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Female Fashion

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This week I caught up with actress and girl boss Victoria Ekanoye to discuss her busy schedule as an actress her charity work and how she maintains that perfect balance and most importantly how she likes to switch off from the world – take an insight into her world!

1) Tell us about your favourite holiday destination?

Ah you’ve started with a tough one! I’ve been so lucky to see so much of the world in my line of work, but Koh Samui, Thailand is probably up there with one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The people are so warm and accommodating, and the food is incredible. Fresh coconuts chopped from the tree every morning is definitely an indulgence I could get used to!

2) You live a fast pace life – with your work between the US, France and the U.K. – what are your beauty regime essentials that you can’t deal without?

With stage/screen make up being an almost daily part of my job, I’d say that regardless of the products, cleansing your skin at night (especially taking off your make up) so that your skin can breathe and heal, is a must! I have an amazing beautician, Claire Hayhurst, at Blush in Rawtenstall and she has recently introduced me to Environ, Skin EssentiA, so I’m currently trialling that. As a basic rule, I drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day, try to get 8 hours sleep every night and have recently cut out dairy, which I’d say has made the biggest different to my whole body.

3) Tell us about your charity work? And why you’re so passionate about it?

I suppose this is how many people feel, but our family seems to have been dealt more than its fair share of illnesses, it’s been really tough. I’m extremely grateful for the aid we’ve received and just feel that with whatever influence I’m fortunate to have, I want to use it to help those who’ve helped us. I’m currently working on projects with Sickle Cell Care Manchester, The Rossendale Hospice and The Christie to help raise funds for the incredible, selfless work they do.

4) We live in a social media age – how do you switch off?

I like to take long baths with essential oils, candles and music. It’s nice to be able to switch off from the constant pinging of a mobile phone and to try and unclog your mind of the days stresses. I fall asleep to guided mediation most nights which really helps to reset my mind for the next day.

5) How did you get into acting?

Well, I didn’t exactly train the conventional way; we couldn’t afford as a family for me to attend the expensive drama schools, but I loved to perform, so I had a rather fanciful childhood of make believe and was constantly asking my family to watch whatever ‘entertainment’ I’d cooked up that week!

I think training in musical theatre is pretty vital as it equips you with technique to fall back on, especially when doing 8 shows a week. Tv and Film work, I feel, leaves a little more scope for raw talent. I struggled initially, feeling I would always be at disadvantage, but then I realised with age that the benefit of not training forced me to really trust my instincts and that in turn stopped me from overthinking the scene and allowed me to develop the character naturally.

I’m a singer first and foremost and so my career began in The Lion King. I went to an open audition and luckily they took a chance on me. It truly was a life changing experience and I couldn’t be more grateful for the lessons I learnt there. That was a pivotal point in my career and life and I’ll always have a place in my heart for the people and the show.

6) Any tips for young actresses trying to make it?

Get as much experience as you can (paid or unpaid), trust your instincts and never stop learning. My very first Lion King director, Alex Sumner Hughes, suggested I try a few classes at The Actors Centre in Covent Garden, London and it ignited a little flame in belly for the tiny but vital subtleties in screen acting; the micro expressions, active listening, reacting…it made me want to film as much as possible so that I could watch my scenes back and really be honest with myself, work out what my strengths and my weaknesses were.

I found it so important to be able to self critique, it enabled me to find my niche, but it was also really important to be able to take others’ constructive criticism, both actors and non actors.

We aren’t always aware of how we come across and I really feel that your perspective must always be challenged in order for you to learn and grow. Plus you may be really funny and missing out on a career as the new Robin Williams, but not know it!
Last, but probably most important – don’t be disheartened by a ‘No’. A ‘No’ is just an opinion, opinions are subjective and that one person’s taste may completely differ from the next. This is your dream, not theirs, so don’t give them the power to put out that fire in your belly…persevere.

7) We also heard that you like to sing! Tell us more about that!

Haha, I’m sure I drove my family and friends insane as a a little girl singing Whitney around the house. My mum loved her and I was just blown away by the command she had over her instrument. She was the reason I started singing and all I knew how to do was mimic her. My mum once entered me into local Stars in Their Eyes competition without telling me and I won singing ‘I Will Always Love You’. I think that was the point where I thought..hmmm maybe I’m not too bad at this!! I used to write a lot, which I always promised myself I would pick up again, but I never imagined I would end up in Musical Theatre as I had a crippling fear of acting.

