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Voylan was established for the sophisticated woman on the go. Their elegant, yet practical, staple pieces are the perfect complement to a demanding work and travel schedule as they easily transition from business meetings to long weekend getaways or evenings out on the town.

The inspiration for the brand came from founder Milica Kostic’s lifestyle as a management consultant. Years of packing for weekly flights and navigating busy airports, hotels and boardrooms resulted in the realization that there was a significant need for high-quality handbags that would be both functional and appropriate for all occasions. Shortly thereafter, on a road trip through Tuscany, the heart of Italy’s leather industry, the idea for Voylan was born.

Milica is a real go getter and someone that we were so inspired by, so much so that we spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Voylan…

Voylan is a brand born out of necessity. While I worked as a management consultant, I travelled far and wide on a weekly basis and finding a handbag that could take me from the airport, to the office, followed by a dinner out proved to be an incredible challenge. It was then that I realized that there was a significant need in the market for designs that would be both functional for the professional woman and sophisticated at the same time, so that she is putting her best foot forward as she goes about tackling her daily challenges. That is when the idea for Voylan first started to form in my mind and the following summer during a vacation in Tuscany, where I learned more about Italy’s leather industry, the vision just fell into place.

What sets you apart from other fashion brands?

Most handbags make women choose between style and function. Voylan was founded with the mission to merge the two and is driven by a commitment to timeless and functional designs. Therefore, the key differentiator that sets us apart from other brands would be our signature handcrafted interiors. Each piece is thoughtfully engineered, comprising of padded laptop or tablet pockets, stretchable pouches to easily store your water bottle and keys and a multitude of open compartments and zip pockets to ensure effortless organization. At the same time, the approach for each design is to first and foremost create a sophisticated classic that will never go out of style, ensuring that it can be worn with any outfit and be around for much longer than the typical seasonal trends.

Your bags scream practicality and give women the option to go from the boardroom to the airport with your versatility. Why was this important to you?

A handbag is one of the most important and intimate items the average woman possesses. It is more than just an accessory, it is a staple that carries our essentials for us everywhere and at all times, so the kind of piece a woman has on her can speak volumes about her lifestyle, taste and sense of personal style. Therefore, I truly see it as the most important investment we can make in our wardrobe, so providing both sophistication and versatility was a way for Voylan to help women both look and feel more confident, organised and ultimately empowered.

From the product range, what has been the best seller?

The styles are fairly evenly matched in terms of sales. What is apparent though is that there are clear favourites when it comes to what type of bag is being sought. The Manhattan Tote has established itself as the ultimate work bag, as it is large enough to fit a laptop and includes features such as a folder pocket, pen holders and trolley sleeve to effortlessly attach to luggage. As for leisure travel, both the Montreal Hobo and Sydney Messenger have received great feedback, it comes down to personal style when customers are deciding between the two.

Talk us through an average day at the business?

At our core, we value slow and sustainable fashion over seasonality, so new products are not released often. Instead, we incrementally introduce classic styles that will always be staples in a women’s wardrobe and expand them regularly with sophisticated colours that go with every outfit. The process begins with recognizing a need for what every woman needs in her closet and developing and finetuning a design that would best meet it. Once a design is finalized, I spend some time prototyping with our manufacturer in Tuscany and visiting tanneries in Italy to source the best possible leather before finally going into production.

In terms of an average day on the job, it really varies greatly depending on the task at hand. At certain periods of time there is a heavier focus on production activities, at other times marketing takes precedence with various features and interviews that come up. Ultimately, I am trying to ground myself in a plan and routine and establish as much consistency as possible to plan for the future and accelerate our growth.

What are your plans for the future?

Launched this past August, Voylan is already making a name for itself and we have only just begun. This coming year will see us introducing new colours to our existing collection as well as large zip around wallets. Looking beyond, we aim to become an established work and travel leather accessories brand, one that is synonymous with quality, functionality and elegance.

Since launching the brand, what has been your highlight?

Voylan being selected for Conde Nast Traveller’s Luxury Gift Guide. On the day I first got the idea for this travel inspired brand, I remember briefly thinking how incredible it would be to eventually end up in Conde Nast Traveller. To have someone from the magazine reach out to us just months into our launch was quite literally a dream come true and a huge sense of personal accomplishment.

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?

There are always things you would do differently in hindsight, especially in situations where you are faced with many unknowns and learning on the go. What I am trying to focus on is to learn from everything, apply it to the future and continuously improve based upon those past experiences.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

I have been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit and visit most of my bucket list destinations, but the top of what remains on my list right now is doing an African safari in Botswana or Kenya. In the last few years I have become much more interested in exploring the natural wonders of the world, as I find it incredibly inspiring to see all of the diversity and beauty our world offers.

What quote do you like to read when you are lacking motivation?

“The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” I go back to this whenever I get impatient and expect immediate results or become easily discouraged. If you keep your focus on what you can control and on doing your best in given circumstances, then I believe that good things will eventually happen.

For anyone wanting to start their own business, what advice would you offer?

Be prepared for a challenge and become comfortable with uncertainty. Starting a business is entering unchartered territory, where no matter how well you prepare you will not know all the twists and turns that lie ahead. However, the key is to pursue something you truly believe in and have a clear strategy to always go back to and ground yourself in when you are faced with obstacles, which you inevitably will be. Finally, be determined and have a support system in place. You will hit walls, but perseverance combined with people that provide you with encouragement and advice whenever you feel like giving up can make all the difference.

What are your plans for the business in 2020?

The focus for 2020 is to grow the brand’s presence and continue establishing our identity as a go to for classical and practical designs.

Find out more and follow Milica and Voylan at www.voylan.com and follow us on social media – Instagram @voylanca or Facebook @voylanofficial

Farming is in Annabel Makin-Jones’s blood. She is a fifth generation Yorkshire farmer, having run the family farm near Leeds for the last 15 years. With over 1200 acres of arable land, Annabel also takes charge of 1,800 tonnes of strawberries each year. Forever restless, she wanted to create something more, and Tame & Wild was born. As a Leeds girl myself, I love championing women in the north that are breaking the mould and doing extraordinary things, just like Annabel.

Inspired by a desire to create a natural alternative to alcoholic options, Tame & Wild was designed to be enjoyed at the same occasions, but is light, sophisticated and simply English berries and botanicals with sparkling water, but like fine wine or gin the craft is not in the ingredients, but in how they’re brought together.

We spent some time with Annabel to talk all things self care, her plans for the future and more…

Previously a fruit farmer and bee keeper. How long was the idea for Tame and Wild in the making?

In farming, being ahead of the curve, finding ways to diversify can make the difference of surviving to thriving.I am always thinking my brain never switches off. I have a filling cabinet full of business plans that never quite hit the mark.

Annabel explains her inspiration: “I was out with friends and I was driving – and the non-alcoholic options were limited to sparkling water or drinks full of sugars or nasties.I spotted a gap in the market for a sophisticated non-alcoholic drink.

