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The Coral Room: A Splash of colour in Bloomsbury

There’s nothing like London in the fall, and when the autumn leaves are turning and everyone whips out their chunkiest scarves, we’re making our way to The Coral Room at the BloomsburyHotel for a taste of the tropics and the best cocktails intown.

Located in The Bloomsbury Hotel, the Coral Room is the result of a head-to-toe renovation of the original Edward Lutyens designed hotel lobby. Helmed by Martin Brudnizki, this building has been utterly transformed into a stylish oasis right in the heart of Bloomsbury. Everything about The Coral Room pops; from the art deco inspired touches, the bright coloured walls, and alluring textures. Everything makes you feel like you have stepped into a Wes Anderson film scene (the Darjeeling Limited and the Grand Budapest Hotel come to mind) Tropical motifs add a cheeky element of warmth, and the ample amount of foliage allows some reprieve from even chilliest London afternoon. The focal point however is definitely the stylish Calcutta marble bar. Interior designer Martin Brudnizki definitely outdid himself here, by successfully making the cavernous 2,100 double ceilinged space feel both glamorous and inviting. The key? — colour, and lot’s of it.The Coral walls are accented with brass, gold, Murano glass, and the clever pink-tinted details; all making The Coral Room one of the most Instagrammable spots town.

Moving from interior design to the menu, let’s talk about the brunch. We tried the delightful Chicory Salad, the veggie Shakshuka, accompanied by a generous helping of truffle fries (of course!)Although it was almost impossible to decide because the brunch menu offers a concise but tempting selection of some revamped classics. I helped myself to a couple martini glasses of the fabulous Gin Lane cocktail. A perfect mixture of Hendricks gin, St. Germain, rose syrup, and Viognier, the Gin Lane is delicious and danger in equal measure. As one can easily knock back a few of these sinfully saccharine concoctions without even thinking twice. If you are feeling a little extra indulgent, do check out their extensive list of English sparkling wines, which is one of the largest London has to offer. Take a few recommendations from the absolutely charming bar manager, Giovanni Spezziga, whose infectious Italian charm will not just provide you with some truly fantastic sparkling wine choices, but will also leave you feeling absolutely pampered.This and so much more make The Coral Room the most stylish place in Bloomsbury for a drink, afternoon tea, brunch, or everything all at once.

The Coral Room

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Food & Drink

Five Immersive Food Experiences to Try At Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort and Spa, Mauritius

If you’re looking for a bit more than the chance to soak in the sun on a relaxing holiday on an Indian Ocean island, then check out these five immersive food experiences offered by Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius. This five-star deluxe property, located at Trou d’Eau Douce on the island’s eastern coast delivers on hospitality, relaxation and soft adventure.

For many people, visiting Mauritius means prioritising relaxation over adventure. This is one reason why Mauritius remains popular for resort holidays – the island has around 150 resorts dotted around its stunning 330 kilometres of coastline.

However, with a little curiosity, visitors will find many opportunities to step away from the beach and sun loungers to experience some adventure. Activities are a great way to get acquainted with this gem of an island.

With travel activities a focus in recent travel trends, TripAdvisor has projected a 47% increase in the demand for food and wine experiences in 2019. Those trends also suggest that these experiences should preferably be local, authentic and provide opportunities to learn something new.

So what if, through a combination of curated activities, visitors could get insights into the local food culture in Mauritius, pick up some culinary inspiration and enjoy unique dining experiences while still prioritising relaxation?

Resorts like Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius offer this very combination.

In this roundup, we share five immersive food experiences to try at Shangri-La’s signature property in Mauritius.

#1. Start Your Day With a Floating Breakfast

The three secluded beach villas – the most exclusive accommodations – at Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa have been known to host royals and celebrities. However, in between guest appearances by the stars, the beach villas are selectively opened to guests seeking a different type of breakfast experience.

A golf-cart picks you up from the hotel reception and takes you through to the ultra-private residences on the other side of the resort. Upon arrival, you are greeted by a dedicated villa team made up of a butler and chef there to cater to your every need.

Your preferred drink (turns out, it’s never too early for a mimosa so we ordered a few) is handed to you as you emerge from one of the adjoining rooms in your swimwear.

Rays from the morning sun filter between swaying palm trees, gently caressing your skin as you glide into your own private infinity pool surrounded by sounds from tropical birds and the soothing repetitiveness of the early tide.

As your mind and body become acquainted with your new surroundings, a floating tray with your breakfast – soft cheeses, smoked salmon, croissants, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit – is gently set adrift. You literally begin your trip with an immersive food experience.

#2. Pick Your Own Ingredients in the Chef’s Garden

Mauritian cuisine perfectly reflects the cultural diversity of the island. Cooking styles and ingredients from Indian, Chinese, French and Creole cultures have blended over centuries resulting in an equally diverse local cuisine.

Ramesh Bundi is an acclaimed chef who heads up Safran, Shangri-La Le Touessrok’s Indian-Mauritian fusion restaurant. When he’s not preparing for his evening-only feast at the resort, he can often be found scouting the resort’s on-site vegetable garden for ingredients.

We tagged along after breakfast to explore this green patch of goodness that supplements the resort’s five restaurants with freshly picked ingredients. We watched Chef Ramesh pick a few items including chillies, a popular feature in many Mauritian curries.

Looking for an immersive food experience while in Mauritius? Find a local chef and go foraging for local ingredients. Learn how ingredients such as garlic, turmeric, coriander, lemongrass and of course, chillies are used in various local dishes and hear the stories surrounding them.

#3. Participate in a Cooking Class with a Local Chef

Following our visit to the vegetable garden, we headed back to Safran for a cooking class with Chef Ramesh and his colleague Chef Ravi. The recipe? A simple Mauritian chicken curry.

Putting their skills to work, the chefs built the dish’s flavours layer by layer using some of the ingredients earlier picked from the garden and other signature spices from the Safran kitchen (Chef Ramesh insists on making his own).

While chatting about their favourite local dishes, the chefs surprised us with a treat, a dish called Salade Palmiste. Also known as ‘millionaire’s salad’, this Mauritian delicacy is a feast of delicate flavours with the chopped-up, raw heart of a palm tree as the main highlight.

Cooking with locals is a great way to learn about life in Mauritius and perhaps pick up a secret family recipe or two. Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa simulates that experience with on-site cooking classes led by local chefs.

#4. Visit a Local Market and Sample Street Food

Fancy a bit more activity? Jump on electric bikes and head to a local market to feast your senses on local flavours and delicacies and to feel the vibe.

