Interviews - House Of Coco Magazine

Finland April 12, 2022

The Brand that is Kind to Your Skin with Coco Moka

You only need to turn on your TV for two minutes to hear about what’s going on in Ukraine, but we rarely get to hear about how that affects people that live their or their livelihoods. For one business owner, she managed to use the negativity it as a way of giving back to the place she once called home.

Here, we talk to the founder of Coco Moka to find out more about her plans with her activewear brand, how knowing that her family are safe is her priority and what her plans are for the brand for the next five years…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching your brand Coco Moka…

I was born in Ukraine, Chernihiv after I finished University in Chernihiv with a specialization in two subjects Psychology and History, I moved to Finland to study International business and Marketing. In Finland I enjoyed nature, and learned about sustainability and recycling. Finland has the cleanest water you can drink from the tap, clean air, they have nature everywhere. They take care of their country and want to pass it on to the next generations.

During the Erasmus program in Finland, I came for a year to study Business and Marketing in Ireland. I still recall it as one of the best years of my life. Unfortunately, I developed an allergy during my time in Ireland and I got a rash on my skin from wearing synthetic clothing.

After I completed my studies in Finland, I moved to London to study a master’s degree in Business Psychology and after a few years studying and working in London, I came back to Ireland. In Ireland I worked in the tech industry specialising in digital advertising sales.

All during which I was looking for activewear which would not irritate my skin. During the pandemic, I decided to create activewear for myself because I could not find on the market anything like the performance activewear which would be suitable for people like me.

This is when Coco Moka was born. Coco Moka was created to solve two problems. I wanted to have activewear which would help to reduce skin irritation. Also, I wanted to make sure that the creation of activewear was not polluting our planet. We use OceanBalance fabrics to create our activewear. For every 2 kilograms (4.4. pounds) of OceanBalance™ yarns to produce sustainable fabrics, the environmental benefits include conserving five days of drinking water for one person and reducing the consumption of oil-based products by 3.785 litres.

You provide activewear for sensitive skin, why was this important to you?

When I developed my skin sensitivity, I did not know what to do about my irritated skin but I later realised that improving the quality of my life was up to me. I began by eating healthily and getting active with sports, however most sportswear would irritate my skin.

This inspired me to create my own line of luxury activewear, made of silky and smooth fabrics that would give me the feeling of a second skin. I kept this idea with me for many years, but I only started actively working on it during the pandemic.

I researched different fabrics until I found several types of eco-friendly materials which were soft like silk, yet flexible and durable for performance sports activities.

How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes?

I want them to feel confident and beautiful. I want to help them enjoy sports with comfortable and eco-friendly clothing. I want women to find something that works for them. When women are wearing Coco Moka, I want them to enjoy the feeling of silky fabric on the skin. We focused on a few main values when we were working on the pillars of the brand. I wanted to make sure we created activewear so women could find quality, design and sustainability.

Slow and ethical fashion is at the forefront of what you do, can you tell us more about that?

Slow fashion is a key value of our business. I will give you some examples of why it is important.

“Fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, but there are ways to reduce the impact your wardrobe has on the climate. Annually, apparel manufacturing releases around 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases.” (as quoted from BBC‘s article by Christine Ro*)

We are keen supporters of slow fashion which aims to reduce the textile waste clogging our landfills. This means our production schedules are slower and get produced in smaller batches, meaning that we have zero waste designs.

When I am running out of stock, I let my clients know that it will take a few weeks for us to produce the item that they are looking for.. This gives me confidence that with time consumer behaviours will shift more from mass-market towards slow fashion.

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

Yes, I would do many things differently. I know so much more now. I have learned a lot. I continue learning every day. I made mistakes but that is a part of the learning process.

I know now which designs are selling better and so I would invest more into some designs and less in others. I understand more now about the power of branding and brand awareness and focusing on building consumers’ trust. I understand better where I can find Italian eco-friendly performance fabrics we are using for our collections. How to find and be accepted by market places, how to work with different social media channels. It takes time and effort to learn what works and what doesn’t. I am still in the beginning of the long journey of building a brand that will stand the test of time.

However, I was very lucky to find a mentor who had already created her own fashion and activewear business, from a very small investment. I was working on the brand together with my mentor who helped me learn faster about the world of running an activewear business.

Collaboration with my mentor saved me a lot of time and investment. I worked with my mentor to source and test the right fabrics, design samples of the collection, produce the collection, find suppliers and distribution channels.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

I have to say I am very lucky. I truly believe and follow what Marc Anthony said: “ If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. “

I wake up early and start my day with gratitude, I thank the day for giving me an opportunity to live it fully and create something useful.

I am a coffee lover, I am not only drinking it but I wear it. We use in our collection one type of fabric made from recycled coffee. So in the morning I will have a cup of coffee and I will spend time looking out at the beautiful nature from my window in Dublin before I open my emails and start working on the tasks I have outlined for the day.

I love sports, but I became active and a bit more athletic later in my life. Last year when I turned 40 I made a promise to myself that from now on sport is a part of my routine, the same way as brushing teeth every morning.

I do not follow an exact schedule when I exercise. I do not prefer specific times like in the morning, lunch or in the evening. It depends on how busy my schedule is and when I have a free slot to do it. But I make sure I do 3-4 times per week some type of activity, walking, cycling, jogging, hiking, or following video classes at home.

During the day, in the evening and sometimes during weekends I work on operational and strategic tasks. As it is still early days in the business,I do take care of many aspects of it myself.