The Lion King knocked that right out of me! You’re on stage, 6 nights a week, in front of over 2000 people, in one of the biggest shows in the world and you’re surrounded by such incredible talent…it is terrifying. But, you learn fast and you grow and ultimately you know that you don’t get to say ‘sorry guys, I messed up, can we just do that bit again. It’s live! So you just have to throw yourself in the deep end and trust yourself. It was my training and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. At the moment, whilst working on tv, I don’t get to sing as much as I’d like, but when I’m lucky enough it’ll be jazz, the blues and every now and then a little rock!

8) What does sickle cell mean to you – and as an ambassador of the charity – what more can we do for awareness

Unfortunately, Sickle Cell is an illness that a lot of people suffer from, but not a lot of people know about. Simply put, it’s a severe form of anaemia. Best case scenario, you’re extremely lucky and don’t suffer too badly from the symptoms, are able to live a relatively normal life and are lucky enough to have children; maybe even see them have children. Worst case scenario, you can be on life time medication, become bed ridden, require regular blood transfusions, life saving operations, sometimes amputations and sadly, it can be fatal.

More than anything, because the doctors are already working brilliantly, I want to really help raise awareness of the condition and subsequently more funds, in order to enrich the lives of those suffering.

9) You seem like the perfect Girl Boss, everything we love at House of Coco – but girl bosses have a lot to balance – how do you manage your time – and how do you stay focused?

My calendar is my saviour! The minute I’m asked to do something, arrange anything, it goes straight in and gets checked regularly. There are a million positives to being a part of the entertainment industry, we’re extremely fortunate, but one of the few negatives is that you can’t really plan ahead with your loved ones.

My schedule can get really hectic and there isn’t a lot of routine as filming schedules can change last minute, so you just have to get good at dealing with change. Meditation and training come hand in hand and really help me to focus on the task at hand rather than allowing my mind to wander. My trainer, Lisa Latona, at Nuffield Health really pushes me and helps me step outside my comfort zone, which in turn equips me to be mentally stronger and take on whatever fun new challenge life throws into the mix!

10) It is so important to have ‘Me Dates’ what do you do in your spare time just to treat yourself and take care of your soul?

They say ‘home is where the heart is’, so flying to my home in Villefranche Sur Mer is all the soul healing I need. There’s nothing like getting off the plane, feeling that warm air on your skin, that distinctive scent of the Mediterranean and being greeted by the big grin on my partner’s face. Cheesy, I know, but life is for living and I intend to love unashamedly.

Family really is everything and when we get the chance we like to take trip to The Woodland spa in Burnley, I challenge anyone to leave not feeling like they’ve had a reboot! Lastly, my closest friends keep me sane and there’s no better feeling than laughing until your stomach hurts, which we do regularly, so spending time with them is always therapeutic.

11) The best place you’ve eaten?

Ah this is so hard, I’m such a foodie! I’m not sure I can choose as I ate at some incredible places before progressing to a plant based diet and although there are more and more options in restaurants now, I still prefer to cook at home for friends and family. My favourite cuisine is Thai, but I have to be a little reserved with the chillies when cooking for others, as I like it very very spicy.

12) What’s in your bag?

Haha, erm…depends on where I’m going! I guess on a normal day I’ll always have water, hand cream/san’, car/housekeys, my bank card, chewing gum, my fave perfume Absolutey Blooming by Dior and a red lipstick in case it turns into an evening affair.

13) What are you listening to?

My taste in music has become quite eclectic over the years, purely because of the different genres I’ve needed to research for work. Besides Sade, whom I can listen to whatever the weather, it often depends on my mood. I love the Blues and trip hop artists like Portishead, but then I love the high energy of a Basement Jaxx track. My fave ‘newer’ artists are London Grammar, JP Cooper, Ry X and Jack Garrat, but my song obsession at the moment is ‘Eclipse’ by Joseph Lawrence and The Garden. Love love love that kind of vocal. Having said all that, you can never go wrong with Tina and MJ!

Photo Credits

Photographer | Narita Savoor

Beauty | Natasha Ekanoye @ Liberte Rawtenstall

Styled by | Taheed Khan using pieces from Hosh Rosie Billington Monokain and Lisa Jayne Dann exclusive

Assitant | Kirsty Kaye

Location | Gotham Hotel Manchester

Shot exclusively for House of Coco

When you hear the name Rosie Fortescue, you may immediately envision Made in Chelsea’s charming fashionista strolling along the streets of South Kensington, brunching with a gaggle of equally stylish friends. Others may recognise Rosie for her successful fashion blog, At Fashion Forte, which has catapulted her into becoming one of the UK’s top fashion influencers. And while Rosie’s effortless charm, inimitable style, and undeniable Made-For-TV charisma has made her a household name; what most people don’t know is that Rosie Fortescue, is that she’s also a Girl Boss through and through.