Our guide on this excursion was the resort’s lead fitness instructor, Jean Philippe Nazira, who expertly managed a small group of enthusiastic cyclists on our journey to the Central Flacq Market.

The flat tyres of our electric bikes were useful for both on and off-road situations and the electric motor made pedalling (especially uphill) such a breeze. Our six-mile route through sugarcane plantations and small fishing villages eventually brought us into Centre de Flacq, a busy town with just over 16,000 inhabitants.

The Central Flacq Market is the biggest outdoor market in Mauritius and as expected, was bustling with activity. Enjoy browsing through local textiles, tropical fruit, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood and spices without pressure.

This is the place to sample dholl puri (or dholl purée), thin pancakes made from wheat flour dough and ground split peas. This popular street food is cooked on a girdle called a tawa and served plain or with a spoonful of rougaille, a spicy-sweet tomato sauce and wrapped in paper.

Other treats to sample include gâteau patate, a wafer-like pastry made from sweet potato and coconut and fried gato piments (a combination of split peas, spring onion, turmeric, and chilli) served on a warm baguette with a drizzle of hot sauce.

Before you leave, remember to replace those electrolytes for the return trip with fresh coconut water.

#5. Relax, Recharge and Revive on a Private Island

After your cycling exertions, you’ll want to jump back into chill mode. No problem. There’s another food experience to give you one more taste of Mauritius…a relaxing lunch on a private island. Ilôt Mangénie is a privately owned island to which guests at Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa have exclusive access.

A ten-minute shuttle boat service transports guests from the main resort, across a crystal clear lagoon and into an intimate dining and relaxation experience. This experience comes with a beach cabana equipped with a bed big enough to sleep four people and private butler service.

Upon arrival, you’re welcomed with a glass of chilled sparkling South African rosé wine and a fresh fruit basket. Your butler takes your lunch order before disappearing to let you enjoy your privacy and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

As you relax, recharge and revive, he may then reappear bearing the most delicate truffle pizza you’ve ever tasted or an aromatic and well seasoned grilled red snapper accompanied with fresh vegetables.

On Ilôt Mangénie, the concept of time seems foreign. When you’re done with your meal, take a walk along the quiet beach or simply immerse yourself in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Travel information

We flew directly to Mauritius from London Heathrow with Air Mauritius (12 hours). Excursions to Ilôt Mangénie and Central Flacq Market were pre-arranged but are available to all guests. Rates for a 5-night stay in a Junior Suite Frangipani Beach Access room start from £920 per night for half-board (includes breakfast and dinner, golf club access and water sports). Costs are based on 2 adults visiting in November 2019.

For enquiries and bookings, visit www.shangri-la.com/mauritius

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Designer

#WomenWorldwide : Following Your Intuition with Ellie at NITARA

There’s a special kind of anguish when you’ve worked so hard for one path – perhaps a childhood dream – and you realise that it’s just not the one for you. However, in these times of turmoil and disappointment, incredible strengths can become apparent ; that lead you to new paths and a new, perhaps truer, version of yourself.

Today’s interview with Ellie, founder of NITARA might have you itching to hatch your own escape plan. Take that as our disclaimer!

HOC: Hi Ellie, great to meet you! Tell us about your journey to being an entrepreneur?

Ellie: I always wanted to have my own business. When I was a child, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I have a really vivid memory of drawing up interior designs for my own clothing shop one day (It was called ‘Ellie’s’ and it was in Paris, obviously – haha!); that was all I ever really wanted.

Long story short: I did end up doing a Fashion design degree, after that I worked in the industry for a brand I love and thought that would be enough…but it wasn’t. Within four months of working there I realised that I’m wasn’t really cut out for working for someone else! It wasn’t too long after that I left that job and started teaching yoga full time and the first plans for NITARA were born.

HOC: Tell us about your business, NITARA?

Ellie: NITARA was the brainchild of being a busy yoga teacher, living in activewear and being unable to find clothing that really aligned with the yogic way of life. I was on an endless search for activewear that was modern and cool, something different to ‘black on black’, but that was sustainably an ethically made…at the time I couldn’t find anything, so I decided to made my own!

As for the name, NITARA is a sanskrit word which means “to be grounded/deeply rooted”. It’s actually the spiritual name I was given at the end of my yoga teacher training on my first trip to India.

HOC: Tell us about the ethical side of your business?

Ellie: I’ve felt really connected to the ethical side of fashion for a long time, actually since my mum took me to a talk by Katherine Hamnett at the V&A when I was about 16/17. After uni, when I became more serious about yoga and the philosophy thats behind it, I started applying yogic principles into my life away from the yoga mat. The first connection I made was, again, to my clothing. how I expressed myself and what I was choosing to spend my money on.

When I decided to take the leap and launch NITARA, there was no question about my approach. Everything I put out into the world has to be 100% authentic reflection of how I live my life and the values I uphold. I often refer to it as ‘yoga first, business second’ because that’s just how my day pans out: first I do the yoga, then I do the things…and I try to make whatever I’ve learned on my yoga mat filter down into every action I make throughout the day.

The earth has a MAJOR overflow problem right now in terms of waste – as we should all be aware of by now! So it’s my strong belief that anyone looking to bring a new product into the world, should make it their mission to clear some of that waste away in order to make room for the new…which is why our collection is made from recycled plastic bottles, of course!

HOC: Couldn’t agree more. I love how you’ve combined your passions and creativity in your current business / life. How did all these little career swerves come about?

Ellie: Fashion was always my big dream. Then in my last year of my fashion degree, the idea to do my yoga teacher training kinda sprung into my head out of nowhere…It became a thought that would pop back into my head all the time, and if something haunts me like that, I just have to follow it!

So I travelled to India and completed my training right after I graduated, with no real intent on teaching in the end, I just did it to get that thought out of my system and for the sake of learning more…but I left my training with a burning desire to share everything I’d learnt.

After that came the stint working in the fashion industry. During my time there I taught yoga on the side. It didn’t take long to realise that I felt much more at home in the yoga studio than I did at work; which is why I decided to leave and teach yoga full time.

That sparked many more trips to India to continue my learning and to develop my practice. On my second trip I stumbled onto a massage course – can you see a pattern here? haha! Anyway, it turns out I’m quite good at massage (who knew?!) and since then I’ve massaged in almost every 5* spa and hotel in London, in a private home in the Seychelles and worked with celebrities and royal families…all at the same time as teaching yoga, of course.

