Village Blog
Ultimate beauty report
This is the Ultimate Beauty Report. Predicted by the beauty queen herself, Kylie Jenner, we've realised, we've educated ourselves, and we have grown. Ironically, you can read how crazy contouring is dead, and why it's ok to embrace those rebellious skin days. This, is the ultimate 2018 Beauty report... We've all been there, the beauty-hole, the Pandora's box - but for beauty trends. First you're just reading a simple article on how to dry body brush, then you're reading all about lymphatic drainage, and a few minutes later, you're on i-herb attempting to buy a kilogram of pure aztec clay shipped from some place I have never heard about. Been there, done that, got the credit card statement. The key message here: Education. We all do our research. We know how to read the back of our skincare products, and know every acid under the sun from hyaluronic to niacinamide. No quick marketing scheme can buy us out that fast. Our average Mecca shopper is a beauty guru in their own right, with an abundance of resources at our polished fingertips. So first, lets talk beauty news. Not that this should be in any way, shape or form a "trend", I must highlight the continuation and expansion of inclusivity within the beauty industry. In my opinion, it is far more superior than any superficial trend. What's the point of a trend if everyone is not included? The average beauty consumer as mentioned primarily is becoming infinitely more aware of the ethos behind brands (big or small) and their marketing - companies are often coming under intense, multi-faceted scrutiny for launching anything other than the best in terms of shade ranges and formulations. Our standards, and desires, are higher than ever - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. One of the biggest wrong doings of 2018 was the launch of Tarte Shape Tape Foundation, which was set to be one of the biggest drops ever, however it is safe to say everyone was bitterly disappointed, albeit enraged at the dismal shade range. 50 shades of white, anyone? This can be juxtaposed with one of the most successful brands of 2018 - the launch of Rihanna's own Fenty Beauty- released September 2017. It made it's mark in 2018 with an absolute bang. The music mogul turned her eye to the world of make-up and no one was disappointed! With an astonishing 50 shades of foundation, an equally stunning array of cream matchsticks (all in varying undertones, naturally) and the infamous universal Fenty Gloss, Rihanna paved the way for minimal powder, ultra glow and the return of the GLOSS - all whilst being one of the most dynamic and inclusive brands of the year. This too was made manifest in her Savage X Fenty lingerie line - but that’s a whole other story. Inclusivity continued with the Make -Up Forever launching an impressive 60 shades of foundation and there were many other collaborations with youtubers Alissa Ashley for NYX and Jackie Aina with Too Faced. Congratulations. Now we have our morale, lets talk face. Blush is for more than just the apples of your cheeks. Galliano has made a come back with using blush as a bronzer, not just in your conventual coral to bronze hues, but with sunflower yellows to cobalt blues, the graphic eye has transitioned to the sunset cheek. Although it is an avant-garde look for the runway, it has been re-incarnated to bright blush in orange-tones for the day - think statement eye but for your cheeks. Cute. That being said, less is more. It's no longer about that dreaded contour, mascara, false eyelashes, pencilled in brows plus eyegel. Plus white creamy sticks 'highlighting' the outside of your eyebrow. Big no. So, I'll ask you once, step away from the powder -the baking is to be kept strictly in the kitchen. I must admit, I never liked these trends as you can probably tell, but I'm glad we are no longer painting ourselves brand new faces. We have Facetune for that now- if that’s your vibe. Anyhow, there has been a divergence from the "insta-brow" and liquid lipstick combination. Additionally, the copious amount of setting powders and matte formulations that flooded the market a season or two ago are being replaced with more sheer, lightweight, luminous and glowy products - bye bye baking, say hello to cream blush, highlighter, eyeshadow and so much more! Glossier and Milk make-up are endemic of this "your face but better" mantra, and continue to reign supreme when it comes to some of the most beautiful cream products on the market in addition to Hourglass, Chantecaille and Becca. A noteworthy improvement to Glossier's Wowder, Skin Tint and Stretch Concealer, their previous, minimal shade range has now be improved to twelve shades - it is an improvement, but I am eager to