We catch up with Rosie, and chat about her business/passion project – Rosie Fortescue Jewellery. Here at House of Coco, we’re all big fans of her fabulous stacking rings delicate chain necklaces. We talk about the challenges of starting your own brand, as well as all the rewards that come from a long day spent hustling so you can do what you love. Finally, we catch up with Rosie and she embarks on a special project with Huawei P20 Pro,the Spark a Renaissance Photo Competition. A competition that aims to find the next generation of creative talent across Europe, and according to Rosie, one that aims to spark an “inspiration revival”.

From Made-in-Chelsea star to top fashion influencer, and now jewellery designer — what’s a day in the life for Rosie Fortescue?
Every day is totally different which I love. I’m either in my office, in meetings, designing jewellery at home, or posting jewellery in the post office — yes I still do all the fulfilment myself!

How would you define your style? What are three things in your closet you can’t live without?
My style is comfortable, but fairly classic and definitely with some statement pieces. I always finalise every outfit with jewellery. It’s definitely the finishing touch to any ensemble, and with it, I feel most confident.

Here at House of Coco, we’re all about Girl Bosses like yourself. How do you manage all your different projects and still live a well-balanced life?
I absolutely love working hard and I love what I do; so if I have to stay up working until 2am, I will! I’m 28, so I see these years as the ones to work my ass off and establish my brand. Hopefully, I will be able to employ someone soon to take off a bit of the workload; so I can focus more on the design and creativity aspect of running a business. However, right now I’m just loving the journey. I am super organised so am just about managing to get everything done, with some late nights along the way!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to face as a GirlBoss?
To trust my instincts. Because it’s just me in my company, I sometimes need to bounce some ideas off people. I luckily have very creative and inspiring friends, so it’s great to get other peoples’ thoughts on my ideas from time to time!
 
At House of Coco HQ, we’re all huge fans of Rosie Fortescue Jewellery. Where do you usually get the inspiration for your designs? Do you have a favourite piece? 
Thank you! I can be inspired by anything really. I always keep my eyes open, and a long stream of notes of my phone. The colour of a front door can inspire me for a stone colour, architecture is also a big source of inspiration. Whenever I’m away, I really make sure to take in my surroundings and make the most of every opportunity!

To top it all off, you’re also working with Huawei P20 Pro’s Spark a Renaissance Challenge. Could you tell us a little bit more about this collaboration?
The Huawei Spark A Renaissance Photo Competition is the world’s first ever photography competition judged by both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a Leica photographer. It’s really amazing what technology can do today! For this competition, Huawei’s P20 Pro smartphone’s AI will judge the photography submissions for a chance to win a Leica masterclass in Florence and one in 50 Huawei P20 Pros.

A photo competition has never been judged in this way before so I’m really excited to be working with Huawei on it. As modern creative myself, it’s great to be a part of an initiative that brings together art and science so seamlessly.

How is the Spark A Renaissance Challenge helping promote the next generation of creative talent across Europe?
The competition is part of a wider series of challenges from Huawei over the last few months. All of which have been aimed at unearthing the next generation of creative talent across Europe, and showcasing their potential to the world. Just as the Renaissance period was fuelled by the coming together of science and art, this campaign is doing the same by judging the participants with a combination of AI and the expertise of a panel of experienced artists. It’s an exciting project to be involved in and I’m looking forward to seeing the winning images!

In your opinion, how do you think our readers can “spark a renaissance” in their own lives?
I see it as an inspiration revival. I think that with everyone’s busy schedules these days, doing something for yourself that inspires you or makes you feel good is definitely key.

What’s next for Rosie Fortescue?
I have a few projects in the pipeline that I can’t talk about yet, but I am designing my new collection now. Really into body chains and stars at the moment so watch this space!

Here’s a few of Team Coco’s favourite pieces from Rosie’s latest collection…

Rosie Fortescue Jewellery
Rosie Fortescue spoke to House of Coco in partnership with Huawei for the ‘Spark A Renaissance’ challenge. To find out more, visit huawei.com

It’s two days before V-day arrives, and regardless if you’re #relationshipgoals or #singleandreadytomingle there’s nothing wrong with gifting yourself a little something special, because let’s face it, you’re totally worth it. So here’s a Team Coco approved gift guide for the month of love, because as we all know, the greatest love of all is self-love.

For the Flower Aficionado

While we may not be able to advise on how Mercury being in retrograde can affect your career opportunities this February, we do highly recommend treating yourself to a little bit of sparkle.