In the background of all of that, I started working on NITARA. It took me 4 years to actually launch it, which is what happens when you try to spin too many plates at once I guess!

I did the Prince’s Trust Young Enterprise programme, I secured funding from them, developed the concept and products…and finally launched in April 2018. Now, I guess I’ve gone pretty much full circle! I run NITARA most of the time, I still teach yoga (and always, always will!) and I massage sometimes, but no where near as much as I have done in the last few years.

HOC: I feel like you are the right person to ask this to! Where does your drive come from?

Ellie: I feel like it’s a cliche entrepreneur thing to say, but without a ‘Why?’ you can’t drive anything.

So, my drive comes from creating a brand that’s an honest representation of the way I live, the kind of businesses I want to see and the world I want to live in. I’ve never understood why we have ‘ethical fashion’ or ‘non-ethical fashion’ , ‘conscious living’ and ‘unconscious living’… you know? That makes zero sense!

I think drive comes from your ‘why?’ ; being a reason bigger than yourself, your purpose has to bring about some new culture, idea or to change peoples lives in some way. That’s where real fire comes from. If my ‘why?’ was just to make some cool yoga pants, it would never have come into fruition.

My recommendation for keeping focus is to have some kind of vision or goal that you’re aiming for. You should have a 5/10 year vision and constantly ask yourself if what you’re doing is in alignment with that. That vision can be quite fluid, it can change slightly over time but it always has to align with your ‘why’ and your deeper message behind your business.

HOC: That’s very true. Without true passion you won’t find the energy to push your business forwards. Let’s go back a bit, for our entrepreneurial readers, what advice do you have for them to start their own thing?

Ellie: In my mind: launch fast and grow with feedback. I know I didn’t do that; 4 years is a long time to launch something! But if I could do it all again, I’d stop talking about it and just launch the thing as soon as I could. Your first products will never be perfect, so just launch with what you have and grow from there.

HOC: What personal achievement of yours means the most to you and why?

Ellie: Thats a hard one! I’ve had a crazy career so far and my life has taken loads of unexpected twist and turns, I’ve achieved a hell of a lot in quite a short space of time and I’m super proud of that.

But the achievement that means the most to me is probably the relationships I’ve managed to keep or nurture through all of that. You know how a lot of people say that: when they launched their business, tried to become artist or make it in music, that the people around them weren’t so supportive, they were told that it would fail or that they should probably get a “real job” well, nobody has ever said anything like that to me – not even once!

My family and friends are everything to me, I’m still best friends with people I met when I was 11 years old and through yoga I have met literally the most inspiring people you’d ever care to cross paths with. It would have been really easy to lose connection when we were half way across the world from each other, having completely different experiences for months at a time, but somehow that hasn’t really happened.

Because of that support network I’ve never really felt like I needed to prove anything to anyone, be anything other than myself or that anything was really that impossible. So every idea I’ve had or turn I’ve taken has just been an authentic expression of whatever I was really feeling intuitively drawn to at the time, because what ever hair-brained idea I had was greeted without question; just complete support.

That means everything and I’m fully aware of how incredibly rare that is! I don’t know if that counts as an achievement in the normal sense of the word, but it does mean a lot to me.

HOC: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Ellie: I feel like most designers have the same answer for this: Everywhere! I’m such a magpie! Part of a design could come from my travels but then I could get a colour palette idea from some artwork, a photo on Instagram/ Pinterest, a book, piece of graffiti, a flower in a garden or a student that walks into my yoga class with a cool attitude that I want to encapsulate somehow. Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes open!

Inspiration for the shapes of our clothes are easier to come by because I usually find those while I’m practicing yoga or while I’m teaching. I want our pieces to be cool to look at, but also functionally do their job. I want your outfit to be the last thing on your mind while you move! Those ideas usually come when I’m on my yoga mat or working out in something that’s perhaps not doing its job so well, so I dissect why it’s not and how I can make something better!

HOC: Finally, If you ever have a creative block / funk; how do you get yourself out of it?

Ellie: Most of the time, I get outside. I grab a coffee and walk in nature, or as much nature as I can find in London!

Or I move: I’ll do a 15min yoga session or some other kind of work out. This is a bit random, but I’ve found a quick 8 minute ab workout on youtube works well when I’m really lacking motivation! I get back into my body and out of my head, focus on something else for a bit and then I’m usually good to go!

To follow Ellie’s business head over to Nitara-London.com

Follow @Nitara_London

All photography Sam Lindley

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Belgium

Drink Your Way around San Diego

San Diego is a city that lives and breathes that SoCal lifestyle. The North Park district in particular, is a wonderful little neighbourhood that combines colourful independent boutiques, cozy vegan restaurants, second hand bookstores, and a selection of some of the best breweries in America.

One little known fact about San Diego is that it is one of the biggest brewing hubs in the world. With over 120 working breweries in the county alone, San Diego has countless delicious beers on offer. Following an afternoon of tasting the best of what the local brewing scene has to offer, it becomes clear why San Diego is such a destination for aspiring small craft breweries all over America. So, to help you drink your way through sunny San Diego, here’s our roundup of some of the best independent breweries in town.

Modern Times
Located in the laid-back North Park neighbourhood, Modern Times Beer is all about aroma driven and flavourful session beers. Founded by Jacob McKean, Modern Times was inspired by a turn-of-the-century utopian community in Long Island, which according to Jacob was a “forgotten little paradise”. With Modern Times Beer, Jacob hopes to recreate this utopia, even if its just a familiar place for people to drink delicious, well-made beer.

The tasting room is a hodge podge of quirky art installations; from countless vintage lampshades hanging from the ceiling to a wall decorated with floppy disks. Their hybrid concoctions combine all the best qualities from different kinds of beers — resulting in fantastic beers like the Fortunate Islands, which combines the zesty hoppiness of an IPA, with a wheat beer’s nutty malt body. Their flagship beer, the Lomaland, is a return to the classics and is a wonderful mixed grain bill, fermented with Belgian yeast strains using Co2 gas.

Mike Hess
Mike Hess Brewing is probably one of the biggest players in the San Diego brewing scene. An avid home brewer of fifteen years, Mike Hess opened his first nano-brewery in 2010, after eight months of gruelling preparation. Eight years down the line, and Mike Hess is now the 11th largest San Diego brewery, distributing all over California and beyond. We checked out their 30 barrel NSI System in North Park and experienced their great tasting beers first hand.