see an expansion in the future. If Rihanna can do it, you can do it. With this everpresent trend of 'glow', sometimes its hard not to still feel oily. Sometimes, even an extra layer of coverage (me). These two new products have gotten everyone talking. Rae Morris' 'Invisible Powder' - literally, an invisible powder blurs pores and keeps you sweat free for yonks. No. Baking. Required. Then, the Kosa's new facial tint has the coverage of a foundation, goes on in an oil-based blend, and looks like your skin. But better. This dynamic duo is the ultimate buildable coverage with a natural finish to achieve the above trend: Looking like yourself. Thanks to Rihanna, there is a huge return of the glossy lip made. There's no better illustration than consumers veering away from Kylie Cosmetics infamous liquid lipsticks, that skyrocketed to her 900M worth. The gloss creates a more refined, clean finish. Lets not draw ourselves false lips, shall we. But, gloss isn't just for lips, it's been used on the eyelids to create a chic look - want to level up? Pair it with slicked back hair and a fresh face for a wet look. This leading-edge come editorial aesthetic is best left for the photo shoots and catwalks - its creases like crazy! If you know how to wear it, please notify us immediately. The power of negative space is not just on a photograph, but on your face also. Yes, freshness is extremely in, minimal make-up indeed, but, do you dare to go bare? It's swept its way from 2018 into 2019, recently with Paloma Elsesser for Unconditional Magazine. Here, its paired with a black, thick wing, but feel free to add into a graphic eye or a blue lid of any hue - 2018's greatest and boldest eye moves. This brings us onto our next trend of monochromatic make-up looks. It’s turned into a classic staple, as you would match a black bag with black shoes - it's impossible to get wrong. Products that work for more than one facial region - even better! Use your lipstick as your blush! As always, everyone's favourite warm-toned eyes are omnipresent, with the launch of several successful palettes: such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette and the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette - pair this with feathered brows, and it’s a match made in heaven. Let us know here what you think 2019's biggest beauty trends will be! Published on 31/03/2019 by Leonie Henzell CEO beauty's got soul.
Read moreExpiration Dates of Beauty products
When is it time to give your beauty products the boot? Expiration dates aren't just for milk, ladies and gents! We have now Marie Kondo'd our top #shelfies with products that don’t bring us joy, but, did you remember to check those pesky expiry dates at the back? These bad boys don’t last forever. Yes, beauty products also have expiry dates, and just like the food in your pantry, they too have ideal storage temperatures. Lets start off with expiry dates. It's normally listed on the product itself, but sometimes is written only on the outer packaging also - so beware! You're looking for a tiny little open jar with a number, normally 12, listed as "12M". I'm sure your eyes have skimmed passed it a few times and dismissed it (like me!). This means, the product from opening is A- Okay to use for the next 12 months, and after that timeframe- well, who knows what might be growing in there (sorry!). As soon as you've opened a product, it begins to oxidise, hence, is less effective. Unfortunately, just a part of life. Picture this, you've cut into an apple, and after a while it starts turning brown. Your beauty products are the same - just a very, very expensive apple. Storage of beauty products is another thing we don’t look out for all that closely, it gets thrown in the draw and that’s about it. But just like how butter needs to live in the fridge, or your daily probiotic needs to be stored in a cool, dark place - so do some of your beauty products. These labels will be written generally on the outermost packaging, and, have straightforward instructions like "store under 30 degrees" and so forth. You can expect to see this with Retinols or Vitamin C creams. As for your chemical exfoliants, they would want to stay out of direct sunlight, otherwise the formulation is broken down at a rapid rate, and is less effective. These would say something like "keep out of direct sunlight" - you get the gist. But my beauty babes, don’t stress. Now you know! If you don’t remember how long you've had it for, it's safer to throw it out. Say goodbye to that Naked palette you’ve had since you were eighteen. Have fun reading your labels, beauties! Published on 17/05/19 by Leonie Henzell CEO beauty's got soul
Read moreWhat is a BB Cream and a CC Cream? Please Explain...