The most exciting part of the day, which I will never call work, is when I work on creating the new collection. I gather ideas together, make some sketches, choose fabrics, colours eetc. For my next collection I have collaborated with a talented Ukrainian illustrator Ksen Kryvonos, www.ksen.design who is based in Amsterdam and is working with me on the next project which has been in the works for almost a year and a half. Through her illustrations my vision of this collection is brought to life. I like to collaborate with different people to bring diversity and different talents to the brand.

During the time, when we worked on establishing the brand we were focusing on building the brand identity. My business partner Olga Garajeva and I collaborated with brand identity Ukrainian designer Daria Solomenko @darkdonna. We had many meetings during the time we worked together on creating the brand identity to reflect, through visual representation, the values of unique and luxury fabrics, sustainability and European design.

Sometimes, unfortunately not as often as I would like to, I participate in the photoshoots. I love photoshoots because I can see how happy models are when they wear our outfits. I feel satisfied and happy when I see models wearing my products and truly enjoying it.

Unfortunately, since February 24th my day changed, I woke up to the news about the war in my country. My family just evacuated from Chernihiv, Ukraine and they did not want to leave in the beginning, until the city was completely destroyed. I flew to Poland last week to meet them for the first time after the war started. Now they are safe and staying with me in Ireland.

During the past month I had to rethink and re evaluate many things in my life. I saw very clearly what was important and how fragile life can be.

While I was focusing on helping my family and my country I was leaning on collaborations with my mentor Elena Gromova @elena_gromova_fashlab and creative director Olga Garajeva @olgagarajeva and a digital agency who helps with our social marketing.

They helped to finalise the new collection and organise our last photoshoot which will be available in the beginning of May.

How long does it take you to work on a new product and what’s the process behind that?

It usually takes a long time, around 6 – 8 months. The process starts with imagining the look and feel of the product, then I find visually something similar that inspires me to create a sketch and discuss it with my mentor.

She helps me to understand if what I imagine can also be practical for women who will wear it. Sometimes I can see beautiful designs in my head but when I think about it, the outfit will not be practical.

After I decide to proceed with the design I choose fabrics, accessories if needed and we send it to the pattern maker. Based on the simplicity or difficulty of the product the sample can take from a few days to 5-6 weeks. It will usually take 3 tries of the sample to get to the final product.

After we approve production, it takes us up to 6 weeks, sometimes even longer to produce a collection. This is a slow fashion process and we make a continuous decision to work with slower production times. We have to plan in advance our stock level, taking into consideration production time is longer than in mass-market.

We just finished working on the second collection. We made soft see through skirts from plisse fabric, which you can wear on top of shorts or leggings and combine it with different tops and jackets. You can wear skirts on top of shorts or leggings together with a jacket, walk to the gym and come back looking stylish before, during and after your workout.

But I had one product which I created very quickly. In March I made a simple recycled organic T-shirt. I used my own paint to print it over the T-shirt to support Ukraine. I made two designs with slight variations of the print. I shared sales of this product to support humanitarian efforts back home.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Social media plays a very important part of building any business, but fashion and active wear businesses it’s even more important. We are only at the beginning of this journey and we understand it will take some time and some investment to build a successful brand presence on social media.

Different channels have different nuances: what will work for Instagram will not work on Twitter. Brands should not ignore TikTok and get there even if they think the audience is too young for them.

We have a strategy for each channel and are working on slowly building organic presence first. We want to start with building a community who are interested in what we do and want to follow us because they want to know more about our brand. It takes time and we are willing to work on it until we succeed.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I like this quote “Don’t stop until you are proud”.

What does self care mean to you?

Self-care means to me to be healthy physically and mentally so I can focus on what I love to do and spend quality time with important people in my life.

Where do you see the brand in the next 5 years?

I want Coco Moka in 5 years to have a B Corp Certification. I am building the business process with the questions in mind about how the brand will benefit customers, communities and the planet.

I want the brand to be recognised as one of the leading brands that provide luxury quality outfits for people with sensitive skin.

I want to reduce the negative impact fashion production has on our planet.

I will continue to focus my efforts to help Ukraine in humanitarian aid. I made an initiative to help the community where I offer a 60% discount on all products for Ukrainians who left the country because of the war and moved to Europe.

Where can people find out more?

website www.coco-moka.com

Instagram @cocomokaoriginal

India April 5, 2022

Gourmet2Go Founder George Thwaytes Tells Us Everything About His New Delivery Platform For Independent Food Producers

We recently spoke with the founder of Gourmet2Go, a brand new website and App that delivers high quality independent food producers products to your front door. George Thwaytes’ new business has got off to a flying start and we couldn’t be happier for such an inspirational brand. Let’s find out more…

Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand Gourmet2Go…

I had a job in a law firm after I left school and I studied law online. At the beginning of the pandemic I was laid off and I had to look into other options. I decided to complete my levels 5,6 and 7 in business management and finance. During this time I launched a business – SDQR using QR codes in restaurants/bars for customers to order food and drinks without contact with staff.

I met a chef during this time and he told me he was frustrated with his Gourmet high class food being advertised alongside kebab shops etc on the current delivery apps. I went away and started my market research and designed an app for high quality restaurant food. We launched early 2021. When lockdown ended we saw a shift in people ordering restaurant food. I decided to make a change and did some market research, we found that there was no delivery app which offered independents the chance to showcase their amazing produce across the UK for an affordable price. I went away and redesigned the app. We came up with Gourmet2Go boxed up.

Gourmet 2 go is committed to bringing our customers the highest-quality, mouth-wateringly tasty produce all over the UK, from small, independent suppliers. We taste-test every single product before it goes live as we want to make sure that it meets our exceedingly high standards. Whatever you’re looking for, a luxury gift or a gourmet night in for yourself – Gourmet2Go has you covered.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

Biggest challenge I have faced so far is creating a business from scratch on my own. Every decision I make is difficult and without relying on others help I have to ensure it’s the best for the customer and for the supplier. Funding is also very difficult for a startup and I’m constantly worrying about getting further and looking at ways to fund.