Claritas Kölsch, their 2016 World Beer Cup winning ale, is worth a try. This German beer is infused with the fruity aromas of German Pilsner malt, hops, and yeast — making it a super refreshing drink, perfect for a hot San Diego afternoon. The Grapefruit Solis India Pale Ale is another favourite. A San Diego Style IPA that is bursting with citrusy grapefruit flavour, complemented by the hops and subtle malt.

Eppig Brewing
With a legacy that goes back 150 years, the Eppig family’s brewing roots began in the 1800s in Brooklyn New York. Today, Stephanie Eppig, Henry Joseph Eppig’s great-granddaughter, along with her business partners, resurrects their family’s brewing tradition with the opening of their North Park brewery.

With a brewing legacy that has been passed down for over a century, the new Eppig Brewing family is dedicated to getting it right. Their brewers, Nathan Stephens and Clayton LeBlanc, are committed to creating the perfect brew, and an un-compromised customer experience. Try their gold medal winning Zwicklebier Dry hopped unfiltered lager; a smooth, light, and flavourful brew. Another favourite is their Japanese Style Dry lager, a pale lager, combining the subtle aromas of starchy sushi rice, light pilsner malt, and lemon blossoms.

VisitCalifornia

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Food & Drink

#VeganCoco: 3 Tasty Replacements for Veganuary

Whether you committed yourself to Veganuary, or just said you’d make a healthy start to 2019, our resident vegan Rachael Lindsay is here to bring us her top replacement buys to get you through the month.

Replace Dairy Milk With Oat Milk

I have spoken to lots of people about what they would miss most if they were to become vegan or try Veganuary. One of the most common responses is MILK. Especially with the Brits, we all seem to love our whole, semi-skimmed or skinny milk in a big ole cup of joe. As well as on cereal, in a glass with a plate of cookies, the list goes on…

To the rescue is one of my personal favourite brands out there right now: Oatly. They have just released the very first whole, semi and skinny oat milks so you can make an easy replacement from whatever your preferred dairy milk was. Having put all three to the taste taste, I think their whole milk is luxuriously delicious and creamy, so that’s my recommendation if you want something indulgent. Skinny is for the health-conscious with no added fat (a little too healthy for me but perfect for those with healthy 2019 resolutions) whilst semi is probably what I would go for every day as it goes well in a hearty winter porridge and makes a nice addition to coffee.

Replace Snack Bars with Rhythm108 Bars and Biscuits

Yet another concern for would-be vegans is the lack of sweet treats. I completely get this one – I have a sweet tooth and did not want to avoid my chocolate chip biscuits and Cadbury bars. Especially on the go, a sugary snack is exactly what is needed to get through a long winter month…

To the rescue is Rhythm108 serving up choc bars and tea biscuits that you will never believe are vegan. Plus all their products are gluten-free and organic with a heart-warming philosophy behind their production. I have tried pretty much every flavour of biscuit and bar they have on offer and would highly recommend the odd-sounding but fab-tasting lemon ginger and chia biscuits with Sicilian lemon zest as well as their super coconut chocolate bar – you need this in your life if you are a Bounty fan. Other flavours include sweet and salty almond bars, double chocolate hazelnut biscuits, almond biscotti, hazelnut praline bars…*goes off to eat one as writing about this is getting too much*

Replace Nuts & Seeds with Boundless Nuts & Seeds

One of the best things I have learnt in my first year as a vegan is that vegan does not have to mean boring. It is a horrible misconception that all vegans spend their time eating lettuce and seeds – I am actually still searching for a vegan who does this so please reach out if that is you. That being said, we have all heard the health benefits of having more healthy nuts and seeds in our life and, as a vegan, they are full of much-needed protein, vitamins and other good stuff. So how to get round the fact that seeds and nuts can get very boring unless they are smothered in salt…

To the rescue is Boundless, a quirky little brand that makes activated nuts and seeds including almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Instead of dry roasting or salting these little ‘uns, Boundless soaks them in water then bakes them and spices them to bring out some seriously big flavours. The flavours are so punchy that I was reminded of pork scratchings or Bombay mix. You can choose from turmeric and smoked paprika (my favourite!), cayenne and rosemary, tamari and Aleppo or orange, ginger and maple. And for those on a health kick, they are packed with fibre and all the nutritional goodness of nuts (walnuts, for example, are vital for vegans as a source of essential fatty acid omega-3). Another perfect afternoon snack which is both kinder and healthier than a bag of crisps.

To find out more about any of these products, visit oatly.com, rhythm108.com and weareboundless.co.uk.

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Girl Bosses

Girlbosses of Great Britain : From Personal Journeys to No Hidden Nasties with No Secrets Beauty

Lorna Veale is the founder of No Secrets Beauty, a brand that was born out of frustration with the beauty industry. In 2010, her GP suggested that she consult a private doctor who specialised in complementary and holistic medicine. The results were life-changing.

It was this personal experience that inspired her to launch her brand and spread the word to the masses that no hidden nasties in your skincare products was the way to go.

Here, she tells us more about a day in her life, her plans for the future and more…

You went through a very personal experience which lead you to launching the company. Through that you must have helped a lot of other women overcome similar issues from using your products. What has been your biggest success story to date?

I would say being here at all.The journey from visualising your brand and products to then holding them in your hand, seeing them on a shelf for sale and, of course, actually using them, is a significant achievement in itself. We were also thrilled to receive a Beauty Shortlist Editor’s Choice Award for our Hand Cleanser and to have been shortlisted for our Shower Creams in the Free From Skincare Awards in 2019.

You’re passionate about honesty in beauty, why is this important to you?

When I was advised by my Dr to remove a long list of ingredients from my world, I was faced with the task of self-education and intense label reading.I discovered that claims on the front of bottles, or within advertising campaigns, are not always necessarily backed up by what is in the product.This lack of clarity really niggled me.It also became clear that if e.g. a shower gel didn’t include Phenoxyethanol, it did not mean that you could be confident that other items in a range didn’t.It is easy to read a food label and recognise E-numbers, but cosmetics products have to legally be labelled using the INCI system whereby Latin and chemical names are used.This makes it incredibly difficult for consumers to make decisions.

Once you have been advised to avoid ingredients that can disrupt your hormones, significantly dry out your skin, deplete your immune system etc… it is hard to turn back.It is also hard that the majority of items in any beauty hall, or chemist, contain these ingredients and we are all oblivious to these facts, drawn in by amazing synthetic fragrances and perhaps unable to think that large organisations could be filling bottles with cheap ingredients.