What is a BB Cream and a CC Cream? Please Explain... Say goodbye to the quintessential tinted moisturiser that we all know and love, the dynasty of facial coverages has been passed on to our alphabetical allies’ BB and CC Creams. The question is, what is the difference? Foundations in 2018 despite a number of new releases are on the dramatic decline, with beauty consumers sticking to lightweight formulations and sheer finishing’s, the rise of the barely there look is here to stay. Your face, but better. This is where foundation meets skincare, CC and BB, our graded friends are here to stay along with sunshine drops, glow solutions and D Bonzi peptide creams. This is, however, what these little beauties will do to you, our big beauty-full gang. BB Creams No more playing chemist at home, these potions of skincare goodness come readily packaged. Heavier than a moisturiser, but lighter than a foundation, this is where skincare and makeup are affixed. It may be called a Beauty Balm, but there is absolutely nothing balm like about it. Think moisturiser but with a bonus touch – like mixing a peptide in with your sunscreen, this is the exact same – just with a bit of pigment. The main selling point is that there is an additional SPF inserted in the formulations to prevent ageing, along with some skin -perfecting booster ingredients. It works similarly to stand alone serums – but with pigmentation. Similarly, to a quality moisturiser, it’s a primer, foundation and moisturiser in one – the ultimate triple threat. Smoothing your completion out, evening out the tone and boosting your level of hydration whilst being breathable unlike classical foundations – you can definitely see why these are on the rapid rise. That being said, in Asia they tend to be thicker, with higher levels of zinc oxide for your sun protecting needs, with a foundation like feel in terms of texture. Whereas Western BB Creams are more lightweight, luminous with a sheer appearance for a light layered look for those days you want to quickly throw something on. CC Creams Our Colour Correcting offspring from our BB beautiful SPF meets a new foundation solution. With all of the same benefits as a BB Cream, this guy is a little more concentrated with addressing issues like redness. It is absolutely fantastic for acne due to its light finish, but also conceals dark spots, hides acne, and adds radiance to sallow skin. Further, its boosted with Vitamin C and E goodies! An insider tip: You can use your CC Cream as a colour correcting primer for a flawless finish. Despite the formulation being more pigmented and higher coverage, fixing all tonal mishaps that might be going on your pretty little face – it is a lot lighter than a BB Cream. CC’s have a ‘whipped’ finish – feeling light, breathable, fluffy and easier to work into the skin, unlike BB creams which act have a similar consistency to a moisturiser (sometimes thicker depending on your formulation of choice). It’s light-deflecting components will give a dewy, luminous finish. Lighter coverage than BB but has more hidden goodies, it is incredible for a faux summer glow. Published on 21/04/19 by Leonie Henzell CEO of beauty's got soul
Read moreFrom Adversity to Opportunity
From adversity to opportunity - how two local business have joined forces to meet a crucial need in today’s market… The story of the Puzzle Desk. What happens when you pair the owner of a design savvy construction and shop fitting company, with a couple of design obsessed retailers whose businesses have both been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis? A tonne of ideas and innovation born out of the necessity to survive! When Sarah Ryding, owner of i4 Design & Construction approached Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier from norsu Interiors to share a prototype of a product she had just designed with her clever team, the girls literally squealed with excitement at the knowledge that this was the item every home needs right now. The announcement of Term 2 remote learning in Victoria had just delivered a big reality check for these three families with young children. “Running a business from home while simultaneously home schooling my son was somehow manageable when I believed it would only be for a matter of weeks” says single-Mum and norsu co-founder Kristy Sadlier. “However, when the news hit that remote learning was going to be extended for an entire other term, it completely tipped me over the edge! I was doing ok until this point - despite the general iso challenges and wearing a few more hats than normal, I held the belief that it was only temporary and once my son was back at school (initially scheduled for 20 April), life would