I have started to overcome this by ensuring I make the right decision and to always check before I make decisions with family and close friends

If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?

Delicious produce (delivered) nationwide

What advice would you offer anyone interested inventuring into the world of gourmet food distribution?

Let us do it with you. Join us and let us help you on your journey!

Talk us through an average business day in your life…

I wake up around 3-4am as my development team are in India and they are six hours ahead of me. I walk my dog, do some press ups, have a jog and then sit down and evaluate the plan for the day with development.

I spend the first few hours of the day contacting my team in India and ensuring we are all on the same boat.

After I have completed this task I usually write my plan for the day down on a white board and ensure the tasks I write down are easily achievable in one day.

In the morning I will then write to my suppliers updating them on any new developments, checking they are all okay and seeing how we can improve their sales.

In the afternoon I will go through all the payments from the day before, creating average sales plans and then ensure all payments are allocated to the correct supplier and payouts are organised at the right time.

In the latter part of the day I will sit down and look at ways to improve my business and how I can increase sales and revenue, this will include reaching out to friends/family for advice and researching different competitors and how they do it.

The day always ends with a long walk, cook a delicious meal (I love cooking) and sit down with my book to try and switch off!

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

Look at how we’ve pivoted and where we were to start, sometimes looking back at positive reviews about our products and what we’re doing. Always look back at how far you have come since you started the business is always a way to stay positive! Talking to people both new and old about my business also helps me to stay positive!

What is your go to quote when lacking motivation?

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

How much is social media playing a role in the success of your newly launched business?

Massively, although we have only just launched our website, we are starting to create a bigger more bold marketing campaign whereby people cannot ignore what we do. Social media is huge in all aspects of business and for us; we are showcasing some of the most amazing food and drink products from around the UK and we have to show how good they taste by grabbing one’s eye!

However, it’s important we don’t rule out our events, PR and word of mouth which play a huge role for us!

How do you want people to feel when they first order from your website and App?

Happy and satisfied that they know what they’re going to receive from us. That it was such a simple process that they will use us again. When the produce arrives it’ll make them want to order again and again.

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

This is difficult but I think I will go for Thailand. I have a love for food and a passion for different cultures. They produce some of the most amazing dishes and I really went to experience their lifestyle, food and culture.

What’s next for you and Gourmet2Go?

We hope to grow to a size where we are ready to take investment on to grow the sales even further and hope to launch in different countries starting with India.

Where can people find out more about Gourmet2Go?

You can check out our website Gourmet2Go where you can order the finest produce from around the UK and read a little more about us, follow us on all social platforms, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, tik tok & Twitter or read about us on google!

You can also download the app today or use the website and receive 5% off your first order by inputting the Houseofcoco5 into the discount box.

France April 5, 2022

We Discuss Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin And The History Of The G&T With Sanjeev Banga Of Radico Khaitan Ltd

Our interview with Sanjeev Banga delves deeper into the history of the gin and tonic and we find out what Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin means to him. We also find out how many countries now appreciate this particular Indian gin that is packed with botanicals and herbs.

You are President of Radico Khaitan Ltd, India’s largest alcoholic beverage company, when did you join the business, and does your background stem from within the industry?

Joined Radico Khaitan 14 years ago. Of my total work experience of 37 years, have spent more than 25 years in the Beverage Alcohol industry. Prior to Radico was with Seagram / Pernod Ricard.

It is understood that the infamous Gin & Tonic was invented in India in the 1820’s, at what point of Radico Khaitan Ltd’s business was Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin introduced, and did you initially only sell in India?

Whilst promoting our Rampur Indian Single Malt in the European markets, we noticed a growing interest in Gin. There were lot of Gins with Indian names or using Indian botanicals, but none produced in India. Yes, it’s true that Gin & Tonic was invented in India, but there was a vacuum in terms of an Indian Gin. That’s when we started working on producing an authentic Indian craft gin.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin was unveiled at Prowein, Dusseldorf in 2018 and followed by launches in UK, France, USA and Travel Retail. It was launched in India only in end 2019.

Where does the name Jaisalmer originate from?

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin takes its name from the historic city of Jaisalmer, the Golden City, located in the North West of India in the state of Rajasthan. Often described as the jewel in India’s crown, Jaisalmer is steeped in history and is home of the renowned Golden Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, constructed of sandstone walls that appear golden at sunset. The city of Jaisalmer bursts with colour, festivals and royal traditions and the richness and splendour of the city is reflected perfectly in Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, harking back to the imperial age of the Maharajas and their moments of leisure and pleasure.

How many countries sell Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin currently, and which countries would you like to see it being sold in?

Our brands are available in over 85 countries worldwide, but Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is currently available in around 45 countries. Due to the pandemic and the resultant restrictions, our global roll out got delayed but now with things opening up, we will soon be available in all our international markets.

Have you had any difficult business challenges to overcome with the gin brand and how did you get through them?

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a triple-distilled spirit, handcrafted in a traditional copper pot still in small batches at Rampur distillery, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The use of botanicals is a time honoured tradition in India and Jaisalmer Gin’s recipe is derived from the ancient Indian knowledge of herbs.

We wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using Juniper Berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with Indian botanicals. Seven of the 11 botanicals used in the distillation come from India. Coriander and Vetiver, a complex spice with intriguing peppery notes, are grown in the fields around Jaisalmer itself, Sweet Orange Peel from Central India which compliments the citrus and floral tones of the gin, Cubeb Pepper from Southern India, Darjeeling Green Tea leaves from Eastern India, Lemon Peel from Western India and Lemongrass from Southern India. Other botanicals include Angelica Root, Liquorice and Caraway Seeds which lend a spicy, slightly anise-tinged flavour to the gin. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is an ‘Oasis in the Desert’ and a drink ‘Fit for the Royalty’.

Business can be an upward struggle at times, do you have a strong team behind you to support with obstacles?

Rampur Distillery was established in 1943 and has been producing high quality alcohol since then. We started our branded business in 1998 and have launched over 15 successful brands since then in prestige to luxury segments across categories. Six of these brands feature in the Millionaires Club and we are the largest Indian Beverage Alcohol company. All this would not have possible without a dedicated and hardworking team. We invest a lot behind our people and allow them the freedom to experiment and innovate, especially our blending team.

Do you use social media to help promote the brand?

Our media planning and focus has always been in line with the global trends and post the pandemic, we have invested greatly in digital marketing and social media. It is a very effective and cost efficient media.

Our readers love to travel can you tell us if your gin distillery Rampur, at the foothills of the Himalayas is open to the public, and if the local area is good for tourism?

We have just refurbished our visitor center at Rampur Distillery – which also houses the Gin Distillery. The Distillery is not too far from Jim Corbett Tiger National Park as well as hill stations like Nainital. On the way back from the Distillery to New Delhi, you can take a slight detour and visit Taj Mahal at Agra. So there is plenty to see and do as a tourist.

If you were to pour yourself the perfect glass of Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, what would you mix with it, and where would be your ideal place to relax and enjoy it?

I love my Jaislamer Gin with plain Indian tonic water garnished with orange peel amongst my friends and loved ones.

Can you tell us which stockists to visit to purchase Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin in UK?

You can buy Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin online though:
Amazon, The Whisky Exchange, and Master of Malt

What’s next for the Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin brand, do you have any new launches planned for 2022?

Yes indeed, we have a special edition of Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin ready to be launched this year.

Where can people find out more about the history of Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin?

Please visit our website Jaisalmer Gin

France April 5, 2022

We Talk About The Beauty Of A Bottle With Elwyn Gladstone of Hotel Starlino

Spring is the perfect season to talk about relaxing with friends or family on holiday, sipping beautiful drinks, and watching the world pass by. So, we took the opportunity to speak with Elwyn Gladstone of the brand Hotel Starlino to discuss what makes his drinks feel like you’re on holiday.

Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand Hotel Starlino…

We have spent a lot of time traveling and staying in Torino/Turin – where we work with a very nice family owned distillery called Torino Distillati. Turin has some of the most beautiful architecture, piazzas, etc. in Europe – it also has the most stylish hotels and bars where you can enjoy an Aperitivo before your meal – a little bit of food and delicious cocktail or spritz. We were inspired to create a range of delicious aperitivi based on this – delicious drinks that reminded us of that moment.

Hotel Starlino

If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?

Always be different.

What advice would you offer someone interested in launching a new alcoholic brand?

Always be different.

Talk us through an average business day in your life at Hotel Starlino…

We spend a lot of time working on presenting our products to new bars and restaurants, working on interesting marketing ideas – social media ideas, new cocktail ideas and new flavours.

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

Remember that what we are doing is fun and brings people a lot of pleasure and enjoyment.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

If anyone tells you they have a vision, you should tell them to visit a psychiatrist.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

It is absolutely the most important thing that we do in terms of marketing – it allows us to reach people all over the world, and to explain our brand and build its world. It has been a game changer for small brands like ours – and while big companies can outspend us, they can’t necessarily out think us.

The Hotel Starlino bottles remind us of old style apothecary bottles, and your bottle stoppers resemble vintage doorknobs, what made you choose these unique designs?

We love the turn of the century design of Italian and French hotels – and we try to weave in lots of interesting things that make our bottle a beautiful thing to have in your house. We think of wine and spirits packaging as a piece of design that you should be proud of to display. We also apply the “candlestick” rule – would you keep our packaging to use as a candlestick? If not, you have not done a great job! Great packaging is never thrown away.

How do you want people to feel when they first taste a Hotel Starlino vermouth or aperitivo?

As if they are sitting on a beautiful terrace in Torino looking out over the sun setting on the city with friends about to enjoy a delicious meal.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list and which of your drinks would you like to sip while on your travels?

I would love to visit Valle d’Aosta – on the Italian side of Mont Blanc – Monte Bianco – I would enjoy a great Negroni there.

What’s next for your brand?

We are expanding our distribution into many countries across the world.

Where can people find out more about Hotel Starlino?

Our website and social media sites are great.
Website: thestarlino
Instagram: @thestarlino
Facebook: @thestarlino
Twitter: @thestarlino

Interviews March 26, 2022

#SuccessWorldwide : The One With the Fine Jewellery Designer, Angela Galiano

Here at House of Coco we love jewellery that sparks conversation, the kind of pieces that are so unique that people can’t help but to ask you about them. That’s probably the reason why we fell in love with Angela Galiano and her designs.