You can often taste the difference when eating a more expensive food item.However, it seems the same isn’t true in beauty.Whether something costs £1 or £50 is not always an indicator that kinder, more wholesome, ingredients areused.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

My husband and I both principally work from home.We have school age children, so the day begins with sorting them out and the school run.We are fortunate to live on the edge of a town, but in a converted agricultural barn and surrounded by farmland, so every day I try and take a walk for about 30mins – often while on the phone or ideally listening to audio books, which I love. I spend a lot of time on emails, social media and pulling together all the aspects of product formulation, packaging design and photography.Having started this business in 2018, the e-commerce route to market was our chosen place to start.Therefore we are constantly learning about e-marketing and how to find our customers.

If I have time in the evenings, I try to relax watching Monty Don or a good crime drama!

Who is your ideal customer?

Our customer wants to use something that looks, feels and smells amazing but most importantly has no hidden nasties.

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

Life is so busy, that I sometimes feel the shower or bath is the only place where you can get five minutes to yourself.We use the maximum amount of essential oils permissible in our products, so that the smell is gorgeous, but more importantly, one can benefit from the powerful healing properties and can support ones emotional balance.I hope that people can really breathe in the oils that nature gives us and switch off; perhaps be transported to a favourite holiday destination and leave their bathroom ready for the day or for a wonderful night’s sleep.

Are you planning on extending the range in future, if so, how?

We have one new product that will be available soon on our website. It’s a delicious Body Jelly – this is our take on Body Oil, except we’ve set it with sugar, like a jam, so that the bottle doesn’t end up constantly sticky. Suitable for hands and body, it melts into a therapeutic oil as you massage it in and, of course, smells glorious.

We have a couple of other things up our sleeve, but don’t want to say too much at this stage, except they are very exciting and we will launch those via our newsletter!

How much does social media play a role in your business?

Not having our own retail premises, we approach choosing images to share on social media as you would think about dressing a window, or pulling together a little display for a shelf. We use social media to talk about who we are and what we do. To share things that inspire us, things we love and are important to us.

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?

With hindsight, we wouldn’t have placed our first products in plastic packaging.We chose – what we felt – was the best option at the time which was recyclable plastic – but of course now we all know differently.

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

This year we are going to India and joining an organised tour around Rajasthan, before going to Goa for some beach time.I had wanted to go to India years ago and have various travel guides that I’ve collected over the years in preparation for this trip.

What are your plans for the brand in 2020?

We are really excited about extending our range, hopefully introducing a more masculine scent too, and devising ways to encourage people to give No Secrets a try.Anyone who smells our products, says ‘wow, that smells like a spa’, but we realise it is difficult for people to make such a decision on-line without having that sensory experience.

Tell us your favourite quote to read when you are lacking inspiration…

All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer
19th Century Philosopher

This quote inspires you to keep carrying on and trying to get the message out there.

We all want quiet. We all want beauty … We all need space.Unless we have it, we cannot reach that sense of quiet in which whispers of better things come to us gently.
Octavia Hill, 1883, Co-founder of the National Trust

This quote is really helpful when you are feeling overwhelmed by various things.

For any one aspiring to launch a company in the beauty industry, what advice would you offer?

Patience and perseverance. I hadn’t appreciated the time it takes to develop, test and produce a range.I think it’s great to learn from other inspiring women.From Jacqueline Gold’s appearance on Desert Island Discs, I took the phrase ‘courage comes before confidence’.

Where can people find out more?

www.nosecretsbeauty.com

Instagram: @nosecrets_beauty

Facebook: @NoSecretsBeauty

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Designer Spotlight : Arsha Jewellery

Arsha Jewellery is a brand where timeless contemporary classics are carefully designed and handcrafted to perfection to indulge you into a world of luxury and exclusivity and that is precisely the core philosophy of Arezoo Shayanfar: the founder, owner and designer of Arsha Jewellery.

Each piece is passionately hand made from 18 Karat Gold and adorned with precious and semi precious stones, giving it its own soul, a phenomenon that mass production simply cannot deliver.

Arezoo’s sparkling journey began after graduating with a BA in Jewellery Design from the prestigious Central Saint Martins, London in 2009 followed by numerous luxury exhibitions within Europe and the Middle East and finally materialised by the opening of Arsha Jewellery store (2010-2015) within the most prestigious region of Tehran.Later on she added the coloured stone certification of Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to her academic background in 2013.

Here, we go behind the brand to find out more…

When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
Arsha Jewellery was launched in 2009, right after i graduated from University. i always knew that i wanted to have my own jewellery line and my dream finally came true by opening Arsha Jewellery’s store in 2010 in the heart of Tehran, where i grew up.

What’s your background?
As a kid i was very much into art ,doing all sort of different things such as painting ,sculpting ,candle making, you name them all and as i got a little bit older this passion shifted more towards jewellery designing/making so i ended up moving to London at the age of 17 to follow my passion and later on, in 2009 i graduated with a BA in “Jewellery Design” from Central Saint Martins and “coloured stone course certificate” from Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 2013.

How many people are involved in the company and what are their roles?
Officially its just me and my production team but i do get lots of help from my husband with all the paper works and etc and we all know how much germans like their paper works!

If you could start over with the business, would you do anything differently?
I don’t think there is anything i would do differently, i started my business when i was pretty young at 23 with no Jewellery background in my family which could have deterred a lot of people from doing so but still i went ahead and i followed my dream and this is what i think all of us should do everyday! even when you make a mistake you will learn from it and move forward stronger and better.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
I think building a company from scratch can always be very challenging on every step but lucky me i love to challenge myself!

Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
I have a cat phobia, so please don’t invite me over if you have a cat but if you are a dog person you are already my best friend.

2018 is almost here, where do you plan on taking the brand?
There has been a big turn for Arsha Jewellery by changing the location from Tehran to Hamburg in 2015 and turning it into an online shop so the plan for year 2018 would definitely be expanding in Europe.

To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
Chosen as “women of the week” by a Hamburg based magazine called Mrs.city.

Which city do you feel most at home in, London, Paris or New York?
If i had to choose between these three it would be London, after all it was my home for few years…

Three beauty products you can’t leave the house without?
Perfume, lip balm, hand cream

Style means….?
Looking happy and confident in whatever you wear

Best thing about London to you?
Its cosmopolitan and great choices of restaurants.