“Just because we’re not drinking alcohol, doesn’t mean we should be forgotten about. I still want something delicious with a sense of occasion andnot to be fobbed off with an elderflower cordial– so I set to developing a range of natural drinks that can be drunk on their own or as a mixer inspired by the flavours of the English countryside.”

How do you want people to feel when they drink your products?

Special, I want them to enjoy a sophisticated drink in a beautiful glass over ice with a cocktail garnish. It should be a treat, an indulgence.Tame and Wild is for people who care where their food and drink comes from. Its low in sugar and low in calories but totally sophisticated with no artificial additives.

In 2020, what are your plans for the brand?

To gain listings in the very best establishments from spas to hotels to restaurants. To capture an audience with our English flavours and craftmanship and to help educate consumers on how to make better choices and enjoy the produce we have at our finger tips.

Where can people buy your drinks?

Online with Amazon and through our own website and at high end farm shops, hotels, gastro pubs, restaurants and bars.

Are there plans to expand the range in future?

We’ve just launched a new Damson, Rosehip and Passionflower flavour.

This year we’re focussing on gaining wider market share and new listings, its and exciting time for Tame & Wild and the response has been fantastic. 

For any aspiring entrepreneurs, what advice would you offer?

“Women in business owe it to help others in business. That karma comes back. There’s enormous support in a network of female colleagues.Our brand mantra is BE TAME OR WILD, but above all, be yourself.Work hard, play hard and don’t have boundaries to what you can achieve, believe in yourself and you will achieve.”

What are you doing to make your brand sustainable?

We start with sustainable principles, no plastic—we use glass bottles, we only use recyclable packaging. Our offices are heated by solar panels and the water comes from our bore hole on the farm. We champion British produce and flavours ensuring food miles are minimised and we make the drinks in our own county – Yorkshire.

Sustainability is a huge part of my business’.Pollinators, bees, they are vitally important to what we do and in the circle of life. We are doing everything we can to help protect them so we have huge “bug hotels” on the farm to make sure they have a great habitat to live in and we also donate to conservation charities for every bottle sold.

Why is this something that interests you?

Sustainability should interest everyone. We have a duty to look after the world that we live in and protect the planet. As a farmer I know this more than most.

What does self-care mean to you?

Eating and drinking well, making time for pilates and getting a great nights sleep. This can be very difficult running 3 business’ and a start-up with two young children, but I do try to look after myself, I am a huge believer in alternative health and natural remedies.

Outside of work, what do you do to switch off?

Either cooking with my children (we love a themed night) or friends to come for dinner and enjoy great food and drinks whilst discussing this fast-paced world that we live in and what we have achieved that week!

Tell us your favourite quote to read when you lack creativity?

“Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites and scares you at the same time.”

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your travel bucket list?

Golden Triangle in South East Asia. Nestled between Burma and Laos. Lush jungle, mist-shrouded mountains, hill-tribe villages and tranquil views of rice paddies. A wonderful dream to ethically interact with lands biggest mammal; the elephant.

tameandwilddrinks.co.uk

Company founder and designer Yan Neophytou has spent most of her life working in the fashion industry, from helping her family’s fashion business while growing up, and qualifying in tailoring and creative pattern-cutting before completing her Fashion BA (Hons) degree, to running a successful North London boutique for nearly ten years. It all led towards the launch of Yan Neo London in 2011. This is a carefully curated, beautifully designed wardrobe line of smart day-to-evening and executive office wear, as well as elegant leatherwear, contemporary jewellery and covetable leather bags. What distinguishes the label is its strong emphasis on tailoring, quality and fit. And those sensible prices.

Yan is a real powerhouse and a woman that knows what she wants, we just could not wait to spend some time with her to find out more…
Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Yan Neo…
I grew up around the family fashion business. Running around playing with rolls of fabrics, buttons and mannequins, was definitely the start. Later I qualified in tailoring and creative pattern-cutting at London College of Fashion before I went on to a BA Fashion degree at University. After that I had some made-to-measure bespoke clients, and I also owned a boutique for nearly ten years, which led to styling and directing shoots – there was a lot of variety. But I always wanted my own label, which I eventually set up in 2011. There have been a lot of late nights, long hours and weekends – it definitely isn’t a 9am-5pm job – but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
You want to offer the premium look without the premium price tag, how do you achieve this?
I put a lot of effort into sourcing, so we offer the best possible quality, fit and craftsmanship for the best possible price in every piece. If I feel that an item doesn’t make the cut, it’s out, and i’ll start again.
How do you want women to feel when they wear your designs? 
I want women to feel confident that they always have perfect go-to outfits in their wardrobe. We all have busy lifestyles and stress in our lives, but when they walk out of the front door I want them to feel confident that they look put-together, stylish and empowered.
What plans do you have for the brand in 2020?
World domination? Seriously though, expanding the brand internationally – at least to a few countries to start with – is on the cards.
Do you plan on launching other products in future, if yes, what will they be?
Of course! There’s always something in production or on the drawing board. At the moment I’m concentrating on my Summer collection, but Autumn/Winter is also underway.

How much does social media play a role in your success?
Some social media is essential – especially for a brand that began on its own website. They’re a great showcase, and extremely useful. But it’s never as good as touching and feeling the actual product, so they have their limits.
What quote do you like to read when lacking motivation?
I have two favourite quotes that help inspire me.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” —Nelson Mandela
AND
“The best way out is always through.” —Robert Frost
For anyone wanting to launch a fashion label, what advice would you give?
Be prepared for hard work and no social life! It’s not enough to have a passion for design and creativity, you need to learn the business – because it is a business – from design to finished product. It’s a lot less glamorous than people realise, so you need perseverance and patience. But I still love it.
Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back in time?
Nothing. Everything is a learning curve and adds to experience no matter how it is perceived by anyone else. Maybe I’d do a bit more yoga!
Talk us through an average day in your life…
Yoga usually comes first, followed by breakfast and a cup of rosy lee. I can’t start my day without that. I’m always checking emails from 7-8am, then get on with range planning (that’s the designing and fabric sourcing) and/or fittings (on a live model). Or I might check production, either remotely or with site visits. Some days I could be arranging or directing a shoot. And then there’s the rest of the business: talking to stockists, overseeing the website, troubleshooting and a million and one other details. It’s endless really. I try to finish before 8pm, But some nights I may end up working till 1am. My husband isn’t overly impressed when that happens!
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
I’d say Japan, I’ve always loved their culture and I’d love to visit during their cherry blossom season.
Where can people find out more? 
Come and visit us at yanneo.com

Ecology Soap is dedicated to bringing you the “cleanest’ soaps, skin care and cleansing solutions on earth. They are committed to plant based, biodynamic personal care, as well as non-toxic cleaning solutions for laundry and home. Their products are made with hydrating organic oils, botanicals, and wholesome ingredients of the highest quality. All soaps and cleaners are sustainably formulated, eco-friendly and packaged with compostable or recyclable materials.

