Novio.

2. What inspired you to start S.Novio, what is the philosophy of your brand?
I am always on the move; I have reached a point where I travel up to four times a week. Naturally, travelling to a variety of countries comes with the burden of selecting the appropriate clothing. I love looking smart during the day; and I always try to dress up to go out for dinners when I am in a foreign country.

I think the philosophy of the brand is embodying a love for shoes which are comfortable, elegant and chic enough to wear for day and night. I wanted to create a brand for independent women like me, helping them look chic while pursuing their dreams. ‘Novio’ in the latin language means boyfriend; I want our S.Novio women to feel warmth, protection, and comfort in our shoes just like they would in a boyfriend. I want them to feel that a good pair of S.Novio shoes is just as good as a boyfriend.

3. In your opinion, how important is a good pair of shoes to a woman’s wardrobe?
In my opinion, shoes and bags show good quality and taste. I believe it is easier to wear a pair of good quality shoes with high street clothing, however it is more difficult to do the opposite. A good pair of shoes is not a good investment — it’s a great one. A good pair of S.Novio over the knee boots is the perfect wardrobe staple.

4. What do you think sets S.Novio apart from other independent shoe brands out there?
We have very strong focus and work ethic. We are not a shoe brand that has limitless styles to offer — we want our customers to come to us for a particular style… the S.Novio style!

For autumn/winter we have focused on creating the best quality over-the-knee boot in the market, which we believe is a definite wardrobe staple. As for spring/summer, we want to have more sparkle and bring out the feminine & glamorous side of the brand. We aim to continue producing a few signature staples every year — which usually are either flat shoes, or easy-to-walk–in heels. For example, we have created gladiator style sandals for spring/summer made with Swarovski Crystals, a new spin on a classic.

5. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome as a businesswoman and a designer?
I consider myself as more of a businesswoman than a designer. I think the biggest challenge is managing the business as a whole – I’m still learning and I’m loving the process! I would say my biggest challenge is what makes me out-do myself.

6. Finally, what would you rather have — a good pair of shoes or a good boyfriend?
I would have both, just because I can!

S.NOVIO

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A Weekend in Cheshire

Where do we begin with this amazing trip to Cheshire?

There are just so many elements of fabulousness for #TeamCoco to talk about when it comes to spending a weekend in the North West; from lovely spa hotels to dining out, local attractions to learning that Peaky Blinders was part-filmed in Cheshire, country pursuits, and an all important shopping trip to McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks, the UK’s largest designer outlet. This certainly was going to be a jam packed visit.

Our UK Travel writer and #TeamCoco stalwart Rachel McAlley took the difficult decision to visit beautiful Cheshire for this weekend of total exuberance and adventure ☺

It started with being let loose at the ever-evolving McArthurGlen shopping location Cheshire Oaks. Currently, Cheshire Oaks is going through a major £40m expansion to increase the retail offering by a further 25-premium fashion and restaurant brands by this coming October; could this place get any better, we think not!

This shopping spree was going to be a good one, Rachel set off with her budget knowing that with up to 60% off the RRP she was going to get some proper bargains. She took in the busy sights of the high street stores including Next, M&S, Nike and Gap, she meandered through her top end high street favourites; Coast, Cath Kidston and Fossil, and strolled past some of her fave cafes and restaurants including; Yo! Sushi, Patisserie Valerie, and Ed’s Easy Diner, on to the quadrant where dreams are made of, the luxury and designer stores.

Not only did Rachel enjoy every single second running around the stores to find some serious discounted offers from some of the world’s most well-known super brands, but she spent time chatting to the friendliest shop managers and front-of-house staff she has ever had the pleasure to meet. From Lacoste to The Kooples, Lulu Guinness to Mulberry all the staff she encountered were truly pleasant to be around.

Reality hit home and Rachel had to end her time on this super shopping experience and move to her next location, but first she had to be dragged kicking and screaming from Ralph Lauren ☺

The weekend visitors next destination was a short drive from McArthurGlen, where they checked into Craxton Wood Hotel for the night and headed for a relaxing Elemis spa treatment along with a swim in the pool and brief stint in the sauna.