If you had to, what piece of clothing from your wardrobe would you wear everyday?
Lululemon leggings and a comfy hoodie but that doesn’t mean i wouldn’t wear any jewellery! i hardly ever take off my customised “ALL ABOUT YOU” bangle from the Bangleland collection.

Favourite love song?
Dance me to the end of love ,Leonard Cohen

Best place for a coffee?
Somewhere cosy and preferably with a nice view

Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

Guilty pleasure?
Stacking jewellery!

If you could spent 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
What if we could be in different places at the same time? thats something to wish for…

In future, how do you plan on expanding the company?
Im very happy with the size of the company as I’m not a big fan of mass production i feel like it looses its uniqueness but i would love to do collaborations with other designers in different areas, like a shoe designer or a bag designer…

Find out more…
We offer worldwide shipping through our website:

www.arshajewellery.com and our Instagram page, @arshajewellery is all about styling the pieces in the daily life.

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Brazil

#CocoFitness : How to Stay Healthy Whilst Travelling

Whilst donning a rucksack and waving goodbye to the UK for a few months might be one of the best decisions you ever make, the bikini bod which took months of pre-flight work to achieve is likely to suffer.

Carrying your life in one heavy bag is a bit of a workout in itself, and in blazing 30 degree heat that can be all you feel like doing. But, after a little while of eating out of sorts and not doing all that much, you’re likely to feel the effects.

For the fitness fanatics amongst us, maintaining a certain regime is super important, so we racked our brains for our top five fitness tips that’ll keep you healthy wherever you are.

Pack a Helping Hand

Of course, packing weights is not advised: airport check in is unlikely to go as smoothly as planned, and there’s plenty of other essentials which should be prioritised over a kettle bell. That’s not to say other fitness equipment can’t be packed away for a rainy day, though. Just be savvy with what you do take.

We’d recommend a skipping rope: reminiscent of your playground days, but seriously good for you. Find a quiet spot before the heat hits in the morning and skip for as long as you can. Even as little as 5 minutes a day is a cardio blast that’ll work wonders, especially if you get the hang of double unders (passing the skipping rope under your feet twice whilst you’re in the air).

Get Appy

Granted, common holiday consensus is that your phone should take a little bit of a back seat (much can be said from disconnecting yourself from the real world, dontcha know). That said, your little Apple bestie can be great for one thing: fitness apps. If you’re not a big user back at home then you definitely will be from overseas. They remind you to work out regularly and often provide routines which don’t require much space or equipment. Hostel room and suitcase friendly.

Our favourites include Seconds Interval Timer HIIT for freedom to tailor your workout, and Cody to maintain your structural health through Pilates and yoga workouts.

Find a Local Class

If you’re in one place for a longer period of time, then finding a fitness class is a great way to meet people and burn off some of those delicious local meals you’ve been indulging in. One of our favourites is Bali Fitness in Seminyak, Bali. A spacious gym just outside the main centre famed for their Les Mills body pump, body combat and core strengthening classes. They also have a variety of spin classes, like one in the dark to rock and roll. Perfect post beach refresher? We think so. You’ll be whipped back into shape in no time.

If you’re after something a little less strenuous, Asian countries are big on their yoga, so find a class like Sunset Beach Yoga on Gili Trawagan, Indonesia, to work out and strengthen with a view. How about tying a retreat into your travels? We love Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui and Brazil’s Butterfly House for a longer stay and complete experience.

Go Trekking

A bit of a no brainier, really: the activities you choose to do when you’re away can really make or break your level of fitness. Going on hikes and treks is a great way to see the sights of your chosen country whilst also being uber healthy, so sack off the beach a couple of days a week and head up into the hills.

Off to Indonesia? Ubud’s Mount Batur and Mount Agung treks are well worth the sweat, especially if you make it to the summit for sunrise. Vietnam’s Sapa has some great walks through rice paddies, whilst New Zealand is a backpacker destination adorned with beaten tracks (work your way up to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – it’s a tough one).

Avoid Too Much Sugar

Last but not least is a diet based one. Travelling is tough on the wallet, and when you’re watching your pennies the cheapest things to eat midday are often crisps and biscuits: especially in Asia where supermarkets with fresh produce are few and far between. The problem with this is it’ll leave you feeling lethargic: try embracing the Asian specialities of saffron rice or noodles and egg for breakfast. You’ll be set up for the day and a lunch of fresh fruit will be all you’ll need.

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The chicest cocktail in town: Around the world with Madame St. Germain

The face of the seriously on-trend elderflower liqueur, St. Germain, Camille Vidal exudes effortless French cool. Set on sharing her passion for the art of the aperitif, this cocktail guru has gone from bartender to brand ambassador and major girl boss, founding a group for women in the drinks industry and publishing her own book – how to drink French fluently. To celebrate the launch of our Food Issue, Camille lets us into her life as a brand ambassador, as well as some of her favourite spots around the world to say “Santé!”.

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Oui les amis Maison St~Germain Paris is opening tonight and I couldn’t be more excited to share with you all what we created in collaboration with the fabulous @lolarykiel and talented @juneinmarch ?? ? ? ✨?? #maisonstgermain #paris #cocktail #stgermaindrinks #stgermainaroundtheworld #spritzlife #freshflowersonlyfreshflowers #elderflowers #fashionweek #parismonamour

A post shared by Camille Vidal (@madame_cami_vidal) on Oct 4, 2018 at 5:03am PDT

HOC: You’ve worked at high-end bars across the globe. What are your top 5 bars in 5 cities and why?

I’m very fortunate that I get to travel around the world and visit different cities and their beautiful cocktail bar scene, so it’s hard to pick only 5!

Dante, New York: My home away from home! I just love the energy in New York so much – I lived there for a few years and any excuse to go back to visit is a good reason and the bar scene there is great.

Le Mary Celeste, Paris: Paris is another great place to go and I’m lucky that it’s only a train ride on Eurostar away! I love the aperitif culture and how everyone enjoys a drink together after work on the terrace – it feels so lively. Le Mary Celeste is a great aperitif spot with delicious food, but it’s too difficult to choose just one place in Paris, Café Moderne is a restaurant run by dear friends of mine and Combat is another amazing bar – I could go on and on.

Mint Gun Club, London: Despite the grey and the cold I LOVE London (although we’ve had the most amazing summer!). This is a beautiful little bar with insanely delicious cocktails – perfect rain or shine.