return to ‘normal’.” With the news also came the panic that dedicated at-home work stations were suddenly a necessity. “I couldn’t handle the takeover of my dining room table any longer. Fighting for space to eat meals between my computer and paper work and my son’s half completed puzzles, drawings and board games, it became very apparent that a desk was needed for both of us to keep some of our sanity in check” claims Sadlier. After jumping on line to find several major retailers were virtually sold out of desks, with lengthy restock delays, the panic set in even more… This story seemed to be all too familiar amongst other households. Enter Ryding and her brilliant idea for the Puzzle Desk! After Coronavirus shut down her booming shopfitting business i4 Design & Construction, leaving her 100 shop fitting and factory employees out of work, she was at a true loss. After a period of grieving, she turned to the one thing she does best - designing fit for purpose and practical furniture! "The creativity still flows. We've got a full manufacturing facility here in Melbourne and we've got skilled staff that were eager to continue working," Ryding says. She saw the need for affordable desks that can be used at home along with the spike in popularity of puzzles. She then rallied together with her talented team, harnessing their combined skills to design a desk that slots together like a puzzle. "Kids can use the desks for home schooling or adults if they are working from home. It slides together with no need for tools or screws. And when you are done, it pulls apart and can be stored under a bed." Enter to WIN your very own Puzzle Desk. This gorgeous desk is valued at $299. You will also win 2 Soul Baby Suitcases valued at $95 and a beauty's got soul gift valued at $100. Total prize pool is $514. Sign up to our newsletter for your chance to win. The winner will be drawn randomly on Friday 8th May at 5pm AEST and the winner will be notified by email & posted on Instagram. After a meeting through the Business Chicks, Ryding approached the ladies at norsu believing they would be a good fit to sell the product. norsu, who have also been hit by COVID-19 after closing the doors to their Malvern East concept store several weeks ago, instantly jumped at the opportunity. "I've partnered with norsu to exclusively sell our desks. I'm harnessing their skills to complement my own. It's no longer about end-to-end production, it's about working together," she says. Within 24 hours, the team had tested, styled and photographed the desks, and pushed the product to market on social media and www.norsu.com.au - all while still remaining isolated in their own homes. “This is the beauty of small business in a crisis. We have the ability to think and act fast! We were in overdrive, spending every moment of that 24 hour period brainstorming and strategising over What’s app and late night calls once the kiddies were in bed” states norsu co-founder Nat Wheeler. The trio had a strong belief in the product, but nothing could have prepared them for the response they received. “We launched on Friday evening with an affordable price tag of $299, and had sold out of our first production run by Saturday morning! The manner in which our community has embraced this product has been truly overwhelming. There’s such a strong desire to support local business right now, which has certainly helped, along with our ability to supply stock quickly thanks to local manufacturing” claims Wheeler. After smashing their initial target in only 12 hours, the team kicked into gear to secure more materials over the Easter weekend to manufacture at scale. They are now poised to deliver hundreds of units by Friday this week. “We are so proud to partner with our friend to meet an immediate need in the market, but the sweetest thing of all is knowing we are helping provide an opportunity to keep her factory staff employed during this challenging time” Wheeler and Sadlier both admit. About the product:Cut from sheet MDF using CNC machinery in the Thomastown factory of i4 Design & Construction, the Puzzle Desk consists of seven individual pieces that fit together like a puzzle in just two minutes without the use of tools. It can be easily assembled and packed away as required for effortless storage under a bed. Its sturdy, yet lightweight design means it can be moved around the house as needed, and enjoyed by all members of the home. It’s available in two finishes, white laminate MDF and raw MDF (to customise with your own DIY painting project), and above all, it looks great! Visit www.norsu.com.au for more information on the Puzzle Desk. Published by Leonie Henzell CEO of Soul Baby Gifts on 25/04/2020.