Founded by Louise Michaud, this brand is making a name for itself in the industry and we spent some time with her to find out more about her plans for the future and more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Ecology Soap?
I was casually reading through social media posts and came across an article on toxicity in laundry products, more specifically dryer sheets. I was dismayed to learn that ingredients are generally not listed on these products, so consumers do not know of the potentially hazardous chemicals in their laundry products. After further research, I also found that there was a marketing trend of labeling cleaners and detergents as “green” for containing few so-called natural or eco-friendly ingredients, while the majority of other compounds in the “green” formula were synthetic.

Upon further research, I found the same applied to bath and body products. Many companies which promote their products as natural or handmade also use synthetic chemicals to enhance product appeal. Those beautifully colored soaps and bath bombs you see in the stores, for example, get their hues from synthetic dyes or colorants. Beware of those vibrant fuchsias and blues; they aren’t natural. Many of these products also use artificial fragrances, even if they do contain natural ingredients.

I was inspired to create a different type of “soap” company, founded upon developing a brand that avoided these practices, and providing transparency to the consumer with honest labeling and sourcing the “cleanest” ingredients possible. The majority of our products contain certified organic ingredients, and that is what sets us apart from other companies. We also will never use artificial fragrances or colorants in our products. In fact, our products are free from sulfates, parabens, GMOs, formaldehyde, phthalates, PABA, DEA or mineral oils.

Ecology Soap’s commitment to purity also extends from product to package. We focus on bar soaps because liquid soaps use five times more energy for raw material production and twenty times more for packaging. Our boxes are recyclable and made from post-consumer paper. Our business cards are made from recycled t-shirts, and we have recently begun using a green printer that uses soy-based ink for our labeling.

You’re committed to bringing consumers the cleanest soaps on earth, how do you go about this?
Our soap makers are carefully vetted and must meet our company credo. They are also involved in our annual certification via Leaping Bunny, the international certification standard for cruelty-free designation.

Do you plan on expanding your range outside of soap?
Yes, in response to the health hazards associated with the use of talcum powder, we just added a Powder Room to our website, featuring a line of 100% natural, talc-free body powders in seven unique scents: Mandarin Spice, Evergreen, Cedarwood Sage, Lemongrass, Lavender, Key Lime and Peppermint Tea Tree. Their essential oil based aromas are absolutely heavenly.

We also expanded with a “Spa Stop” that includes hand-loomed organic Turkish towels, aromatherapeutic shea butter infused socks, vintage glass soap dishes, bamboo brushes and more.

What does 2020 look like for the brand?
The year will be busy as we expand our brand into more brick and mortar store locations. I also expect to launch a line of fair trade sugar and coffee scrubs.

You’re members of the Rainforest Alliance which is incredible, how important is being sustainable to you?
Sustainability is of utmost important in terms of the environment, but so is sourcing ingredients from farmers that earn a living wage. When you see our brand’s notation that our oil is RSPO certified, you are assured not only that cultivation practices are in keeping with environmental sustainability, but also that the local population is fairly paid for the work they do. RSPO certified palm growers account for only 19% of the overall market.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
I am actually coming to London in May and cannot wait since London has long been on the bucket list. Ecology Soap is a sponsor of the National Social Media Awards in May, and we will be attending the red carpet event to be broadcast into 60 million European households.

Eventually, I am planning to expand into an international line that will feature the “cleanest” soaps from makers around the world, so expect to be traveling on a regular basis. I see travel to known “soap” centers in southern France, Turkey and some off-the-beaten-track areas in the Middle East. At the top of my bucket list, however, is a trip around the Greek isles.

Outside of the business, what do you like to do for fun?
Since Ecology Soap is a young business, much of my time is devoted to its development. I also teach classics at a university here in New York, so time outside those two endeavors is supremely challenged. I do love to travel, however, especially when it is for archaeological purposes. I’m also a huge baseball fan and eagerly await next season.

What does self care mean to you?
I think finding a work-life balance is very important and honestly, I tend to struggle with this. I think getting regular exercise and spending time with friends and relations are most important to me. It’s easy to let those imperatives lapse when you are busy. Self care also means controlling what you expose yourself to in your daily environment and I think being a knowledgeable consumer is necessary for that.

Find out more…

We can be found at www.ecologysoap.com. Subscribe to our newsletter for discounts and product news. Our products can also be found in Europe on the Stilorama.com Luxury Marketplace. Our social media handles are Instagram at ecologysoapllc, Facebook at ecologysoapcompany and Twitter @ecologysoap.

Paige Arnof-Fenn is the ultimate Boss Babe. An accidental entrepreneur, she started her career on Wall Street and built an enviable career before jumping all in to launch her own company, Mavens and Moguls. Paige was formerly VP of marketing at Zipcar. She was responsible for all branding, corporate communications and corporate partnerships for the business and was instrumental in the fundraising efforts for this early stage company. With the skills she learnt here, it was a no brainer that one day she would be the owner of her own company.

Here, she tells us more about building her empire and her passion for knitting…

You’re the founder of Mavens and Moguls, can you tell me about the journey that lead you to launching your company.
I did not plan on starting a company. I always wanted to go work for a large multi-national business and be a Fortune 500 CEO. When I was a student I looked at leaders like Meg Whitman & Ursula Burns as my role models. I started my career on Wall Street in the 80s and had a successful career in Corporate America at companies like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola and worked at 3 different startups as the head of marketing. I took the leap right after 9/11 when the company I worked for cut their marketing. I had nothing to lose. Being an entrepreneur provides me a platform to do work I truly enjoy with and for people I respect. I get to set my priorities, I have time to travel and hang out with my inner circle, and work out every day. It has been a journey to get here but I am lucky to have found it. I love the autonomy, flexibility and the fact that I know every day the impact that I have on my business. When I worked at big companies I always felt the ball would roll with or without me, that if I got hit by a bus someone new would be in my office right away. Now my DNA is in everything we do and I can trace every decision and sale to something I did or a decision I made and that is incredibly gratifying and fulfilling. Like most entrepreneurs, I am working harder and longer than ever and I have never been happier. Working for yourself and building a business you started in incredibly rewarding and gratifying. It has been a lot of fun, I joke that I am the accidental entrepreneur. I knew I had made it as an entrepreneur when Harvard wrote 2 case studies on my business a few years after I started it, we were very early to pioneer sharing resources on the marketing front (before my company it was really only done with HR, legal and accounting/finance).

You have an impressive back story and I love hearing how you developed your skills whilst working for major corporations before going it alone. How did that leap feel?
It felt like the right next step for me, at that time in the economy post 9/11 funding dried up and companies were conserving cash so there really were no marketing jobs open. Because I had run marketing at 3 successful startups that all had good exits I knew a lot of people in venture capital and private equity who had portfolio companies that needed marketing help on an outsourced or interim basis so I hung out a shingle and found some old colleagues who were also available and we jumped right in. I called the women the marketing mavens and the guys the marketing moguls and we’ve been at it now for18 years! It did not feel risky at all because we had clients from the very beginning. I am still having fun!