Back in the hotel room post massage and swim it was time for Rachel to unpack all the shopping spree bags from McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks, play with all her new purchases, and prepare for an evening of fabulous cocktails and dinner in the hotel restaurant Craxton Wood Grill.

Rachel opted for a classic Prawn Cocktail to start with, after a rather nice glass of Kir Royale, and a couple of Cosmopolitans. She then chose Mushroom Ravioli for her main course, and cheese and biscuits for dessert, which ended the day perfectly.

Back to the room after a late night filled with cocktails and great banter with the other guests, and it was time to watch a bit of trashy reality TV (hoping for The Real Housewives of Cheshire)!

Morning encroached all too quickly, where she awoke surrounded by the previous day’s McArthurGlen purchases, much like you would expect to find a small child post-Christmas surrounded by all their toys!

It was time to pack the Cheshire Oaks purchases away and get ready for a day filled with rifle shooting and laser clay pigeon shooting in the grounds of Craxton Wood Hotel.

Rachel, who admits to not being gun savvy wasn’t expecting to win the laser clay event organised by the hotel events team, but she did, and she did it to much applause by the other members of the shooting party. #TeamCoco 1 other adventurers nil!

The day evolved from shooting clay pigeons and bottles to walking around the beautiful gardens of Arley Hall in Northwich with the head gardener, followed by a very cute afternoon tea complete with soup filled mini flowerpots! #totesadore

Arley Hall was one of the wicked locations for the filming of British TV Drama Peaky Blinders, and best of all the infamous bad lad Tommy Shelby had a major fight on the garden steps. The gift shop at Arley Hall now stocks Peaky Blinders beers for true fans to indulge in!

From Arley Hall, Rachel and her co-weekenders went for a little cruise down the Shropshire Union Canal where it meets the Manchester Ship Canal, with the team from the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. The team spoke about the history of the waterways and how food such as chocolate was transported many years ago. Who doesn’t need to know an odd fact about chocolate to wow our friends with, after all chocolate is life!

The weekend of plenty of excesses was about to end, after 2-days of shopping at the legendary McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks, spa relaxation, food and outdoor pursuits at Craxton Wood Hotel, a peaky blinders tour and afternoon tea at Arley Hall, plus a canal trip down the waterways of Chester, it was sadly time to leave this glorious part of the UK and head home dreaming of the next visit to McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks.

Rachel is counting down the hours until her next visit to Cheshire.

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Beauty

GIRLBOSSESOFGREATBRITAIN: WITCHES UNITE OVER REEK PERFUME

After a short hiatus, we’re back exploring some of the most interesting and innovative creative female minds behind business in Great Britain and beyond – but we do like this hashtag! Witches Unite Over Reek Perfume embodies a powerful connection among women, celebrating their unity and strength. This hashtag symbolizes a community of diverse individuals coming together, drawn by the allure of Reek Perfume’s captivating scents. It speaks to the magic found in solidarity and shared experiences, transcending boundaries and fostering a sense of belonging.

This #TeamCoco writer is always on the quest for a great scent and struggles with the highstreet’s obsessions with florals, and ‘feminine’ fragrances to help you woo the man of your dreams or do a sexy bank heist with (apparently there’s not much call for scents that do much else?). But if, like me, you just want to smell like the man of your dreams in unisex fragrances that make you go ‘ugh’ appreciatively (that could of course, just be my reaction) you can find yourself taking punts on pricey brands, not knowing the story behind them.

Enter, the evocatively named REEK (www.reekperfume.com) a new perfume brand hailing from Edinburgh here to unite the bitch or witch within you with the rest of your tribe, through perfumes that celebrate unapologetic women. We spoke to founder Sara Sheridan to find out more…

HOC: The choice of the name REEK, is curious but I like it. Can you talk us through why you chose this as a brand name?

Sara: It was always REEK because it’s contentious – a challenge from the start. And also slightly funny. We like to make our customers laugh – laughter gives you confidence. I had a couple of American customers turn up at the office (in my flat) a couple of days ago. We don’t sell in the US yet – we have a waitlist. Anyway, they were here and they decided to seek us out to buy some perfume. And they sat on the sofa opposite my desk and just rocked with laughter. Laughter is also a kind of rebellion.