Jana Reinhardt’s beautiful new Birth Month flower jewellery collection lets you create stunning tailor made pieces that feature you or your Valentine’s birth month flower. From Snowdrop January to Narcissus December, each month has a unique flower that symbolises unique personality traits.(kind of like your star sign, but better!) You can even add a gemstone for a bit more sparkle, and a personalised engraving to boot.

Love at first sight

We’re all about sharing the love, and so is Lulu Guinness. They new love heart collection is everything our heart desires, and will surely make a statement regardless if your’e on a date with someone else, or just yourself! We can assure you,the Harriet Heart Bag, or the pink velvet Freya, is all the arm candy you will need this Valentine’s Day.

A Cosy Night in

There’s nothing like treating yourself to a cosy night in, and these goodies from independent boutique specialist Trouva, will certainly elevate your ‘Netflix and Chill” with some serious style, and some warm and cosy ‘Higge’ vibes. #Nofomo

A Galentine’s Night Out in the Lost Lagoon

This Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day, gift yourself the gift of adventure and check out The Lost Lagoon with your bestie. This V-Day, London’s coolest subterranean boating lake will be transformed into a whimsical experience that includes romantic boat-based buccaneering, and an exclusive ‘Pinker Colada’ cocktail in a giant horn by Scout.

From the 14th to the 17th, the Lost Lagoon’s ‘Marooners Rock’ will become the ‘Isle of Singles, and if you’re not bothered about finding your own pirate love, you can at least be comforted by good old glass of Captain Morgan instead. (of which, The Lost Lagoon has plenty)

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

House of Coco chatted with fashion designer Elizabeth-Yemi Akingbade about her fashion brand Yemzi, the importance of bootstrapping and pursuing your dreams. (Photo credit: ©www.jamesperrin.com 2016)

HOC: Hey Elizabeth, tell us about Yemzi and where we can find your products?

EA: Hello House Of Coco! All Yemzi pieces are made in London with Africa inspired hand-illustrated digitally printed premium silk. The brand is stocked in the GoodPlace boutique in Chelsea and my ultimate dream is to be stocked in similar boutiques worldwide Alara (Lagos), Browns (London), Collette (Paris). In Nigeria they respect good quality European design and I plan to approach stockists there over the next season or two. Until recently I have been selling my Black Label, a more affordable segment of the brand, on ASOS Marketplace but I’ve made the decision to solely focus on my high-end items in the Gold Label.

I’ve been approached to showcase my work at a number of small fashion and trade shows but my target is on the British Fashion Council’s official London Fashion Week schedule. I hosted my own fashion show last year on Dalston Roof Park, which was great and I’m planning another for this September in a World War 2 bunker! It’s all about stepping stones and building up; nothing happens overnight.

HOC: How did you come to running your own brand?

EA: After completing my undergrad degree in Surface Design at London College of Communication I took some short courses in Garment Construction, Bespoke Tailoring, and Pattern Cutting. I’m currently studying MA African Studies at SOAS which also informs my creative direction. I started working with sustainable printed t-shirts after I graduated in 2013 and had them stocked in one of the top 3 African boutiques.

From my presence in this store a fashion talent scout and strategist invited to show in Paris at Labo Ethnik. I really didn’t want to be going to Paris with just t-shirts so I applied my prints to cut and sewn styles. My first success was my silk kimonos, they sold so well and propelled me to create my first all silk 13 look ready-to-wear collection, ‘Straight Out Of The City Via The Motherland’ (SS16). My work explores British-Nigerian identity, fusing the fast pace of the city with the chilled vibe of the sea-side and often touches on politics as well as culture. I’m like Yinka Shonibare’s love-child with Vivienne Westwood.

HOC: Do you feel you get to be creative with your brand, is that one of your reasons for running this business?

EA: Absolutely! I’ve just started working on my new collection and I’ve been sketching and painting loads. In fact, I need to focus more on the numbers but my business is proof that you can carve a career doing exactly what you love. At the moment I’m so excited about Spring/Summer 17 (SS17), the Nigerian influence is stronger this season. After reading ‘Yoruba Photography: How the Yoruba See Themselves’ by Stephen F. Sprague for class ‘Ibeji’ (Yoruba twins) are a theme within the collection. Nigerians are most likely to have twins and I plan to play on this in the lookbook. The fashion prints that I’m working on are reminiscent of scarification and I’d love to book a stunning Nigerian model called Paula who has tribal markings on her stomach.

HOC: In the fashion industry we feel that it’s important who you know and where you are seen? How do you find the right people and places?

EA: It is important to sustain relationships and seek valuable connections. If you keep in touch with your fashion network you’ll hear about industry news, events and parties.