Passion, dedication and sustainability are at the forefront of what she does. We spent some time with Angela to find out more about her plans for the brand…

Tell us the journey that led you to launching your brand, Angela Galiano…

I started learning and designing jewellery while I was studying my Ph.D. in Economics. This may sound bizarre since science is usually associated with technical and mathematical skills, but one could be surprised to know how it is even more important to be creative in order to be a good scientist. The reason I dived into the jewellery world by then relies mainly on two facts. One, it was very hard to find original designs made of good quality, which was important to me because I developed a common allergic reaction when in contact with metals that are not pure. After feeling frustrated for a while, one day I decided I would create the designs I could not find and do it with the right quality and natural gemstones. I would do this whenever I had the time and here comes the second reason why I started: it was a way out and a good break from the toughness of a doctorate. However, it was soon very clear that it was more than a break. When I started designing jewellery, I knew I would not be able to stop later. I already had the passion for gemstones and had studied them from long before, but now I had a vision. I knew exactly what I wanted to create, I could picture the essence of the pieces in my mind. It was a natural, completely unforced process of creation. A few years later, I became a Doctor in Economics and have been working for the New York University up until recently when the two jobs got too demanding together. Now I am on sabbatical from academia – I keep up with my research at my own pace though and focus entirely on the firm, enjoying seeing Angela Galiano growing.

Your jewellery is handmade in Spain, what’s the process behind creating a new piece?

The process of creation starts with the environment that surrounds me at that moment. Earthy shades, dim natural light and organic shapes is how I get inspired the most. It may seem like a sad setting, but it is the quietness of it that allows me to listen to my own thoughts and ideas very clearly. I cannot help imaging the life of the jewels while drawing the sketches and picturing how they will pass through generations –I guess that explains the timeless style of the designs. A curious aspect of this process is that I never have pieces or pictures of jewellery around me when designing. There may be paintings or pictures, but they must be from a whole different nature.

After the sketches are fully complete, we move on to 3D design. Here we can focus on each detail in depth and make the corresponding marginal, yet important, changes. After the 3D design is finished, it is time to get our hands dirty and make the jewel come to life. In this process we take our time. We avoid rushing despite the opportunity cost that it imposes. The idea is to make an eternal piece of jewellery, so we take it easy.

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

Within the jewellery design, the normal thing to do is to adapt the designs to the stones that are available. Stones come usually ready to set and they are usually standardised in terms of sizes and shapes. However, in my case, when I design a jewel and I design the whole piece, including the stone. Thus, the design does not adapt to the stone, but all the pieces work together to become one. A clear example is the ring Masterpiece and its central labradorite. Finding a group of lapidaries that would do this for me was not an easy task. There are not many of them out there so this was the biggest challenge I have faced so far as I designer.

In your opinion, what sets you apart from other jewellery brands?

The novelty of the designs. A great number of jewellery firms play the safe side and gravitate closely to each other in terms of designs, which is respectable, but it is not my intention. My objective is to create pieces out of the box, yet timeless in style and without lacking quality or personality.

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

I would have launched the firm sooner. The process of making and selling jewellery has been very enjoyable so far and I get to know a lot of nice people along the way. Many of them are good friends now, so I guess I have missed some enjoyment from this journey while waiting for the “right” moment to launch.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Social media has played a major role in our growing process. It makes it very easy to keep clients and potential clients updated, and the fact that social media has become a well-structured and secured marketplace, it allows both firms and clients to engage regularly and satisfactorily. It is a win-win scenario.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

“Get it done without motivation, but get it done”.

What advice would you offer to aspiring designers that want to launch their own jewellery brand?

To be conscious of the natural resources they demand. For example, around 80% of the gold mines in the world have been exploited, while gold can be easily recycled. That is, in fact, the common procedure within the jewellery industry. In the same way, I would advise them to be aware of the origin of the stones they use. The number of Indian children exploited within the gemstone industry is outrageous.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is your all time favourite and why?

Africa. Being in Kenya and Tanzania I saw life itself. Animal and human life at its purest. Ever since I was there, Africa has always been with me somehow and I still wonder whether it was all a dream. The sounds, the sunrises, the storms, the ferocity of the lions and the truthful eyes of their people. Driving the endless unpaved roads while looking through the window and reminding myself to blink the least I could while I was there. Everybody should go to Africa, at least once.

What’s next for the business?

Along with new jewels and outstanding stones, I have been working on the design of patterns for a textile collection of silk scarves. Hues and measurements have been very well thought-out and the patterns are absolutely unique. I am wrapping things up now, so I hope this collection can see the light very soon! Silk bracelets are also on their way.

What does self care mean to you?

To me, self-care means protecting my peace of mind. I find it hard to work, exercise or take care of myself properly if my mind is not in the right place. Finding the balance may carry some difficult decisions, like reducing the circle of people you interact with and engaging with those whose energy flow along with yours. In the end, our mind is the most powerful resource we have been given, it influences our life for the good, but also for the bad. Thus, it is essential to keep an equilibrated mindset within our own existence so we can thrive in all directions.

Where can people find out more?

Everybody is welcome to visit our website www.angelagaliano.com, follow us on IG @angela__galiano and/or read the blog www.petitcomite-angelagaliano.com where I write the stories behind some of the designs.

Designer March 14, 2022

Feva Sweat and Selina Bagnulo is breaking free from standard sizing

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

Interviews March 12, 2022

From Sourcing The Rarest Emeralds To Fundraising For Girls In Pakistan We Meet MYNE London’s Fiona Wellington

Our interview with Fiona Wellington goes way beyond the running of her business, we find out about all the impactful ways she is trying to help the girls of Pakistan get an education.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, Fiona Wellington before we talk business…

I am a mum of three incredible young women. My background was medical (trained osteopath) but I love fashion, interiors and art. I am passionate about positive social changes especially for girls and women.

Give us an insight as to what MYNE London is…

Myne London is a business with a good purpose for economics especially for women in the high end fine jewellery sector (which has been very male dominated!) We create incredible bespoke jewellery and source some of the best and rarest emeralds in the world. It’s exciting high-octane work! And we are excited to work with young women in Pakistan.