Black Pearl, Melbourne: I lived in Australia a few years back and I’d choose Melbourne as my top pick. It’s such an incredible place good food, good coffee, good drinks, good people. My favourite bar has to be Black Pearl – but watch this space as there are about to be some amazing bars opening there soon.

Big Bar, LA: I might be French, but my heart lies in California. I love LA and Big Bar has a great daytime vibe. For the evening, I’d suggest Normandie Club – it serves up creative drinks in a stylish setting.

HOC: When you aren’t jetting around the world with St. Germain, what is your favourite destination to travel to?

I love India and I wish I could travel more there. The culture, people and food are all amazing, the country has so much beauty. I’m also a yoga teacher and student so I feel connected with this country.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJopnLAExm/?utm_source=ig_embed

HOC: Here at #Teamcoco we’re all about our girl gang. You recently founded St. Germain Ladies Bartender Club – a networking group for women in the industry. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to create the club, and what you hope to achieve?

Supporting women in the industry has always been a big focus for me. I’ve started Les Femmes du Bar which is the St. Germain ladies bartender club about 6 years ago. I wanted to build a community that will support and inspire the amazing women in the hospitality industry.

HOC: If you could only have one cocktail for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A Bamboo Cocktail – it’s dry vermouth and sherry. Rich Hunt (owner of Mint Gun Club) has made a version which adds St. Germain, coconut water and fresh tarragon to it – it’s the best drink I’ve ever tasted!

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Bienvenue to Maison St~Germain London ✨ @stgermainuk x @houseofholland_ get together with floral designer @juneinmarch to bring to life a sensory experience telling our story of our 1000 elderflower blossoms it takes to create each and every bottles of St~Germain ? Open until Saturday join us les amis! . ? @houseofholland by @henryholland ? @juneinmarch ? @stgermainuk #MaisonStGermain #London #drinkfrenchfluently #stgermaindrinks #stgermainspritz #stgermainaroundtheworld

A post shared by Camille Vidal (@madame_cami_vidal) on Jun 14, 2018 at 11:15am PDT

HOC: What cocktail is trending at the moment and how can we recreate it?

A massive trend at the moment in drink is low ABV spritz and aperitif style cocktails. It’s my favourite style of drink and makes me so happy! The St. Germain Spritz is an amazing example of this and very easy to make at home.

HOC: Having launched St. Germain’s first coffee table book, How to Drink French Fluently – where did the idea for the book come from?

I wanted to write a cocktail book to show the incredible versatility of St. Germain but also showcase the recipes from all the amazing bartenders that create delicious cocktails using our beautiful French liqueur as a thank you! I thought the book was a great way to introduce the world of cocktails to more than just people who work in the industry too. I wanted to talk about more than just a drink, I wanted to talk about occasions and teach people about what to drink and when to drink it at different moments during the day. The book is organised by time of the day: brunch, afternoon cocktails, aperitif, dinner and nightcap. I’m currently working on a new book which is coming out in January – watch this space!

HOC: What was the best part about putting it together?

Seeing the creativity of all these bartenders featured in the book! It was a nice way to also say thank you to them and putting them in the spotlight.

HOC: You grew up in France, but have spent time in Australia, NYC London, where do you call home?

That’s a good question and something that I get asked quite a lot! Although I am from France, I left 10 years ago and have travelled far and wide, so I also consider myself from all those places I’ve been to and lived in. I met some amazing people along the way who have influenced and inspired me so there are lots of different influences that make me, me. I recently did a DNA test which flagged to me I actually have no French in my DNA! Turns out, my ancestry is mostly Iberian and North African which is fascinating.

HOC: Do you find there is any stigma attached to being a woman in a male-dominated drinks industry?

The drinks industry is a beautiful community and a pretty supportive one! I wouldn’t say that gender equality is an issue in the drinks industry only and I think it’s not quite there in the world in general regardless of where you work. It’s up to us all to make small changes that will facilitate this for next generations.

HOC: What are your favourite female-centric drink brands? Any female distillers, bartenders?

So many women inspire me in the industry! From bar owners to bartenders, women I work with and women I get to mentor. I’m in awe of their talent, creativity, strength, determination, energy and kindness.

HOC: What advice would you give to women who want to make a career for themselves in the drinks industry?

Be kind, be honest, be driven and most of all, be yourself and don’t apologise for it!

Read more about Women in the drinks industry in our Food Issue!

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Come share an aperitif with us for our last day of Maison St~Germain London ?? mes amis ? We are serving the #stgermaincocktail at the main bar and we might even have a secret bar upstairs with a menu of #stgermaindrinks design by myself but shhhhhh it’s a secret ✨ #maisonstgermain #london #popup @stgermaindrinks.uk @stgermaindrinks ? @patchdolan

A post shared by Camille Vidal (@madame_cami_vidal) on Jul 29, 2017 at 9:03am PDT

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Girl Bosses of Great Britain – Ronke Fashola, founder of Love ur Look

Former fashion buyer Ronke Fashola is the creative genius and founder of Love ur Look, one of Great Britain’s most popular reproduction fashion labels. Her stylish creations emulate the glamourous designs of the 1940’s and 1950’s. It is a label that I love to wear and my rationale behind supporting this forward-thinking brand is not just restricted to the adorable asthetics, but also in admiration for their ethical and sustainable approach.

Our vintage and repro-wearing writer Emma Harrison spoke to Ronke about her designs, her vision and why sustainability is such a priority to her.

What was the inspiration and vision behind Love ur Look?

I wanted to create a brand which was fun, unique and gave people confidence. Having worked in fashion for many years as a fashion buyer I was aware of trends and the ‘must-have’ item that appears each season. Love ur Look isn’t about conforming to what’s in fashion – it’s about creating your own sense of style. A style which is reflected by embracing and enhancing the female body.

This is expressed through the nostalgic influence of the 1950s and 40s fashion. The cuts, prints and trims are all carefully considered when creating a Love ur Look design. I take time to read, watch and understand what customers want and need each season to ensure the brand continues to grow.

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

I have always loved vintage. I remember going to Camden before its remodel to walk through the old stables, the back roads of Victoria station and Covent Garden to enter some of the most magical vintage shops. Sadly, these hallmarks no longer exist, but I knew my love for vintage was to continue. It was only a matter of how and what I would focus on. I organically grew the business into the era of the 40s and 50s and this is a much bigger industry people then people are aware of.

This was then fused with vintage and a commercial vintage influence to create Love Ur Look. So, for me it was more of a fairy organic progression from buying vintage pieces to creating my own collection.