Read morebeauty's got soul X Cacao - Interview with Tim Clark
Tim Clark represented Australia in the World Chocolate Masters in Paris in 2005, was the youngest ever Executive Pastry Chef at Crown Melbourne, and in his twenties travelled the world on a luxury European cruise liner creating decadent desserts for international travellers. Now, his energy is focussed on Cacao – bringing a slice of traditional French pastry to Melbourne with a modernistic twist. Currently working alongside premium brands such as Mercedes Benz, Viktoria and Woods and Jackalope Hotel; Clark understands that you can achieve your goals by consistently refining your skills and not skipping on quality ingredients… Before your journey with Cacao, what were you doing with yourself? I was Executive Pastry Chef at Crown in Melbourne for six years. I was looking after a lot of major events such as the Brownlow, the Logies and the Formula One launch party. I was in charge of a team of twenty-six pastry chefs and was overseeing the creation of desserts across all events and catering venues. Prior to Crown, I worked abroad for a number of years. First in Germany in a one Michelin star restaurant and then travelling the world on a six-star European cruise liner, Silversea Cruises. This was a fantastic experience not only from a professional perspective but also on a personal level. I not only had the opportunity to meet some great chefs and mentors but also had the chance to see the world and experience different culinary cultures. How does a critical eye and attention to detail feed into the creative side of the business? Attention to detail is very important in elevating the Cacao brand to a premium status. Producing continuously high-quality products comes from hard work and determination. It’s a combination of a lot of things from the ingredients that go into making our products, to the level of experience of our team, and the uniqueness of what we make. We’re not creating products that can be replicated at home. We’re creating special experiences for our customers that are not readily available around town. We want to bring European quality and tradition to local audiences with our unique take and understanding of the Australian palate. This is what our creative process is based on with every product that we develop. First, we decide what we want to create and for what purpose, then we work out how we are actually going to make it. We then pick the right ingredients which is a key part of the process. Consumers today are very engaged and interested in what goes into the food they eat. They want to know the origin of the ingredients and this pushes us to be very selective with our choices. It’s not enough that our macarons and chocolates look nice and taste good, they also have to be made using consciously selected ingredients. Knowing the origin and supply chain of what goes into our products matters to our customers. What era in art do you feel influences your work for most – not just in terms of the making of the food but the brand’s vision? That’s a tough question to answer. Personally, I’ve always taken a real liking to surrealism as what you see is not always what you get. This mystery in some way also applies to great food. There’s always excitement about beautifully presented food which really heightens the customer experience. I don’t think Cacao represents or is aligned with any one particular era of art. As creative people we get influenced by many things: ingredients, nature, colours, design, fashion, the seasons; and the list goes on. A lot of what we do depends on our customers and food trends as well. In terms of our packaging, our aim was to create a sense of elegance and simplicity. We wanted the design and the finishes to provide a sensory experience to our customers even before they see what’s inside. Our brand colours – inspired by the transformation of the cocoa pod – reveal themselves in the inside of our chocolate boxes and used as a splash of colour on our macaron packaging. Ultimately, we want our products to take the centre stage, but it is also important for us that they are beautifully presented. We wanted the excitement to start from the moment you come across our packaging. The whole experience should be a sensory journey. “The new look and feel of Cacao represents our desire to create a timeless brand that is based on craftsmanship, skill and quality. I am very proud of our journey and the hard work that got us where we are today." How does the constant changing of trends, whether that be in popular culture, art, or fashion, affect your process in creative duration of a certain product and future flavour combinations? I think you’ve always got to stay relevant and aware of trends inside and outside food. There is always something that can tie in really well with what you’re doing without compromising who you are. All outside influences play an important role in how our brand and range evolves. Some of it may come through in the presentation of our packaging, style of photography or storytelling. We may incorporate some new flavours in our products based on trends. Gin for example is very popular at the moment so our team may think about how we could incorporate this into a new chocolate product. In terms of trends and direction, it’s also key for us to work with customers who make us want to challenge ourselves. Customers