Tell us about a recent BossBabe moment that you have had…
For fun I enjoy knitting and I am in knitting group that meets every week in a local coffee shop. I have only been knitting a few years and I am by far the worst knitter in the group so everyone helps me when I make mistakes. We really do not talk about work at all in the group but people have seen my signature in e-mails that I am the founder & CEO of a company. A few weeks ago a new person showed up for our knitting group and as soon as she sat down she recognized me from a talk I gave years ago. She is also an entrepreneur and belongs to a very high profile organization that had brought me in for a keynote speech at one of their big events. She is an excellent knitter too. She immediately tells the group all about me, my company, how great my talk was, etc. She still remembered things I had said in the talk and how great my advice was, etc. I think the group was amazed she was such a fan and I was so well respected in my field given they have only known me for a few years as a terrible knitter The woman is now a regular in our group and I think they all see me in new light now more as a beginner knitter with potential who has other strengths and is a BossBabe in other parts of her life. They are also asking to send me referrals now which is great! Plus my knitting is slowly but surely getting better now too!

Marketing matters. What advice would you give to anyone who is planning on launching a brand in 2020…
Branding is very important to growing your business because if you do not brand yourself then the market will brand you instead. The single most important ingredient to creating a great brand is authenticity and here are a few tips from my experience to help establish an authentic brand without spending a lot of money:

  • Be original. What makes you unique or special?
  • Be creative. How do you want people to think & feel after interacting with you vs. your competition?
  • Be honest. Let your brand be known for speaking the truth, and you become the trusted advocate and go-to source.
  • Be relevant. Brands aren’t created in a vacuum.
  • Be consistent. Develop a cohesive message, and live it every day.
  • Be passionate. Everyone loves to work with people who are passionate about what they do; it makes life much more fun and interesting.

There will be new tools and technologies coming for sure but here are some trends to leverage to grow your audience in the new year:

* Smart speakers and voice search are growing in importance so being able to optimize for voice search will be key to maximize the marketing and advertising opportunities on Siri, Alexa, Google Home, etc. I predict that the brands that perfect the “branded skill” with more customer-friendly, less invasive ads are going to win big. Are you prepared when customers ask your specific brand for help like “Alexa ask Nestle for an oatmeal cookie recipe” if not you are missing a big opportunity!

* Live video will grow in importance – live streaming is available on every major social media platform and it is only getting bigger to hook in users with short attention spans, in a mobile first world, you have less time to grab people, attention spans are shorter than ever so video will be used even more, show don’t tell for maximum impact, rich content drives engagement.

* Interactive marketing soars — brands will drive engagement even more with polls, surveys, quizzes, contests, interactive videos, etc. to grab audience attention even quicker

* AI-powered chatbots cut costs and convert visitors into leads by encouraging themed content to answer FAQs with voice search friendly semantic keyword phrases, is your content strategy ready?

* More confidence in trusted content, friends and influencers than advertising — the world has been moving this way for years with people seeking their friends’ and influencers’ opinions and advice online on what to buy, where to go, and what to do more than a paid ad or fancily packaged content. Customers are savvy today they are happy to buy what they want and need but they do not like to be sold things. Curated content and ideas from a trusted source beat paid content every time. Partnering and building relationships with the right influencers with content that is co-created helps brands scale and grow faster and amplify and boost their message

* Authentic relationships beat marketing automation — technology runs our lives more than ever but it is relationships that drive business and commerce so people will find more ways to connect in person to build trust and strengthen connections. Make sure you offer several ways to talk with them and get to know them. Algorithms can only tell you so much about a customer, transactions are driven by relationships. Use automation where you can but do not ignore the power of the personal touch.

Tell us about your biggest success story
We have been fortunate to have a lot of success over the past 18 years but one of the first big breakouts in the first few years of my business I had pitched a CEO about a month before I ran into her at a networking event where she was the keynote speaker and her topic was about being a woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated business. I had followed up after sending my proposal several times via e-mail and voice mail but the CEO never returned any of my messages or even acknowledged receipt of the proposal requested. You can imagine my shock when she announced at this event as part of her speech that she believes it is important to put your money where your mouth is and for women CEOs to support other respected & well-run women’s businesses and that is why she has hired my firm to handle all her company’s marketing & PR! Everyone congratulated me after, it was a better endorsement than the New York Times because she was very well known and had the reputation of being very tough with high standards so I got a LOT of business from people in the room that night because they thought if I was able to impress her I must be very good!

Looking back over your time since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?
I am not sure I would do anything differently though because everything has lead me to this point now. I made plenty of mistakes along the way but that is how you learn and grow. I learned something new with each situation but I probably learned the most during the toughest times when the economy was volatile or I had a client who was difficult. Those are the lessons you never forget. My biggest mistake was not realizing sooner that the people you start with are not always the ones who grow with you. The hardest lesson I learned when I started my company is not getting rid of weak people earlier than I did in the first few years of my business. I spent more time managing them than finding new customers. I knew in my gut they were not up to snuff but out of loyalty to them I let them hang around much longer than they should have. It would have been better for everyone to let them go as soon as the signs were there. They became more insecure and threatened as we grew which was not productive for the team. As soon as I let them go the culture got stronger and the bar higher. “A” team people like to be surrounded by other stars. It is true that you should hire slowly and fire quickly. I did not make that mistake again later on so learned it well the first time. I wish I had known it even earlier though but lesson learned for sure!

Our readers love to travel, where is home to you?
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana but have lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts since 1999.

Imagine you’re stranded on a desert island for 6 weeks, what 3 items would you take?
I’m assuming the phone and internet would not work so maybe a short wave radio with lots of batteries, water & sunscreen

What does 2020 look like for you…
Exciting both personally and professionally but the jury is out on how it will be politically and what that means for the world. I have a great husband and close group of friends I love spending time with and I think every project on the radar is really interesting! That is the beauty of running your own business, if you are not genuinely excited by the work then you can pass on it. I only take on work that I find interesting and worthwhile.

Trisha Watson grew up on a small farm and it was here that she can recall her earliest memories of skincare. Being a child and having an interest in skincare was a clear indication that one day she would have her own company in this industry.

Her story is one of inspiration and here she chats to us about her journey so far, plans for the future and more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to where you are today
It began on a small farm in Black Diamond, Washington. As a child, my three sisters and I, alongside our parents, worked to farm our land, harvest the crops and keep the soil of the earth in impeccable condition. In need of more soil to till, we moved to a larger farm in Eastern Washington, where the sun was on our side, the crops were more fruitful and land more plentiful.

My earliest memory of skincare, was sitting under our kitchen table where women were gathering for an at home skincare party. I remember my grandmother graciously handing me sample packets of skincare as I sat at her feet. I was about 4. I can still recall the texture and feel of the product and becoming instantly mesmerized by it. Looking back, I realize that my grandmothers gesture was to keep my little hands busy so the adults could have their time, yet, unbeknownst to her, she was creating the founder of an organic skincare brand.