HOC: Tell us a little about the team behind Reek and (award-winning perfumer) Sarah McCartney’s role in the creation.

Sara: The core team is just me and my co-founder and daughter, Molly. That’s us. Often people look at the site and think we are some big corporation but no. It’s Molly and I around the kitchen table. We work with some brilliant people – Sarah McCartney who is an award-winning independent perfumer mixes for us. We send her a brief and tell her what we’re thinking and then drive her nuts with our demands! She is the most amazing nose. Many perfume companies don’t spotlight their perfumers and it’s a hugely sexist industry with very few women mixing. So we celebrate Sarah’s talent. I think that’s important.

We also have some amazing photographers on board – Stew Bryden just shot a new campaign for us and Bethany Grace shot a lot of our earlier photos. We rely on their talent and their eye – they work very closely with Molly, who is REEK’s art director as well as other things. Then there’s Baz at Too Galluswho helps us with our website – he also has an amazing eye and gives us sterling advice on all the Web Mysteries. We open-cast our shoots and some of our models go on to be brand ambassadors (or spritz bitches) at events.

We also welcome activists and other creatives into the fold via our blog, Bitches Unite, which we set up to be a forum for feminist/equality voices from across the movement. We’re collaborative. And lastly, we have tests, occasionally, for new products where we invite a bunch of people in and ask them what they think. We’re big into listening – we’ve had amazing feedback that’s helped us with our branding. Those non-involved eyes are very important and generous of people to pitch in (though we do give them cocktails).

HOC: We hear a lot of brands speak about being cruelty-free, could you break that down for us – what does that mean, how is the term qualified?

Sara: There’s a lot of confusion about cruelty-free. In the EU it is illegal to test beauty products on animals. Nobody does it. But many large companies just constitute themselves so they have an EU corporation and a non-EU one and basically, they hive off the animal testing to where it’s legal. If you want to sell in China, for example, animal testing is mandatory – and that’s a huge market. Just to be clear- you can’t sell your product in China if it hasn’t been tested on animals. Big companies who do this need to be called out more. They are just playing both systems and not standing up for anything! At REEKwe’re cruelty-free (just like everyone selling in Europe) but we also don’t use animal products in our perfume so vegans can spritz just like all the other bitches.

WITCHES UNITE OVER REEK PERFUME

HOC: The refusal to photoshop your models is commendable, what does that mean for you?

Sara: REEK was set up specifically to challenge beauty industry norms. Molly is a professional make-up artist and through her I kept meeting models who were being so photoshopped that they sometimes didn’t even recognise themselves when the pictures came out. Our media is tough on women’s bodies and we need to fight back against that – it’s relentless, all those images of what is supposed to be perfection. There’s no love like self-love – it’s the most creative thing and we need to boost women’s confidence, not erode it with impossible-to-achieve imagery.

At the beginning, we were told we’d never be able to create a decent campaign without photoshopping. We said ‘our bitches are perfect just as they are. We photoshop the bottles. That’s it!’ When our first campaign came out it had a mixed response. We had people coming back on social media and they hated it. But then other people got it and loved it. REEK is a marmite brand – it’s stayed that way. And I think, slowly, we’re showing you can have great pictures using 80-year-old grannies and 17-year-old skinny bitches and everything in between.

HOC: Why the choice of witches and bitches? Reclaiming negative slurs against women, political commentary? Exploring the whole Madonna – whore idea?

Sara: Well, yes. Kinda. Vonny Moyes wrote a great piece which is up on our blog about reclaiming the word ‘bitch’. We need more words for ourselves. I’m a writer, so words are important to me and I really believe that. If someone tries to insult you, claim those words. But also there is a historical context to the bitches – the Damn Rebel Bitches were the Jacobite women – so slurred by the Duke of Cumberland who hated them because they wouldn’t give up. They lost their cause and are largely unmemorialised but they were hugely influential. In 1746 the year after the Jacobites lost the Battle of Culloden there was a call for the first women MPs at Westminster. That battle took over 170 years to win but we got there. And it was the Jacobite women who started it because when they came up in court for their part in the rebellion they paid their own fines.