such as Mercedes Benz, Viktoria and Woods and the Jackalope Hotel help us keep evolving and moving forward. Is there any related trend within the culinary field that you wish would disappear? Probably the raw chocolate trend. I don’t want it to disappear; I just would like better understanding and transparency around what ‘raw’ chocolate really is. There’s this thought that eating raw chocolate has all these health benefits. There is no denial that ‘raw’ chocolate for example has higher level of antioxidants than ‘normal’ chocolate, but the truth is that nobody can categorically claim that their chocolate is raw. For chocolate to be raw, the cocoa bean should not be roasted. The moment it is treated over 45 degrees it is no longer raw; the same applies to nuts. In case of the cocoa bean, generally there is a fermentation process during which the membrane around the bean - a lychee type, fleshy texture - breaks down leaving you with the bean. The bean is then roasted under normal circumstances. What raw chocolate producers are saying is that ‘we don’t roast the bean, we just ferment it, then we smash the bean and make a paste out of it’. Because it hasn’t been roasted, they claim that it has greater properties, but there’s a lot of risk in doing that as not all bacteria is killed. Unless you’re controlling the whole process from the sourcing of the beans to fermentation and the creation of the paste without roasting, you don’t know for fact that the chocolate you are eating is indeed raw. As I said, I don’t have a problem with the trend. In fact, we ourselves have recently introduced a product that we believe to be raw based on what we know. But until there is proper regulation in Australia around what ‘raw’ actually is, it will remain a grey area. Do creative constraints concern you? Or, do you enjoy the limitations in both of the patisserie processes of both recipe building as well as building it structurally in terms of the more visual elements? I don’t think there’s too many creative constraints on us. We work with products and ingredients that are very diverse and flexible. It’s up to one’s imagination, experience and skill to be able to create what they want. As individuals we learn and experience new things every day. These in turn help us become better pastry chefs. I’m certainly keeping an eye on what other chefs are making, in particular with chocolate. But in terms of inspiration, I also get a lot of stimulus from outside of our industry. I am always interested in seeing what people are doing in fashion and architecture. For all those at home that are wanting to improve on their culinary skills, what advice would you have for them? There’s always a lot of satisfaction in creating something. When I say satisfaction, I mean achieving something that you are proud of. My advice is to cook within your means and make sure that you enjoy the process. It is just as important as the result. Also, use good ingredients and follow the recipe. Published on 26/07/2019 by Leonie Henzell CEO beauty's got soul.
Read moreAnnie Abbott - CEO of habbot.
These shoes were made for walking… and Annie Abbott, Founder and CEO of habbot knows how to have some fun without compromising our treasured comfort. It shouldn’t be that hard… highly functional shoes, built for women that are on the move without compromise. The aesthetic pieces that make us go ‘yes – I’ll take them’. After working at netaporter.com as a business analyst as well as Australia's own Sass and Bide; Annie Abbot understands what it takes to have THE shoe... Merging European craftsmanship with Australian flair, this is the concoction of Italian leather that you can trot around with season after season – without the blisters. But there is nothing ambivalent about them. Leather goods are a coveted item and are automatically deemed as an investment, no matter by whom you can never go wrong with an Italian leather bootie set. The thing that sets habbot. apart from other shoe brands is sense of duality, approach and that the greatest shoe has the highest attention to detail, and appreciation of finer things. habbot. shoes are clean, sculptural shoes that although have fine minimalist shapes, they’re adorned with interesting add-ons and bright colour – functionality and playfulness are blended to create the functional footwear. The ergonomically designed shoes don’t compromise on comfort – with pretty colours, daring design and minimalist shapes they’re truly built for women on the move. Who hasn’t been in the position where they’ve stubbed a toe, ended up with a swollen foot, or a sore ankle has come in between their day and a task that needs to be done (even if it’s changing from flats to heels in the car!)