In my younger years, I had less than perfect skin. I speak for myself and all sufferers of troubled skin when I say, if the battle of a less than perfect complexion shows on the outside, one will never be able to put into words the severity of the battle on the inside. It was this alone that made me decide, no matter the issue, I wanted to create positive change in the lives of others through the healing of their skin.

With a yearning desire to follow my dream as a Skincare Therapist, I attended business school, became a licensed esthetician and grew a skincare business in the heart of downtown Spokane. During that time, I began blending skincare mixtures with various organic herbs to be used in treatment for targeted issues. Eventually, I created a small capsule line for retail at the indoor Farmers Market which neighbored my treatment business. This is where the retail side if things began taking sprout.

After years of exploring the city life, I couldn’t help but long for open air, the texture of soil and the warm, loving freedom that cultivates when surrounded by the pale green hills of farmland. With my passion for skin care and the new formulations combined with a strong calling back to farm life, my husband Rob and I bought a small farm and moved the business and family from the city. This is where I found space to let my creativity run wild in becoming a return-to-earth beauty entrepreneur, establishing an authentic, conscience skincare line crafted using quality ingredients, responsibly sourced from organic farms.

In creation of a ‘seed to bottle’ approach to my skincare haven, we now nurture two full gardens of organic herbs to be incorporated into various products throughout the line along with outsourcing many ingredients to farmers right here in our own farming community who are dedicated, hardworking, inspirational and passionate about the organic plants they provide.

This skincare contains high content organic makings that are superior in performance, effective, good for the customer and good for our Earth. Trisha Watson Organics is paraben free, phthalate free, gluten free and of course cruelty free.

We fell in love with your brand because you champion beauty from the inside out, promoting that beauty is more than our physical attributes. What does true beauty meant to you?

True beauty becomes more evident through death of the ego. Throughout life, we are all offered experiences in which we can choose to be humbled. As one excepts the humbling, the ego slips further away, naturally inviting in a true and sincere spirit of humility, nobility and a higher intelligence. To me, this is where beauty begins to flow from facet of being.

Tell us about a recent BossBabe moment…

My most recent boss babe moment, would be taking this interview. Putting oneself out there can be hard, nonetheless, I do understand that the soul purpose of fear is to decrease our hope and limits our victories, so I cultivated courage and pushed through. I am so very thankful to House of Cocoa for urging me to crack open and finally construct the courage to talk my dream.

What does 2020 look like for you?

For 2020, I hope for the opportunity to continue sharing my soul with the world through my creative abilities and strive to deepen my contentment in all things.

Looking back over your time in the business, is there anything you’d do differently?

I am a true believer in fate and that every piece of the puzzle was set perfectly into place by the most masterful artist. I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe every step, helpful or inhibiting, is a valuable building block to a much bigger picture.

Who is involved in the business?

First beside me, is my husband, Rob, he ALWAYS has my back. Last year, he began working with me aside from running a business of his own. He brings a much needed masculine energy to the brand, balancing things wholly so I can nurture my feminine nature which is so important to me, in my job as a Mom and also as a creative artist and beauty entrepreneur. I create a vision and he brings that vision to life. We make a great team along with our production manger and the rest of our beloved help.

Outside of work, what do you do to switch off?

I snuggle my kids, burying my face in their soft, little, precious, necks. The sweet smell and the joy in their faces, creates an instant sunshine that carries me a million miles away. Reality through the eyes of a child is an excellent way to disconnect.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I am most inspired to create in times of stillness. In these random moments, a rush of information flows over me. This is how ingredients are solidified and my formulations are created. It is a spiritual thing I guess. I am devout catholic and avid yogi, I let God be the CEO and make the decisions for me. My responsibility is to pray hard and listen as deeply as possible then eventually, the information comes through my hands.

How often do you release new products and what, to date, has been the best seller?

At this point, there is no set schedule when new products are released. I create what comes to me, when it comes. In the beginning, my creativity ran wild as I developed new products rapidly. Now that the line has a good size foot print, I’ve been able to produce at a more comfortable pace and enjoy the process. Best sellers are tied between Flower Girl facial mist and Ultimate Bliss, two very illustrious products.

Our readers love to travel, where’s your happy place?

For me personally, it is my Mama’s back porch overlooking the farm I grew up on. She makes her own homemade wine and, I’m telling you, she is good at it! Otherwise, the banks of a river in Montana or the tip top of a north east Washington mountain somewhere is great way to find a real happy place.

Follow Trisha on her rise to the top trishawatson.com.

Michelle Miller is the founder of My First Workout® as well as being a wonderful wife and mother. Her mantra is to be kind, work hard and stay humble and she stands by that in everything that she does. A powerhouse, Michelle is revolutionising exercise for children and its only a matter of time before My First Workout® is on every parents lips.

Her morning routine alone is one to be admired, let alone her successful career. We had to find out more so here, we spent some time with Michelle to talk about her plans for the brand, how she keeps focused and more…

You guide people back to their primal compass; can you tell us more about this process:

Not meaning to oversimplify my degree in exercise science and fitness but on a very basic level essentially motion is lotion. Our bodies need exercise to function well and feel good to live in.A regular and consistent habit of exercise significantly improves a person’s quality of life and wellbeing.My passion for teaching people how to improve their quality of life, for a lifetime, comes from seeing the difference exercise makes one session after the next, day after day, week after week, for the past 20 years.There is something magical about an activity that releases stress, builds confidence, rids the body of harmful toxins and enhances human connections with the simplest amount of effort.Learning a habit of exercise early in life is key and it has become my life’s mission to teach children how to do this with the My First Workout® program.

What was the pivotal moment in your life that made you launch My First Workout®?

My AHA moment was on March 18th, 2018.It was an early Sunday morning and my 5- year old son and I were talking and cuddling before starting our day. I became overwhelmed with appreciation for our close relationship and his good health.My mind began to wander to other children and their families, especially children who are sedentary or feel a lonely disconnect from other people.I became so burdened to help improve these two critical needs and my career in health & fitness was all I had to offer.Exercise has had a profound impact on my family’s health and our strong connection, and I knew it could be a game changer for other families too.I questioned what was available to help parents teach this valuable life-skill in a non-threatening and affordable way if they did not have a background in exercise or special training like myself. After searching and finding nothing like the program I had in mind that would give parents the tools to develop a habit of fitness right in the home, was easy to follow, convenient, effective for every type of child and simple to teach, the idea for My First Workout® was born.

How do you keep focused on your goals?