They were Scottish and were subject to a different legal system – these women could own property. In England that wasn’t possible. English women were outraged – and immediately they for representation – female MPs. So the Jacobite ladies showed something was possible and inspired their sisters to demand it. Also, they were total firecrackers. Lady Nithsdale, my favourite, broke her husband out of the Tower of London by dressing him in drag. What. A. Legend.

HOC: Are your fragrances for women only? (contentious point maybe!) should perfumes be gendered?

Sara: Imagine gendering a smell. I mean – just imagine. How is that even possible? Perfume is such a personal choice – a smell that means nothing much to me will remind somebody else of their childhood and be the most comforting thing in the world. We find different smells sexy – definitely – and different smells delicious. REEK’s perfumes are literally gender fluids. Imagine if we discriminated. No. No. No. All the smelly bitches are welcome! All of them.

HOC: What are your plans for REEK? Other products? Points of sale? More than just perfume…?

Sara: We are just chatting to our first stockists and setting up those deals, slowly, slowly. We’re new to everything so we are steady as we go. But our first stockist (which will be announced soon) isn’t in the UK, so that’s exciting! We are also developing a concept for perfume number 3 which we’re hoping to bring out in 2019, so keep your eyes peeled. And yes, we’d like to make some other products – we’ve been investigating that. What we’ve found so far is that if we add just one product to the range (even something that’s merchandise like our Bitches Unite badges or T-shirts) it changes the way the whole collection works. So we need to bring things on bit by bit and see how customers like it. We make very small runs which is slightly more expensive but it allows us flexibility. We’re learning as we go.

HOC: Finally, what is your vision of the ideal Reek customer?

Sara: Well you seem very nice. I think you’re probably one. And you. And you. Seriously, we don’t have a demographic in terms of age or background – it’s more about a state of mind. Our stuff appeals to people who are independent-minded and into equality and they’re easy to spot. They smile when they hear our story and they just know they want some straight away.

To find out if you are more Bitch or Witch why not treat yourself to the sample size perfumes from www.reekperfume.com – they’re only £15 incl postage in the UK. Then let us know what side you’re on. Me? I can’t decide so let’s call me a witchy bitch.

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Fashion with a purpose: FREITAG

You may have caught our #TeamCoco writer, Anna’s adventures in Switzerland recently on our instagram where she explored the unexpected in Zurich; a location typically discarded as an expensive, and not-super-exciting travel destination for the millennial traveler. Of course, here at House of Coco we like to challenge our preconceptions and she got stuck into finding the unusual elements of Zurich – not least of all, the FREITAG factory.

FREITAG is a brand that isn’t particularly well-known in the UK but with the increased discussions on the eco and ethical impacts of the clothing we wear and generally what we consume, we feel this brand is tipped to explode on our shores.

Fourteen years ago, two graphic designers were searching for suitable bags to house their creative work as they travelled their home city of Zurich by bicycle. Taking unlikely inspiration from the heavy traffic route outside their window, they created their first messenger style bag made from up cycled truck tarpaulins, bicycle tubes and car seat belts. Their designs were loved by cyclists as a great option for a waterproof item with great eco credentials and since then their range has expanded to over 80 bag models and just 3 years ago they launched F-ABRIC – 100% compostable textiles from which they produce a range of clothing. This, dear friends, is the future of fashion.

On our writer, Anna’s travels, she was luckily enough to tour the factory in which these bags are made which was not the other side of the world but within Zurich itself, in the Nœrd industrial complex in Zurich-Oerlikon. Surrounded by other creative businesses, within a co-working space this is possibly one of the most forward thinking assembly lines you’ll come across.

The business itself follows a holocratic model which means that it does away with many of the hierarchical traps of your average business and empowers team members to make decisions. Touring the factory means hearing stories of how those cutting the tarps have the responsibility of how the final item will look, through their choice of tarps they use and the fulfilment team receive sweet treats from their delighted customers on the other side of the world as a mark of their appreciation.