Tell us more about the MYNE London Foundation that you co-founded with your sister Kate Murray Gordos…

Founded 2021 specifically to put our profits and fundraise for girls educational needs in North Pakistan where we source our emeralds. My sister Kate and I are really dedicated to this. We spent many years as children in Pakistan and it holds a very special place in our hearts. As we work closely with women in Pakistan particularly from the Swat Valley region we see first hand the issues there are around young girls education. According to Statista women’s illiteracy has increased since 2006 to 2019 and 54% of adult women are illiterate. Many of the people of Pakistan are working hard to improve matters especially in girls education and this was highlighted by HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge royal visit in 2019.

We are supporting those in Pakistan working for girls education by raising funds for The Myne London Foundation which is dedicated to helping girls in need which is often due to economic lack and deeply affects a persons value and life expectancy in opportunity health and longevity.

What was the biggest challenge you faced whilst setting up the MYNE London Foundation and how did you overcome it?

Actually the charity commission registration stage which we overcame with experts at The Third Sector (highly recommend them!)

What are you most proud of when it comes to the day to day running of the MYNE London Foundation?

We have only just begun but I will be thrilled to see young girls go to school who may not have otherwise had that chance.

We understand that you are about to hold an MYNE London Foundation Charity Ball on 19th March, can you tell us more about this event?

It’s starting the foundation with a bang! It’s at The Hurlingham Club which is so beautiful and has incredible people behind it including Jenny Powell (who has supported Myne from the beginning) and leading musicians from the Bristol jazz scene Holysseus fly and James Vine. The auction has some ‘money can’t buy’ items like a holiday on a private island. A huge amount of work has gone into this and it will be a really fantastic event run by incredible partners Quirky Frog. (Highly recommend them!)

Why is it important to organise a charity event, especially whilst you’re already busy running a successful business supplying ethical emeralds?

We want to fuel and inject awareness and immediate funds for the girls we are raising money for as fast as possible.

What is the ideal outcome after the MYNE London Foundation Charity Ball?

To create a community of support for the girls, to raise money and to have fun. It’s been a while hasn’t it?

Talk us through an average business day at MYNE London Foundation…

We all work from home so 7 am check emails. Coffee. Answer emails. Coffee. Do interviews. Coffee. Get dressed! Lots of zooms and discussions. It’s very much about connecting and getting along with like minded people and galvanise a movement.. It’s also always wonderful to discover how many people really have huge social consciences.

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

I like reading other businesses stories.
I exercise a lot.

Do you have a go to quote when lacking motivation?

I don’t lack motivation ever but I need plenty of exercise to balance the emotional rollercoasters. I guess one favourite quote would be…

“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.”

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand and has it helped with promoting your forthcoming event on 19th March?

Social media is such a double edged sword. It’s an essential part of almost any modern business so it really isn’t negotiable. It’s just finding the right people and inspiration to stay fresh and relevant.

What’s next for MYNE London and the Foundation?

After the ball we continue to collaborate with amazing designers eg Sarah Campbell Lloyd on jewellery collections, our international emerald sales , work with foremost U.K. master cutters on bespoke rare stones and working with those in Pakistan supporting education for girls.

Where can people find out more about your Charity Ball, the MYNE London Foundation and your core MYNE London business?

Our charity site Myne London Foundation and our Instagram @mynelondon.

Australia March 3, 2022

Self-tan queen Amanda Harrington on boosting confidence through glowing skin

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.

WWW.AMANDAHARRINTGON.COM

Culture March 2, 2022

Daissy Ornelas on creating the architecturally-styled shoes of your dreams

They say that good shoes take you to good places, but for Daissy Ornelas, the glamorous architecturally influenced shoes of her eponymous brand are certainly taking her to some pretty awe-inspiring places as a Girl Boss on a league of her own.

Daissy combines architectural inspirations with Italian craftsmanship to create her vibrant line of footwear. More akin to sculptures than shoes, all of Daissy’s pieces are handmade in Italy and evoke the spirit of the Art Deco movement.

Team Coco caught up with Daissy in Los Angeles, in between balancing being a mum, designer, entrepreneur and creative to talk about her joint love for footwear and architecture, her latest collection, and her advice for women looking to take the leap and start their own businesses.

“First and foremost, it’s not for everyone,” she says. “Keep your eye on the bigger picture and always remember why you’re in it in the first place helps when things go awry.”

Like the towering skyscrapers that inspire her collections, Daissy is reaching for the skies – and we can’t wait to see what heights this Girl Boss will reach.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. What made you fall in love with shoes?

I grew up in Los Angeles. I studied Business Administration and most of my background is in Management and Administration. I worked in industries such as Consulting, Architecture and Fashion. I’m currently splitting my time between LA and the UK.

My love for shoes started around at the same time as my love of Art Deco. When I was young, my mom and I would go to downtown LA on Saturday mornings to go shoe shopping and then we would have lunch at the iconic Clifton’s cafeteria, it was our weekend ritual. It was there when I first paid attention to the many Art Deco exteriors and interiors that live in Downtown LA. The impeccable attention to detail always stood out to me, even at such a young age.

How is Daisy Ornelas combining architectural influences with Italian craftsmanship?

Growing up in Los Angeles, I got to see buildings with unique details and luxurious materials, and the more I started traveling, the more I fell in love with architecture and its evolutionary traits.

Once I knew I wanted to launch my own line of shoes, I knew Italy was the place to make it happen. Italian craftsmanship is something the country takes a great deal of pride in, and for good reason. I have met people who come from generations of shoe artisans, who love to work with their hands and really put love and effort in what they do. It’s something I will always admire and appreciate. I’m combining architectural influences by using architectural techniques like CAD and engineering processes to create patent-pending heels that showcase structural lines and facades you see in architecture.