There is so much as stake, not just for my own family, but for all the other children and families in the world.My mission to help every child develop a habit of fitness before they reach the 5th grade seems impossible at times, but it keeps me focused 24/7, 365 days a year. One statistical report after the next confirms the downward trend in favor of a sedentary lifestyle resulting in many other poor behavior choices.The health and fitness of American children is in jeopardy and what bothers me the most, it is absolutely preventable. Every time I see a child, I imagine how different their life could be if an influential adult in their life would take the time to go through the My First Workout® program with them just two days a week for 25 minutes.I picture the child doing better at school.I picture them having more confidence to approach life.I picture them as successful adults someday carrying on the mission of good health and fitness with their own children.I believe if I can ever get this positive lifestyle cycle spinning fast enough, starting with kids that are between the ages of 5-12, it would be possible to reverse the direction our nation is heading in for generations to come.Right now, 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese and 80% will remain that way into adulthood.1 in 5 children has a mental health disorder.1 in 5 is pre-diabetic.75% of American teenagers are not fit enough to join the military. 1 in 59 are diagnosed with Autism.Young athletes are getting hurt in record numbers.Kids need to learn how to prepare their bodies for whatever storm life throws at them. It’s going to take a collective effort from parents, educators, healthcare professionals and anyone else who has a significant amount of influence in a child’s life to preach a powerful message of proactivity and lifestyle fitness from the earliest age possible.

How old is your son now?Does he still enjoy exercise?

My oldest son is now 21 and my younger son, who inspired me to write the My First Workout® program, is now 7.Even though My First Workout® did not exist two decades ago, in tangible form, we were always very active. That lifestyle habit continues in him to this day.He uses the little money he has to pay for memberships at a local gym and at a rock-climbing club.The funny thing about him is, he fought me on just about every workout I wanted to do with him as a young child.Now that he is older, he understands the value of exercise and sees the difference between people who take the time to be healthy and fit and those who don’t.When he invites me to his gym and lets me train him or create workout programs for whatever his particular goal is at the moment brings me pure joy.It’s hard to find areas of connection especially with older kids so I am very grateful that exercise is something we can do together.My younger son was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD several years ago, so exercise is an essential part of our day. It is important for him to have a positive outlet for all his natural energy and rarely turns down a workout.We are constantly doing something active, especially on school days.The exercise we do before school helps him function better in the classroom and stay more on task.

Talk us through an average day in your life?

An average day in my life looks like a juggling nightmare!I have a lengthy morning routine for my younger son before taking him to school at 8:00 am. My first client of the day starts at either 8:15 or 8:30 and I am constantly bouncing between my private studio, my mobile clients and business development for the My First Workout® program.Sometime during the course of the day, I get a 5-mile walk/run in and eat something.I pick my son up at 6:00 pm from his after-school program and do my best to put work aside once my family comes home.Somedays I am better at this than others.It is important that we always eat dinner together and not eat out too much.After a lengthy bedtime routine, we are all in bed around 9:00.

How do you get balance as an entrepreneur, wife and mother?

I honestly can’t say I have good balance in my life right now.I was a workaholic before becoming an entrepreneur and so now my workload is just beyond overwhelming.I am exhausted mentally and physically quite often and have felt like giving up many times. My extreme passion to help children all over the world grow up with a habit of fitness from the earliest age possible never lets me rest.My vision for stronger kids and families has tipped the balance scale in my life like never before but the cause is so great, it’s worth being out of whack for.Balance is something I’m mindful of however and want to improve in 2020.

Do you follow a morning routine, if so, what is it?

I am an early riser, 5:30 am, and I must have one cup of coffee to get my day going.I read from the same three books every day, a devotional by Charles Stanley, a chapter from The Bible and a section in the book Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by Becky Bailey.My devotional comes monthly so that is always changing but when I finish the other two books, I just start them over again.If anything speaks to me as particularly encouraging or hopeful, I write it down in a journal that I am going to leave to my sons. There are so many things I want them to know and I’m afraid I won’t get to tell them everything so this journal will help with that.The quiet, peaceful time of morning is my favorite time of day.

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?

Something I would do over again if I had the chance from a personal standpoint is to wait until I was older to get married and have kids.I was a very young wife and mother the first time around and I made a lot of mistakes.I wish I had internalized Becky’s book when I was raising my oldest son like I am doing now with my younger son.I blame myself for so many things he struggles with and it has taken me a long time to rebuild our relationship.I was just not prepared to be a wife and mother.I lacked the skills myself that I needed to be teaching him.I wish I had been as prepared to be a mother as I was to be a fitness instructor.I think that is the reason I am a workaholic.I am confident in my fitness ability more so than any other area in my life.Something I would do over again if I had the chance from a professional standpoint is to start off smaller, with less inventory and to handle shipping on my own.Hiring a fulfillment company so early on in the journey was a big mistake.Many of the decisions I made were hasty and I trusted good salespeople and people who were all talk and no action way too much.Those mistakes cost me emotionally and financially.I have learned to step back and do my research on a product, person or service and to wait at least 7 days before entering into a business agreement with anyone.

What book would you recommend that any aspiring entrepreneur should read?

The book that has given me the most hope and peace along the way is the Bible.These two things are very hard to find when the hard times come, and they will at some point for every person, so reading one story after the next about normal, insignificant people who were used to change the world for the better was a tremendous source of peace and hope for me.I gain so much courage when I read about men and women who experienced trials and tribulations and wound up overcoming great odds to accomplish a higher purpose for their life.Another great book is Ramesh Dontha’s, The 60 Minute Start-Up.It is packed full of helpful advice and tips for anyone who is in the process or contemplating the entrepreneurial journey

What are the pros and cons of being a female entrepreneur?

That’s a great question and one I haven’t had much time to think about on this journey yet.A Pro that immediately pops into my mind is the ability to multi-task like a superhero!Females are usually pretty good at doing all sorts of things at the same time, because they just have to be.As a wife, mother, daughter, friend, trainer and business owner, I feel pulled in many different directions and do my best to meet everyone’s needs so I’m not letting them down.Cons of being a female entrepreneur would also have to be the ability to multi-task like a superhero.There is something so pure and genuine about laser sharp focus on something.The idea of focusing on one thing at a time sounds absolutely incredible to me.However, there are always more items on my to-do list than hours in a day, so a multi-tasker I will probably always be.

What does self-care mean to you?

Self-care is an essential part of my overall well-being and ability to manage my life productively.For my spiritual health, I read the Bible and pray every morning.For my physical health, I exercise, drink lots of water and aim to get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep every night.For my mental health, I enrolled in a mindfulness class a few months ago.I learned to ask myself one simple question when I am feeling anxious and it has made a profound difference in my life.For my social and emotional health, I spend time with my family.My husband is the best life partner and friend I could have ever imagined going through life with.My boys have taught me what unconditional love and the meaning of life is.

What mantra do you live by?

Be kind.Work hard.Stay humble.

What does 2020 look like for you?