What sets FREITAG apart from many other ‘up cycled’ products is their true attention to the eco and ethical impact of their work. Throughout the production process, decisions have been made to reduce their impact – not just are they reviving truck tarpaulins that fall out of use but they are cleaning them thoroughly with rain water, collected from the roof of the factory and they employ people locally in Zurich and elsewhere in mainland Europe to assemble the final products. We’re particularly excited to see where they take the F-ABRIC line…. imagine knowing that all our clothing products, including the buttons will compost completely, without a trace. Forget the cutting edge tech in the banks of Zurich, this is where the future is being built.

Today, 22nd March 2018, FREITAG are launching their latest bag, the F155 CLAPTON, a unique, waterproof commuter backpack with space for your laptop, comfortable straps and also five reflector panels to keep you safe on dark evenings. Plus thanks to the design creds of the team at FREITAG, we’ll think you agree with us that it’s a mighty fine addition to your wardrobe which is going to last you for a long time, no matter how much you cram into it for your pre-work yoga, work outfit and evening date requirements!

To learn more about FREITAG visit www.freitag.ch

If you want to visit the Zurich factory yourself hurry to purchase your own R223 BUSINESS BAG today (22nd March 2018) as you’ll receive a tarp ticket for a f-actory tour.

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Designer

The Fashion Space Leeds

Fashion is taking centre stage in Leeds as the city showcases its own collection of runway shows, presentations and collaborations from some of the country’s most influential industry names.

From Saturday 28th April The Fashion Space, Leeds, will present a comprehensive programme of events from UK designers including Matty Bovan, Sadie Williams and Christopher Raeburn; alongside Fashion East alumni and Lulu Kennedy (MBE); Vogue’s Fashion Features Director, Claudia Croft and from the North: Fashioning Identities exhibition at Somerset House, co-curator Adam Murray.

The Fashion Space is housed on one of Leeds’ main shopping streets, Briggate, as part of this year’s Leeds International Festival, funded by LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District).

The Fashion Space programme aims to create an inspiring and educational series of high calibre fashion events, with both national and international credibility, bridging the gap between independent and high street retailers, designers, manufacturers and industry influencers whilst introducing the reality of the fashion industry to the public.

Cathy Dickson, of Cabba, part of the team directing Fashion in Leeds, said: “2017 saw the realisation of The Fashion Space, as part of Leeds International Festival – the idea of a converted shipping container in the centre of Leeds on a busy weekend was to provide a space that offered people a rarely seen insight into the fashion industry.”

“The popularity of the runway was such that we have introduced four days of shows as part of our 2018 Fashion events and cannot wait to work everyone again!”

There are so many events to choose from, here are a pick #TeamCoco’s fave few:

Sunday 29th April
Runway shows from independent designers 10am-4.30pm
FREE event

Tuesday 1st May
Christopher Raeburn Off Cut – T-Shirt Workshop
17.45 – 20.00
An opportunity for less experienced sewers to develop their creative skills by making a bespoke Christopher Raeburn Tote bag using some of his amazing animal patches.
Tickets: £40.00

Wednesday 2nd May
17.45 – 19.00
Sadie Williams – Bright Young Thing
One of the British Fashion Council’s NewGen’s ones to watch Sadie recently wowed LFW with her eclectic mix of 60’s silhouettes coupled with graphic panel arrangements and with a nod towards 70’s glitz. She will talk about her progression from her Central St Martin’s MA to her international success; what inspires her and advice for young designers.
Tickets: £5.00

Friday 4th May
16.15 – 18.30
In Conversation with Fashion East
Leeds International Festival Spiegeltent, Millennium Square
Talent scout and founder of Fashion East Lulu Kennedy (MBE) will be talking up and coming fashion with a selection of her successful alumni and current designers. These will include Matty Bovan, Per Götesson, Mimi Wade, and ART SCHOOL. Tickets: £10.00

Saturday 5th May
Runway shows from high street retailers 11am-4.30pm
FREE event

For the full programme of events, more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://www.leedsinternationalfestival.com/

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