Tell us more about your latest collection. Do you have a favourite piece?

The latest collection is influenced by modern architecture and its detailed shapes. I have seen different techniques and materials used around the world to create exceptional buildings and I just felt inspired by the fluidity in shapes and textures.

The Wavelet heel sandal is my absolute favorite. It was inspired by the spiral Architecture of the F&F tower in Panama, the Evolution Tower in Moscow, and the Al Tijaria Tower in Kuwait. There’s something about the Wavelet heel that screams architecture but not in an overstated way.

Walk us through an average day in the Daissy Ornelas atelier

I am a mom to an eight-month-old and a 14 year old. I get to work from wherever I may be at the time. From reading to research and from inspiration to design, I do everything on my laptop or phone.

So, my day consists of jumping back and forth between looking after my eight-month-old to responding to emails, getting on a call with my counterpart in Milan to making sure I pick up my son from school and grab a bite to eat in-between all of that (if possible).

Who is the Daissy Ornelas woman? Can you describe her in three words?

The Daissy Ornelas woman is a maximalist. She is someone who has a career in creative industries (i.e. Fashion architecture, interior design, graphic design), isn’t afraid of statement pieces and can appreciate unconventional designs versus picking things that are more every day wear. She loves to travel and always picks the shoe first before she picks out the dress when going out. She is daring, confident and creative.

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

There have been many challenges along the way. Financially speaking, when you create a startup, finding financial resources can be difficult, especially for a brand that is positioning itself in the luxury market. Until the brand is scalable, it’s hard to find investors who will back up the brand and take it where you want it to go.

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

Daissy Ornelas is coming out with a casual collection. The whole collection is made of sustainable materials including vegan leathers. We also put our own spin on 1930’s classic Oxfords and Loafers.

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

First and foremost, it’s not for everyone. It’s extremely hard work. You also have to be consistent because everything falls on you. Keep your eye on the bigger picture and always remember why you’re in it in the first place helps when things go awry. Because things will go awry at some point. Do your research well on what product or service you want to offer and go for it!

WWW.DAISSYORNELAS.COM

Health February 1, 2022

Nourish and Flo founder Carly Procter is here to talk all things Cyclical Living.

There seems to have been a shift of late and more people are having open conversations around women’s health and what exactly that means. I am of the generation where talking about periods was ‘gross’, buying tampons along with that night’s dinner offering was awkward, especially if you were doing the shopping with your new beau. Thinking back to the day my period started I remember embarrassment and hushed voices as my mother whispered through the portaloo door – only I could get my first period at Pony Club whilst wearing white jodhpurs – “make sure the pad is in the right place, god knows we don’t want a leak”.

We have come along way since then but there is still not enough being done to educate both girls and women as to how their cycle really works. Too few of us know how our cycle can work for us, not to mention the hormonal contraception we are all put on quicker than you can say “but what about condoms” from a young age and then wonder why there are so many issues with mood, libido and even fertility further down the line.

In my early thirties I started to become a lot more aware of my body both mentally and physically and realised I had been on contraception without a break for 17 years, and never thought to question it. Despite living with M.E. and depression no conversation was ever had to see if there was any correlation. I am not saying there definitively is, but maybe it would have been good to explore whether the pill was affecting my mood rather than just whack me on some antidepressants and be done with it.

I decided enough was enough and had my implant removed so I could at least see what it felt like to have a natural cycle. It took a while for my body to get used to the natural way of life but once it did, the changes were incredible. More energy, being able to feel the highs and lows of progesterone and estrogen spikes rather than a base level plateau of ‘meh’, better skin and weight loss. Sounds great huh? But the one thing that wasn’t so fun was the rage. This sounds dramatic but believe me it was like clockwork, five days before my period I became a she devil, screaming at my long-suffering partner, hating everything and everyone. I could tell this was to do with a hormonal surge but I wanted to gain a better understanding of what was happening and if there was anything I could do to help it. Enter Menstrual Cycle Coach, Carly Procter of Nourish and Flo. We worked together over a six week period (no pun intended) to really help me understand my cycle and how to work with it, rather than against it. Each weekly session centered around a different topic including nutrition, exercise, working methods eg, when to plan meetings, pitch work, admin; and as we uncovered more and more it all started to make sense – of course I’m absolutely knackered on this day, my body is trying to gear me up for menstruation and here I am asking it to get to the gym, pitch to a new client, make a three course meal and write a column. Menstrual Cycle Coaching is not about reinventing the wheel it is about learning how your body works and small changes that can be made to increase productivity, to rejoice in rest and to honour the absolute miracle us women go through monthly.

I took some time to talk to Carly further to get an understanding of what she hopes to help women achieve moving forward.

Before we dive in, could you give me a bit of background as to how you came to be here? Have you always worked in coaching / women’s health?

I have always been interested in health and well-being but had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. While I was figuring it out I trained as a beauty therapist in Brighton and then moved up to London and found work in a Kensington spa. I then decided I wanted a career as a nurse. After 3 years of training I really wanted to go into women’s health in some way. Things didn’t work out that way, and ended up working in the busiest ICU in London. I still had this itch to coach people, particularly women, and guide them to better health and well-being so I went part time in my nursing job and trained as a Nutritional Therapist. I specialised in women’s health, teaching women how to find the root cause of their health issues, eat better, and live a more fulfilling and healthy life. As time went by I wanted to go a little deeper and I started geeking out on all things menstrual cycles and periods. I am now a certified Menstrual Cycle Coach, teaching women how to work with their hormonal ebbs and flows, and not against them, to achieve better health and smoother periods.

And what was it that made you want to make the transition from nursing and nutrition to focusing more on women’s health?