2020 will be another year of hard work laying the foundation for all that is to come.My primary focus is on building the My First Workout® brand and connecting with people who are on the front lines of children’s health and fitness: parents, teachers, coaches, health care professionals, government officials, and insurance companies. My primary question is, “how are you being proactive with their health and fitness?”Whether a child is an aspiring athlete or prefers more sedentary activity, it is critical for them to be forming habits that are life-long and built into the very fabric of their daily lives from the earliest age possible.Positive habits that will empower them and enhance every other facet of their life.I believe one of the most important skills a child can learn is how to strengthen their mind and body.Weight training does both and is not limited to childhood.My ultimate vision is for every child to be afforded the opportunity to go through the entire My First Workout® program.My ultimate goal is for every child to be hooked on fitness before they hit double digits.The My First Workout® program was designed to make that dream possible.

Find out more…

Michelle Miller 850-545-9284

Website: https://www.myfirstworkout.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MyFirstWorkout/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/myfirstworkout/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-miller-77106235/

Today, Intimissimi formally announces that international icon (and force of nature) Jennifer Lopez will be their new global brand ambassador. The Italian lingerie and intimate apparel brand confirmed the news to coincide with the release of their Spring/Summer 2023 campaign. Not to mention, this is just ahead of International Women’s Day too.

The campaign, featuring Lopez, celebrates women and empowers them to feel confident and valued in all the roles that they play. “We want women to live the most fulfilling life and feel empowered every day,” said Matteo Veronesi, Chief Executive Officer of Intimissimi.

In Jennifer’s own words, “I’m proud to be an Intimissimi woman and honored that they view me as someone who emulates their own qualities of confident, lively and strong.”

The new Spring/Summer 2023 campaign is set in dreamy Postiano, Italy. Creative Director, Riccardo Ruini, Director Gia Coppola and photographer, Chris Colls work their cinematic magic to capture the brilliant hues of the lingerie collection against the gorgeous Mediterranean backdrop.

Check out these articles by the House of Coco Team with a celebrity connection: Rachel McAlley and Laura Bartlett.

Looking at the bright, glowing and total boss babe Feva Sweat Co-Founder Selina Bagnulo and you wouldn’t be able to guess the struggles she overcame to become the Girl Boss that she is today. According to Selina, fitness and a healthy lifestyle helped her overcome her body image issues, and she wants to share this positivity with others through her sustainable and inclusive activewear brand Feva Sweat.

Feva Sweat is the brainchild of Selina and business partner Richard Yang. The brand offers different kind of made-to-measure, bespoke activewear styles that break free from the limitations of standard sizing and make all women feel like a queen no matter what their size.

Selina says, “My goal is to create a business that is inclusive to all body types. A place where women don’t feel restricted by dress size, don’t judge themselves on being small, medium or large, a place where individuals can be themselves and shine bright as who they are.”

Team Coco caught up with Selina to talk about the journey that led to Feva Sweat, the biggest advice she has for aspiring entrepreneurs and what makes Feva Sweat stand out from the rest.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? What is Feva Sweat?

My name is Selina. I am 24 years old and grew up in London. I was born in Cape Town South Africa and lived in Africa for the first 4 years of my life. My family is from all over the world and very mixed in culture. I have recently moved from London to Spain.

I work as a personal trainer privately training women online, in my local gym or by the beautiful beaches of Denia. I love helping them to reach their health and fitness goals. The nature of my work means I have flexible hours and time to work from home on my recently launched clothing line, Feva Sweat.

Feva Sweat is a custom made, sustainable, slow fashion activewear brand. We offer premium quality activewear with the availability of made to measure, fully bespoke garments. Now we are very small scale, our handmade garments are produced in small batches of 45 pieces for standard sizes and made-to-order in our bespoke system.

For our first ever release we have leggings, shorts and crop tops available. Now we have one standard style that is available in 3 different colours and hoping to expand soon. As a start-up, we felt this would be the most effective way to bring our customers the best products possible. We aim for quality over quantity at Feva Sweat.

Our clothing is produced in a sustainable system, with premium fabric from a sustainable Italian supplier. All our products are manufactured in a small factory in London UK, shipped by a local e-commerce company and packaged in recyclable materials. Our goal is to allow people to express their Individuality, fuel their inner fire and encourage their devotion to physical activity.

What inspired you to launch Feva Sweat (your personal journey that’s brought you here)?

A huge inspiration for me to start my own clothing brand was to create a company that has a perfect fit for ALL body types! Growing up, I had enormous struggles with my body image and loving myself. I was diagnosed with anorexia/bulimia nervosa around the age of 13 and was hospitalised at 17. I’ve always struggled to love the body that I was in. Fortunately, I have a loving family who supported me during this difficult time and knew it important for me to take some time away from studies and work to heal.

During this healing period I began to exercise slowly and began to eat more each day. I couldn’t believe how good I began to feel, my body was getting stronger, but most importantly my mind was thriving. I had never felt so happy about the skin that I was in and at peace in my mind, no longer battling myself about food, or constantly telling myself I wasn’t good enough. This is the chapter in my life where I fell in love with exercise and healthy living. I wanted to share with others what I had discovered.

I went on to complete my qualifications in personal training and sport. I created an Instagram page where I began documenting my fitness journey and how I had overcome my demons in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same. At this time, my business-minded long time best friend, Richard Yang, suggested that we create a clothing brand. This idea between friends was where Feva Sweat was born!

During our brainstorming I said to him “wouldn’t it be great if there was a sports clothing company who sized their leggings like companies like Levi’s and Topshop do their jeans?” So, Feva Sweat offers not only waist and length measurements, but can make our leggings fit each woman’s body shape. This is the perfect way to express my life story through my clothing brand, as it foregoes judgement towards dress sizes whether you were small, medium or large. I could just be size ‘Selina’ and others size ‘Kathrine’ or whatever beautiful Queen that you are. No matter what your measurements are, Feva Sweat would have a way of making every woman look and feel beautiful!

How did you come up with the name?

Richard and I came up with the name after we created our mission statement of bringing out an individual’s inner fire. We landed on Feva in relation to a ‘fever’ and being hot when working out. It also portrays the idea of having fire within which creates our character, motivation and drive. We wanted a unique name that was memorable and linked our brand with exercise. That is when we added the word sweat which had a nice ring to it. The result being Feva Sweat.

What makes Feva Sweat stand out from the rest?

What really makes Feva Sweat different from other sportswear brands is our unique availability to customise measurements exactly to the body of our customers, resulting in full bespoke tailored garments.

We have tiers to our bespoke ability, for example standard sizes being the first tier. We have semi-bespoke which is the second tier where customers can adjust the length of their leggings and tops. Our last tier and most specialised feature are Fully Bespoke, this is where customers can adjust ALL measurements according to their personal preference and fit that they would like. They must get in contact with me to order their fully bespoke garments. We have a step by step video and explanations on how to measure your body so that it is clear to all. We then create a personalised avatar where we can adjust small measurements if needed to ensure that we create the perfectly fitted custom outfit just for them! Feva Sweat also maintains premium quality products and a sustainable slow fashion nature.

What is it like being an entrepreneur and launching your own business currently in your life?