I also have a few mentors that I’ve met in various places. There’s a coach called Kofi who I met through Bootstrap company’s enterprise bootcamp, who I often go to as a sounding board. I always keep him in the loop and ask for his advice. I recently went to the The StartUp Kitchen to meet with well-established entrepreneurs who are willing to give gidance. These types of events are great forums to talk about new ideas and get your feedback from experts in other industries. We all have different approaches to business; for instance I met a lady who was all about picking up the phone, chasing for sales and making money. It’s different from how I operate but it’s interesting to see a different perspective. You can learn a lot from other people’s experiences and take aspects to shape your direction.

HOC: There’s a lot of work that goes into having your own fashion brand and you work and study alongside! How do you manage it all?

EA: My savings have given my business life and I do work when I can to top it up. I’m lucky to have a committed intern, Krezsend, who comes to the Yemzi HQ in Dalston to help out with whatever is on the agenda.

For blogger outreach I was working with a friend with a PR company but it is all in-house again. Outside of contacting bloggers I reach out to photographers, models and musicians who may want to collaborate. A big part of the search is for the ‘Yemzi Girl’; the girl that embodies my brand and can influence others on social media. For instance, I connected with a model from NYC who I had been fangirling for a minute and sent her a ‘Spbra’ bralet which she showcased on her Instagram.

I’m not shy to get exposure. Sadiq Khan visited my studio the other month and he said he was heading to Ben TV next and would shout me out. I held him to it and sure enough he co-signed me on international television. I’m all over my google analytics so I know what generates traffic to Yemzi.com so I always keep and eye on activity and plan accordingly.

HOC: You mention the Yemzi girl influencer, tell us more about her and how you find her?

EA: As I mentioned earlier I do a lot of tracking through analytics, I find the girls that have influence through looking at their follower to interaction ratio, who are the kinds of people who follow them and like their content. Yemzi girls have natural hairstyles, they tend to be creative and positive. I’ve got a #GirlBoss tip for you actually, check out Talia Wolf (Taliagw) and Mark Suster (msuster) on snapchat for snapstorms where they gives quick strategies on how to get more engagement online and other killer marketing and business tips.

HOC: So it sounds like social media is incredibly important to Yemzi at the moment?

EA: Absolutely, although I have had some not so great experiences. The other month a photographer was indirectly trashing me on twitter to his few thousand following. It was really unfair as I respectfully approached him about a shoot with an influencer (a beautiful model with 45k followers and 3k likes per post) but because there was no budget he was airing our direct message conversation in his public timeline rather than politely declining. I don’t care though, we all have to start somewhere and the most successful hustle hard to get things popping. If in 2016 Kanye West can ask for a billion dollars for his ideas then I can ask for a TFP (time for print) photoshoot from a local photographer!

The fashion industry in London is small, you really have to be aware of this.

I successfully approached a fashion photography graduate a few years ago via Twitter, we’ve done some amazing (unpaid and paid) collaborations, and she currently works at Net-A-Porter. The creative team are an important part of any shoot and the photographer needs to be as excited about your work as you otherwise the passion won’t be translated to the consumers.

HOC: You’re achieving so much, is there anything you wish you could spend more time and energy on?

EA: Visiting the spa? Jokes aside, networking more, my schedule does not priorities it. It’s on my list of activities to make regular but I have very little spare time. I need to just dedicate some time to finding events through friends, eventbrite and twitter and go. You can make some amazing contacts and even if you just walk away from an event with one decent contact it’s worthwhile.

Thank you Elizabeth for a whirlwind tour of your world and we cannot wait for your new SS17 collection. If you, dear reader, like what you’ve read do check out Yemzi. This #TeamCoco writer can vouch for how awesome they are, our hubby wants to nick our unisex green/blue print silk sweater!

For those on the fringes of the fashion industry, the perception when it comes to fashion PR’s are often inextricably linked with images of Absolutely Fabulous. Let me tell you “darling” that over-the-top, flamboyant, PR woman of the nineties is a thing of the past.

Enter Virginia Norris & Lauren Stevenson, looking towards the future of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty, with their agency Aisle 8 Communications. Fully embracing the power of digital has set Aisle 8 apart from other agencies; and their deep understanding of the fast-paced needs of that digital world has enabled them to elevate brands like Manu Atelier and DCL Skincare to a global scale. We chat with Girl-boss Lauren Stevenson, about what it takes to start your own business, and how the future of fashion pr can be found on your screen.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start AISLE8?
I’ve worked in PR for 15 years in large and small agencies, as well as two major in-house roles. Every role gave me valuable experience in the impact that PR can have as part of the wider marketing mix. I was privileged to be fully immersed into the digital world from the beginning, and I saw how a dynamic entrepreneurial young team could build a world class business. After a year as the Head of PR & Communications at Harrods, I missed that nimble and dynamic approach to PR. I saw a gap in the market for an agency that understood the changing face of PR and communications, being able to bridge the gap between digital marketing and traditional PR. Aisle 8 could do just that, understanding the importance of how PR could really deliver retail sales and build a business from the ground up.