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

I had fears. I think thats totally normal. Anyone who has their own business has fear implanted within them, but it’s an excitement fear – a risk-taking fear of what could materialise from nothing.

I knew there was a gap in the market and a clear demand for what I was doing. I also do not follow catwalk trends. Love ur Look designs are created for longevity and to create a sense of uniqueness.

Cath Kidston also launched with a similar concept. I know we are very far apart brand wise, but I do consider it a brand which I aspire and compete with. Many of my customers wear Cath Kidston bags and dresses, so I know i’m on the right path.

I had successfully launched and run a company for over 10 years – Stylizers Style Consultancy. I knew if I could style over 500 people that I could create a collection and clothing brand which could be loved internationally.

I handle everyday business worries with lots of meditation and exercise and I also believe in surrounding yourself with strong women and supportive people helped. Negative people create negative energy. When you run a business, you need a daily plan and goals to stay focused.

How did you come up with the designs and patterns for your products?

Lots of research. I never switch off! Looking at what people wear, screenshots with social media – everything inspires me.

I even stop people in the streets if there is something I love. As the business has grown I now have a history of designs to work from, learn from and build upon.

The shapes of your dresses are very much reminiscent of the 50s and 40s – have you always gravitated towards those eras and a fan of vintage and vintage style?

Yes. I love the style and shapes. They are so flattering for the female body. I find inspiration from everywhere. There is no one process I use. Next year we have some more designs which have a nod to vintage. So those who are not into vintage can also find designs that they love.

Do you have a particular design process – where do you find your inspiration from?

No more than any other designer. I use my background knowledge from working as a fashion buyer. So, in that sense I work more from a business level and then implement design ideas. For example, I think about how I will promote a particular idea then come up with the design based around that.

How would you describe your brand personality?

Approachable. Fun. Colourful. Unique and influenced by nostalgic elements.

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?

Don’t rush into doing too many things. When I first started I wanted to do everything; dresses, tops, skirts, bags, homeware… I realised that’s not how you become successful. I’ve seen companies dive into areas which are total opposite to fashion. Such as homeware… To me that’s a whole other industry that requires another team to focus on it.

My focus was to master great prints and great vintage dress shapes. That is how I hope the brand is now known. Now I am more confident we have expanded into Menswear (shirts) and jewellery. We also have skirts coming back next summer.

Sustainability is a key element of Love ur Look – how important is having a sustainable business and using ethically-sourced products to you?

Our collection is made up of our own designed fabric and fabrics which are purchased from surplus markets. Surplus markets allow smaller businesses to buy fabric and which would otherwise end up in landfills. So much fabric which the big brands do not use is discarded for the smallest reasons. Such as a red not being bright enough. However, to another eye looking at that fabric, the red is red enough.

We also support a small animal rescue centre in India called Tofla who help hundreds of animals each year. Sadly, in India dogs, cats, cows, camels and donkeys can be very badly treated.

We produce our collection in a family-owned factory. Travelling to my factory twice a year allows me to meet my team, talk about concerns and ensure their working environments are all safe. Having a happy factory is very important for me. Hence why we have worked together from the start of the collection.

Where are your products made and how often do you change your collection?

We make the Love ur Look clothing in India. Knitwear will come either from Europe or UK and jewellery will comes from China. We change it each season. However, the Love ur Look seasonal calender lasts a little longer. Our SS collection finishes in September (whereas most high-street shops will start finish trading in July), so we end up with full on winter displays in sunny September!

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?

There are so many people I find inspirational. My mother who was and is still a lover of fashion. Jack MA; founder of Alibaba, Richard Branson, Patricia Field, Oprah, Jo Malone to name but a few business or public figures who have really inspired me.

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

Running a business alone at the start can be lonely and very little people who are in a successful business reach out and give advice. I have been blessed to have some great women supporting me while the business grows.

My advice to people starting any business is that if you want help and support you have to knock on the right doors. That’s why I created a platform called Future of Fashion www.futureofashion.co.uk. (soon to be called the Future of Business).

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people, interviewing them and bringing more people together with businesses to network and work together. This October we are launching some workshops to facilitate this.

What do you feel has been the defining moment so far for Love ur Look?

Going into House of Fraser and launching into various stockists in Europe and America. Also launching our annual London pop up shop.

How would you describe the Love ur Look customer and who would be your dream celebrity customer?

Our customer is a lover of vintage. They are a lover or novelty prints and also a toe dipper. A toe dipper loves to get a bit of everything in life. They are a lover of vintage, high street and designer fashion.

Celebrity wise… There are elements I feel I would love to see on Katy Perry. But honestly, I design for anyone who wants a fun, stylish and unique look. Its never been about a celebrity for me, but if someone like Helena Bonham Carter decided to collaborate with a new brand, I wouldn’t say no!

You studied at the London College of Fashion and have also worked as a fashion buyer – how invaluable was that experience and what did it teach you?

Working for other brands before starting my own has been so invaluable. Its helped me understand so much from finance, costing, technical terms, factory issues, fabrics. The list goes on. It’s an extremely cut-throat industry, but well worth the experience and contacts you make and learn along the way.

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?

When I was growing up there was still true vintage in second hand shops, second-hand shops are filled with high street brands.

Clothes which are designed by specific trend for that season. Once seen and worn shouldn’t be worn again. But why? If we created more unique designs and followed less trends this might start the ball rolling to a less fast fashion society. If brands which sell clothes very cheaply encouraged recycling. If we educated younger generations about vintage fashion and workmanship, maybe things could start to change.

I understand that you also work as a lecturer – please can you tell me a bit more about this and why you wanted to educate the next generation of designers?

I’ve been teaching for over four years. I started with a workshop on ‘How to become a Personal Stylist’. Which I still run under a brand called www.stylizers.co.uk. Through this experience and setting up my business I started to lecture on setting up a fashion business or business. Its been truly rewarding seeing so many people’s businesses take off.

These workshops can be found on www.futureofashion.co.uk site.

What’s next for you Ronke and for Love ur Look?

Expanding the label both product and on an international platform.

I also wish to build my platform up as a business expert offering more workshops and continue to inspire people who want to set up their own business.

I love teaching, supporting, lecturing and see a great deal in this area for me. If that’s online or with books maybe. I want to inspire more multiculturalism into the world of fashion.

I am the only Black women in the UK to own a reproduction vintage brand as my own. I want anyone and everyone to feel they can do what I have done.

Who knows what else could happen. Anything is possible. you just have to make it happen!

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