It is very liberating. I have great control over my day to day life. My future career excites me as I can make money doing something that I love. The sky’s the limit, I have so many things to try and so many ways to grow. There have been times I have doubted myself, but I think the only time that I would ever really fail is if I gave up trying. There are many obstacles, but so far, I have been able to overcome each hurdle that has come my way, it just takes patience and persistence. I want to keep learning, overcoming and growing. I believe in myself, and I believe in Feva Sweat.

How has this endeavour changed your life so far?

This has changed my life completely. I never thought I would start my own business. I was studying sport science with the intention of working as a sport psychologist or physical therapist. After the first steps of starting my own business, I knew it was what I wanted to do forever. I moved to Spain to live with my mum. It can be difficult living away from my home, family and the city where the business was born. Living in Spain has been a blessing as it has given me time to develop Feva Sweat. Starting Feva Sweat was one of the best things I have ever done. It has made me realise what type of lifestyle I want and for that I am forever grateful.

What are your goals for Feva Sweat and yourself in the coming years?

My goal is to create a business that is inclusive to all body types. A place where women don’t feel restricted by dress size, don’t judge themselves on being small, medium or large, a place where individuals can be themselves and shine bright as who they are.

I aim to expand the styles that we have, create more made-to-measure custom items and introduce this niche into the fashion industry. I want to change fashion culture, moving away from people being categorised into size, finding a new system where people can have their own size. I don’t want women to worry about finding clothes that fit, or that they must change to look and feel good in their activewear. My goal for Feva Sweat is to be that change.

My goal for myself is to do everything I can to make that happen, to learn, listen and adapt to develop the perfect products, to be inclusive, sustainable and maintain the quality of our brand. I would like to expand, release men’s clothing, expand to other countries and continue to grow in every way possible.

WWW.FEVAONLINE.COM

Amanda Harrington is as unapologetic a boss babe as they come. Sunless tanning and body contour guru to the stars, Amanda Harrington has tanned some of the world’s biggest celebrities (including Jennifer Aniston and Dua Lipa to name a few) and worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises, before deciding to take a leap and start her own eponymous self-tanning business.

For Amanda, her mission is simple and that is to create a ‘one-stop shop for safe skin.’ She started her business three years ago and has since released several cult sunless tanning products that are not only effective, but also vegan and cruelty-free.

In this latest Girl Bosses of Great Britain interview, we catch up with the sunless tanning queen herself and talk about the benefits of skin health and the importance of pre- and post-tanning regimens. We chat about her incredible career, the ‘Amanda Harrington technique’ and how she is transforming her client’s confidence one beautiful, glowing tan at a time.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start your own beauty business?

My name is Amanda and I am known for my sunless tanning body contouring technique. I have travelled the world applying my technique to lots of beautiful bodies on film, fashion, red carpets and on music tours. We have built a beautiful base of tan fans such as Jennifer Anniston, Dua Lipa, Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne.

I started my career in London as a body artist working on photo shoots and film sets before I decided to go on tour with bands such as the Rolling Stones. I then moved onto movie sets for films like Bond and Tomb Raider, transforming the look and muscle tone of the body. This obsession and passion grew to the point wherein I thought how much I would love for more people to experience a streak-free, vegan and odour free way of applying self-tan at home. I wanted people to feel good and create a beautiful glow that didn’t look orange. That was really when I went into a lab to start formulating back in 2012.

Could you tell us about your mission to guarantee the most natural, long-lasting and safe means to tan, while offering a luxurious, uplifting and sensorial experience to your customers?

My mission is to create a one-stop shop for safe skin. Creating a hub designed to educate on the benefits of skin health, the importance of SPF and share the power of how transformational self-tan is to your mood and body confidence. It really can turn your day around in less than five minutes. People notice how well you look, and you certainly feel it.

I love getting feedback from customers about how they ‘can’t live without the face mist’ or body mousse. It’s just the best feeling to know I have helped a little way towards making that customer feel uplifted. This is what I love so much about working with clients, the result is magical.

What sets Amanda Harrington’s sunless tanning products apart from other tanning products in the market today?

I think two things. The first is that our products are applied with my brushes that are such a game changer in the market. Also, the products themselves (which took me forever to formulate) had never been created before, so we had to start from scratch which took years. I am so so happy with them, and 11 awards later, it seems so is everyone else.

They are vegan, alcohol free (an ingredient which most self-tan products contain), paraben and sulfate free. Most importantly, I use Hyaluronic, collagen and Aloe Vera in all the bases to offer the most hydrated tan which nourishes the skin. I love the tonal tanning tints in Natural Rose, Honey and Olive which again is different in the market as most tan brands use one tone and that’s light, medium and dark – which doesn’t reflect the vast rainbow of skin tones.

Tell us about the Amanda Harrington technique – and why it is just so effective?

First, it is vegan which is so lovely, as you know it’s clean. My technique is based on layering, very much like how we apply make-up. How I explain it is, if you applied concealer all over dry skin and went out, you would feel dry and look rather 2D and that’s the same for sunless tan. I never understood one colour spray all over the body which is filled with drying alcohol that clings to dry skin. The results are variable and uncontrollable, hence why you see a fair few tanning mishaps on hands, ankles and elbows.

I use a Shea Butter-based barrier cream to prep dry areas, then apply a hydration layer called Body Base which has a small amount of gradual tan in it, and then you apply your skin tone appropriate face mist or body mousse that melts into the skin so easily with the wonder tool – a tanning brush. The brushes are the so effective at buffing the hyaluronic based tints into the skin that you create a natural, even base that just matches your skin tone — no matter what shade — so perfectly and lasts for days. It’s like semi-permanent make-up that doesn’t clog the pores.

Amanda Harrington goes beyond self-tanning and into skin health and sun care as well. How important is a proper post-tanning skin routine?

I think pre-tanning and post-tanning are equally as important. The power of prep happens with my fast-acting advanced glycolic body scrub which preps the skin perfectly. Post-tanning is all about topping up colour with my super hydrating gradual tans or tan compatible face and body lotions which help the colour last longer and fade evenly.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur so far?

The challenges go through phases, based on where you are on your journey. For me it’s gone from formulation woes and ‘will I ever be happy with the products’ to launching, and then having to pivot the supply chain during lockdown, to Brexit and so on. Business is essentially problem solving every single day and finding solutions.

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

We are just coming up to our third year and opening with more retailers in the UK, Australia and US which is amazing. We’re also about to grow the professional side of the business into more Soho House sites and in Saudi Arabia where they LOVE contouring. Not forgetting all the new product launches we have planned, which I cannot wait for you to try!

What advice do you have for those looking to take the leap and start their own businesses too?

Please remember that annual leave is a thing of the past ha, be disciplined, committed and consistent. You must remain level-headed, give decisions some time and space, look at all the options and then decide and keep moving forwards.

Most of all – look at your vision and ask yourself ‘will I regret it if I don’t try’ and sit, listen for the answer over a few days, weeks, months – however long it takes. Mine took years. Once you decide you want to, be unapologetic from that moment on about your vision, and always speak from the heart.

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