How did you two meet? What made you decide to start this business together?
Virginia and I had met while I was the head of PR for my-wardrobe.com and she was the head of PR for Whistles.Two fast growing British fashion retailers, carving out a unique position in the market with clever, creative PR tactics and strategies that stood out. We were at the same events with our CEOs and often said, we should start a business together. We were regularly pitched to by digital and PR agencies but none of them seemed to understand the nuances of our retail business and how we approached digital in a 360 way.

In 2014, I called Virginia from Miami and said I’m going to resign, let’s start the agency we always talked about. Within a week we had both resigned, drafted our business plan, and registered Aisle8.

What makes Aisle8 Comms different from other agencies in the industry?
We have a deep understanding of retail and e-commerce, understanding how fully integrated PR and digital communications can build a brand. We understand the frustrations of working with agencies when you’re an in-house team, offering a service that goes far beyond a traditional PR agency. We have a track record for taking brands such as Manu Atelier to become a globally sought-after name, to securing retail for DCL Skincare in one of London’s leading department stores.

How do you go about finding the right brands and businesses to partner with?
We have been in a privileged position that so far, brands have always come to us and we have been able to be selective on the right brands to work with. We look for businesses with an authentic story and interesting product. We are storytellers. Introducing new brands, services, and products, so we have to fully believe and be incredibly passionate about those stories.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as businesswomen so far?
Nothing can prepare you for running your own business. I’m very lucky to have Virginia by my side and I couldn’t have done this without her. You know how to do your job as a PR professional, but growing and running your own business — well that you learn on the job every day. The biggest challenge has been cash flow. You no longer just receive a pay cheque at the end of every month. You have to wait for your clients to pay their invoices to be able to pay your suppliers, team, and office costs. It’s the one thing that keeps us awake at night.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become GirlBosses like yourself?
Today’s digital world has allowed us to have a much more flexible approach to work. We all have phones, laptops, social media, and global marketing channels that enable us to market to a worldwide audience with one image or sentence. The opportunity to launch a brand or start a business, has never been more readily available. It’s just having the courage and belief to do it. Virginia and I gave each other the courage and belief to do this and without each other the dark days would be a lot darker and the bright days, less bright.

AISLE8

Here at House of Coco, our team is always on-the-go, jet-setting from one dreamy destination to another. So, we all know that here is no better way to recharge after a busy work week, than having a Saturday morning lie in — and this is exactly what Filippa K’s latest campaign “Simply Slip Into” is all about.

Founded in 1993 in Stockholm, Filippa Knutsson began her brand on her kitchen table, and is now redefining Scandinavian fashion through her clean cut approach to style. Filippa K has taken her unique aesthetic, and sustainable approach to the curated wardrobe to a global stage. Her latest campaign emphasises the simplicity of Filippa K’s garments throughout various stages of undress. Featuring fellow GilBoss Nike Felldin, stylist and co-founder of world-renowned Space Matters, and her boyfriend Elliot Gillström, as they spend a lazy morning together talking about reducing the stress of getting dressed, and how to make time in the morning for what really matters.

House of Coco grabbed a drink with Aga Moodley, founder of I A.M the Brand, a personal stylist consultancy with a very personal approach. We spoke about childhood memories of amazing, handmade outfits, Kim Kardashian and becoming a mother.

HOC: Great to speak with you Aga! We’d love to start at the beginning, how did you come to being a stylist?

AM: Hello, I guess let’s start right at the beginning! I come from Poland and when I was a child it was under the Soviet dominance and there was nothing in the shops. At that time I lived in an all-generation house and my Mum and Grandmum used to make clothes. All the time sewing and knitting. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep at night because of the sewing machine noise! Even while there was nothing in the shops, my sister and me always looked different. Everyone would look at our clothes confused and ask ‘how is this possible?!’. The usual way to get new clothes would be when people brought things over from other countries or bought from import shops and we weren’t that family with dollars to spend.

So, growing up we had lots of clothes and they were always different that anyone else’s. My mum would always say that it was good to be unique and she’d say the same about toys. Like, when I wanted a Barbie my mum would ask, why do you want a Barbie, everyone has a Barbie! I learnt that it’s good to express yourself through clothes and it’s okay to look different.