The more I learnt, the more passionate I became. After my own experience of coming off hormonal contraception, I realised how little I knew about my own body. The more conversations I had with other women, the more I realised how little they also knew about their own physiology. Through no fault of their own, most didn’t know the basics of how their menstrual cycle worked. It is something that is only briefly touched on at school and then barely spoken of again, yet it is the very foundation of womanhood. For too long women have been done a disservice when it comes to their bodies and their health and I feel so passionate to be a part of what I see as a revolutionary time for women reclaiming themselves.

As a woman, and this is something we touched on during our coaching sessions, I feel there is still a lot of shame around discussing periods and it is all a bit taboo (even though the year is 2022) why do you think this is and what ramifications do you think that has had on women in general?

Unfortunately, we have been socially programmed for years to see periods as unpleasant, painful and disgusting. If that is all you hear then that is what you’ll believe, even if it’s untrue. It was a subject that even our own mothers or grandmothers wouldn’t talk about. It means women feel embarrassed to talk about it to the point that even buying sanitary products is a shameful experience for many. If you are reading this and feel this way, ask yourself this: why are we embarrassed about something that is so natural and the very reason we are all on this planet? How can something so incredible be seen as anything other than beautiful? Your menstrual cycle should be celebrated and not something to feel shame about!

When you began your journey into this subject, what did you find the most interesting or surprising aspect?

The game changer was learning the power of cyclical living. Cyclical living is about learning to adapt your life according to the phases of your menstrual cycle. Each phase has a hormone shift which enables menstruators to experience variety in their cycle. We are taught that the ups and downs of hormones are a negative thing. Where actually, if you learn how to listen to your body and adapt your life accordingly, you can use these ebbs and flows to your advantage.

We have spoken a lot about how we think girls should be educated about their periods and everything that surrounds them – if you could go back and talk to pre pubescent Carly, what would you say and do you have any suggestions / advice on how mothers can support their daughters through the transition?

The most valuable thing you can offer someone starting, or about to start their period is your unwavering support and an open ear. Whether it’s a daughter, a niece, or a friend’s daughter, let them know they can talk to you or come to you with any questions. Secondly, a girl’s very first period should be celebrated! This could be something simple like a girly day out, or a gift box of goodies filled with things like period products, nail polish, bubble bath and their favourite snack. Whatever you do, make it a special occasion to make their experience as positive as possible.

Can you give me a snapshot of how to celebrate your cycle to show how we should be using our femininity as a reason to celebrate rather than hide away?

Let’s use day one of your period as an example. Your reproductive hormones are lower in this phase, which means your energy might be less, you might have an increased appetite and you might feel a little groggy. Check in with yourself and listen to what your body is telling you. How do you feel? What feels natural and instinctive to you?

You want to focus on being as nurturing and nourishing to your body as possible. This might be allowing yourself a little extra time in bed in the morning. It might be putting on your favourite comfy clothes or lounge wear. It might be turning your phone to aeroplane mode while you sit mindfully with a warm cup of tea and a nourishing bowl of porridge. It might be running yourself a bubble bath and treating yourself to your favourite chocolate (yes, at the same time!). Your period is also the time of high intuition, so you may enjoy reflecting on the past month and journaling your thoughts and feelings. This phase is all about you and celebrating the arrival of your period with indulgence and down time.

After menstruation we move into the follicular phase, our hormones are starting to rise – this is the perfect time for earlier mornings, girly dates with friends or just treating yourself to something feminine such as flowers.

Once we move into ovulation everything is at a high – oestrogen is giving us all the good vibes and great energy. This is the perfect time to hit PB’s at the gym, putting your favourite outfit on and going dancing, flirty dates with your partner and nourishing yourself with fresh, colourful foods. Think of this time as summer solstice and that feeling of letting loose and dancing in the fields – that’s what this is about.

The fourth phase is the luteal phase, things are slowing back down ready for menstruation. We start to retreat and hibernate. I like to do things like hunker down and read my favourite book, say no to things, put boundaries in place. This is the time for boujee candles, nights in, getting cosy and preparing ourselves for the next stage.

If women can work in restructuring their cycles in this way and even look forward to each phase and what it represents, the results will be amazing.

If you had five minutes to educate our male counterparts – I know, it’s not much – what message would you drive home to try and get them to think about women’s health a little differently?

That their support is crucial for us to be the very best version of ourselves we can be. Men and women have very different hormone cycles. Women’s are a lot more complex, with several transitions throughout our lives. Therefore, all we ask is for your patience and understanding. Encouraging your female partners, family and friends by letting them know you are open to conversations around their hormones and menstrual cycle really is the most incredible thing you can offer a woman.

Do you think it is possible to restructure your life in a way that works in harmony with your cycle?

Absolutely! For too long many women have lived their lives fighting against their biology. Let’s start using what we have, by listening to our bodies, paying attention to our hormones and learning the art of cyclical living to enhance your health and well-being.

What do you hope to achieve as a coach when working with your clients?

I teach women how to tune into themselves to become more intuitive with their bodies to give them back control of their health and well-being. My clients learn how to eat, move, handle stress, manage their lives and celebrate their menstrual cycles for more ease and flow in their lives.

What is next for Nourish and Flo?

I am just so proud to be a part of a menstrual revolution that is happening right now! My focus is on working with amazing women and menstruators to inspire them to own their hormones and to embrace their menstrual cycles. I want to drive the message home that women don’t need to be suffering with problematic periods. It is completely possible and within your reach to have enjoyable menstrual cycles and I’m excited to teach you how!

To find out more about what Carly has to offer visit her IG here or drop her an email carly@nourishandflo.com