HOC: It’s amazing that you can trace your love of clothes back to being a child! Can you talk us through how you work with your clients now?

AM: I offer a number of services to my clients. Some I work with regularly on a number of things and for others, it can be more of an ad hoc set up or coaching on where to shop, how to shop, how to build a capsule wardrobe, how to define a personal style… I offer Personal Shopping, Wardrobe Makeovers and Styling for particular events and I customise these to clients’ specific requirements. Of course, some of my clients do have the funds for high-end designer shopping, which is a lot of fun and can be an amazing experience for my client to get great service at a store! However, some of my clients have a defined budget and I teach them how to manage their finances and always look amazing. We work with what they have and a defined budget. One thing I see very often, no matter who I’m working with, is that people buy things impulsively, the bigger bargain, the better, even it doesn’t suit them! When I do wardrobe makeovers, I go through huge amounts of items of clothing that people keep and never wear!

HOC: I’m sure that we are guilty of that! Why do you find that people work with stylists?

AM: Some people just don’t have time to shop, I have a few clients who ask me to pick up things for specific events and, because I know them well, I can find them something great without going shopping with them. Some want to learn what to wear, some want to develop a new image. No matter what the reason, there’s always a massive self-development aspect of the process. Other people just aren’t into clothes that much, it’s not their top priority. I find, as well, that as women get older many seem to think less about what they are wearing. As my mum says: “ When you’re my age, you won’t care about clothes. You will appreciate other things in life”. But soon after that she’ll happily talk about what someone else is wearing.

I really believe that a person’s look affects and reflects their life; all aspects of it. It surely affects our mood but also our mood dictates what we will wear. What we wear and how we look is a key part of our brand, and this message I wanted to convey through the name of my business –‘I A.M the Brand’. I believe we’re unique and fashion is such a great tool to use when defining ourselves.

What I also pride myself on is that I have deep empathy and really do understand people. I’ve been through my fair share of things… This empathy helps me to be a good stylist as a good stylist is not only a fashion guru but a great psychologist. I “cure” the causes of overspending, not looking after oneself, hoarding, wrong fashion choices and I very much aim to give people confidence to value themselves and show that value through what they wear.

HOC: You are a new mother, how has that changed your life and your work?

AM: Yes, finally! It took a long time for our little girl to come to us. It was actually a pretty hard time to get to this point. I know many people don’t feel this but I have always wanted to be a mother. It has always felt like the most natural thing for me. So, when we weren’t conceiving easily it made me very, very upset. I did fall into a depression and, at times, it was hard to even leave the house for work. My husband was very supportive and helped me through but it was a really dark time.

Now that she’s here it’s so wonderful. Not to say that it’s not exhausting and sometimes me and my husband wish we had more time for us! We always have to think about what to do to keep her occupied and happy. But she goes to work with me sometimes too. When she was very small I did bring her to my events and to some of my regular client appointments.

HOC: If any of our readers wanted to explore a career in styling, what training would you recommend they look at?

AM: I have done some formal styling training (Fashion Marketing Elective – ‘London College of Fashion’ & Stylist Course – ‘Style Me Academy’) and there’s all the classic theories about body shape etc. but what it’s really about is knowing what looks good on people and how to work with people and understand what they need. Rather than worry too much about trends my approach to styling focuses on the background personality characteristics of an individual and using this as a frame of reference when applying styling techniques with clothing. I want to empower my clients.

HOC: How do you market yourself?

AM: Since the beginning of the year I’ve been running styling events. I bring 20 women to one place and they get to meet me and speak to me about their personal style. I find a face-to-face interaction very important. A client must get to know the stylist they decide to work with. They invest a lot of money and they need to take the most out of such a session. I really love making people happy. In the future I’d like to do such events also for men as I don’t believe its just women who want this!

There’s so many topics that I want to run events on. There will be some events that are just stylist specific and more open events incorporating more lifestyle things. In June I’ll do a celebrity style experience, catwalk, photos and my guest speaker is a plus size model, who will teach the group about how to feel confident. I don’t know if you’ve seen the Social Network, well Mark Zuckerberg says in it ’the biggest successes come from our insecurities’ and I really believe that, you need to change your insecurities into something positive.

At these events I also love to promote other businesses, people and ideas I believe in. It’s important to experience things for them to work for you. For instance, reading about some diet that Kim Kardashian lost a lot of weight on doesn’t mean anything, you need to personalise the service.

HOC: How do you find these complimentary brands you partner with and make sure they will represent your brand well?

AM: When I meet a person I naturally always want to know what they do! At a recent event I ran there was a nutritionist who I had met a few years ago at another event and then she recommended the chef who also joined us. I always want to know a person before I want to relate them to my business. So, I meet the person, I see what they do, I hear how they speak and I get to know them.

HOC: The way that you talk about styling and clothes makes absolute sense. What are you planning for the future of I A.M the Brand?

AM: More events, definitely and I do really want to work more with men, maybe even with couples. There are a lot of people who I can help and make happy through what I do. That’s why I enjoy what I do!

Thanks for taking the time to speak with House of Coco Aga, we love your mission to support others to express themselves through what they wear at I A.M the Brand. We know that Sophia Amoruso, who made the phrase #GirlBoss so popular would love it too!

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!

House of Coco had a chat with Kristina Spionjak, (spionjak.com), a publicist specialised in helping creative minds ‘tell their story’ to their target audience in the most compelling, distinct and relevant way, about wanderlust (a girl after House of Coco’s heart!) and how to make it with only £200 in your pocket.

HOC: Kristina, tell us about your business and the journey that got you here?

KS: I came to London in 2009 with just £200 in my pocket. I didn’t speak any English and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had come for London for a two week holiday, went back to Zagreb and then moved over!

The first thing I did was to work as an au pair which really helped me to learn the language and understand your culture. After that I was unsure of what to do next. I was over qualified to work for free and didn’t want to take a job where I’d be scraping £6 an hour, so there was no other option than to start my own business.

Back home in Croatia I worked in Political PR and a friend of mine there was a fashion designer and asked me if I would promote them in the UK market. I gave it a go and really enjoyed it, so I decided to start offering PR services.

HOC: That’s amazing, how did you go about building a name?

KS: The first obstacle was to find clients so I could make money! I started running PR workshops and teaching people how they could do their own PR, but my workshops were structured in a way that once they were over, they would realise they still needed my help to navigate the ins and outs and shoals of PR. I gained my first two clients shortly after by only charging £200 a month, which is now ridiculous! I put together my portfolio and then it started rolling in earnest.

We have our 5th anniversary this March and I have a small team and very capable team now built around me!

HOC: How did your friends feel when you came to the UK?

KS: It was wasn’t a great surprise to most of them. I’d already lived in three different cities! Croatia is very small, so after two years in its capital Zagreb it felt like you knew just about everyone and especially in the Media industry. The city felt small and I wanted more.

I remember when I came here on holiday. I was in Camden market and there was a mad mass of energy and rushing people. I knew then that I wanted to move to London for sure. Now that I live here, more people live near me in North West London than in the whole of my country! I took a leap of faith and it has paid off.

HOC: It must have been full of challenges, any tips to share?

KS: Yes. It was a rollercoaster, and even now I still have ups and downs. You need to have patience most of all!

You should also surround yourself with people who are informed and are hungry to keep learning. I read three books a week (I use an app that neatly summarises a book I’m interested in to decide if I’ll read it) which really helps me to manage my time well. In most cases, books can be written in twenty pages! I like to read psychology, behavioural sciences, economics and self-development books — the standard fare for PR where you need to know and understand your audience.

As a consultant, I often need to know about lots of different areas and background that I wouldn’t necessarily normally come across. I always like to be prepared before a consultation and will always recommend them to other professionals if I see that I’m not the best person or match for them or their project.

HOC: I think people forget how, while running your own business is an education in itself, you have to keep learning alongside it. You mention surrounding yourself with great people, do you have any mentors?

KS: I have a couple of mentors whom I unexpectedly discovered by chance! While I was still figuring out what I wanted to do, I taught Croatian and made a friend who is a property developer. He runs an old fashioned business and it was so useful to get his perspective and insight on my business; it’s great to discuss ideas with someone from a completely different industry. It really opens your eyes and helps you see from outside the bubble, in.

Another friend of mine is a marketing and PR manager who helped me define my brand strategy. I also have a number of people I work with like my creative copywriter and others who are fantastic to talk to and bounce ideas off. The people around me are mostly male, which is a coincidence.

HOC: Interesting that your mentors are mostly male! How do you find working in the industry as a woman?

KS: This industry is actually very female orientated with not many male clients! That said, I feel there are lots of differences between men and women in business. Women seem to be more caring of what’s going on but men just want to get it done!

HOC: What’s the next adventure then?

KS: I’ve already bought a place here in London so I’m trying to make this city my home and let it settle in. I’ll definitely be travelling somewhere or living elsewhere for a few months when the opportunity occurs and to check it out!

We love your attitude and approach to life, Kristina and can’t wait to see what you will do next! We don’t know about you but Kristina’s story has got us wanting to pack up and move abroad in search of adventure…