? Sometimes it truly does “just slows me down in life too much." Although having little previous experience in the shoemaking process, Annie knows what a good shoe takes. With a background in business analytics at Net a Porter, her sense of duality allowed the business to grow to what it is today. With statistics and percentages of who purchases what, the creativity is firmly supported by numbers. However, when it came to production “I need to learn about how shoes are made, and I had no idea so that’s where I kind of worked for the next five years with the shoes with a company here and that was really my footwear grounding. But in terms of needing to go to the next step, I don’t think I would've got there if I had not worked at Sass and Bide and learnt about the production process which I couldn’t have applied as you would imagine to most things that get made like the different stages involved, manufacturing, how to plan a range and sort of lots of those things that are applicable to all disciplines of production” Each shoe is made with care, by hand, by skilled shoemakers in Italy. Annie flying over yearly to ensure the highest of quality leathers are used and perfecting the finest of details. “But, there’s nothing better than being in person and talking through things like the fit of the shoe or making an adjustment to a pattern or explaining a different idea that I might have. How some part of the shoe might function or how a strap on the shoe might work.It’s much much easier to do that in person and it leaves much less room for interpretation. It then means we really only have to make one prototype of a new design and kind of work through that otherwise” Annie is a hands-on kind of designer, hand-picking leathers and formulating designs with “Lots of people don’t do the stocking and they get their makers to find the materials for them which is a great and really efficient way of doing it, but I wouldn’t find the real hidden gems if I didn’t do it myself. That’s the main real reason.” Creative constraints are no hassle and are in fact thoroughly enjoyed… “I actually like them!” With Annie, inspiration strikes from old magazines, past collections and always Italian and leather component fairs when she’s strolling through the Italian streets. “I like to go back to what we did a few years ago and if it was popular and why it was popular and not re-doing it but just taking some of the feedback and some of the praise we received at the time because I’ve always been pretty close to the customer and I can always remember what was good about a shoe or a certain material or colour and that might spark off a new idea” “If I’m overseas and if I’m in Italy then I'll just arrive at this amazing leather fair. It’s a leather and components fair that I go to and that’s just like a candy store […] within a few hours there’s a whole heap of ideas” Acting as a source of inspiration seeing new things changing the environment, this can be juxtaposed against the Australian market where the repetitious nature of trend-driven clothing, apparel and footwear can be translated in each store is not on Annie’s agenda. Although acknowledging it is something that occurs on a global scale, “most of the ideas kind of come from higher up the tree and design or brand and things like that and they kind of all filter down […] again there’s a market for that and a lot of people like the guidance and like it that way but that’s not what I set out to do." Further, Annie is here to design for like-minded women, and what their concerns are. Hence, customisation at habbot. was born two years ago. Originally created for a short-term bit of fun for consumers, it is now a permanent part of their collection. Now with habbot.'s most popular shoes, they can be personally customised into whichever brilliant colour selections you choose. Shown on the website or in-store and delivered to you one month after purchase. It’s practical, its classical, but then we can also have fun with it. Annie’s graciously given the role of colour -coordinator to her users to create something unique now with your customisation element. After the trial and a little bit of extra web tech, here we are today. “The reason why we did it I think was because the customer – well she does have her own sense of style, she has quite definite ideas about things and while she loves buying from our collection that I design – we were just always getting feedback about how she might do it or how she might get it if we did it in this and that sort of thing so this was an opportunity for her to do that herself. And it’s been really successful but equally it’s been interesting to see that the women I thought would’ve really gone for it have actually said no um I kind of like you to bring it to life for me. So that’s good in a way because I didn’t really want it to take over the business, I still see myself as a shoe designer and I design a collection that has a strong theme throughout out. I didn’t want it to turn into us just being shoemakers, but it sort of worked and it’s been a really interesting experience to see how different kind of women have handled it. Some have loved it” Although one day it is still a goal for Annie to design men’s footwear (you can do it, Annie!) one of her first four shoes in her initial collection back in 2009 was an oxford…… One may suggest that the Oxford is a solid presentation of habbot. Classical, functional, here to get the job done but on their terms. It’s brightly coloured with contrasting colours, metallic leathers and adornments. The power and meaning behind the oxford in Annie’s words are… “Lace ups have always been such a big part of the brand and to me. It’s kind of a strong looking object if you like. It's strong, it's polished but it has kind of an independence to it. It’s not like a really sexy shoe sort of trying to be something for someone else and it’s certainly a shoe that you can put a lot of character into. There’s a lot that you can do with that much leather or that much textile that you might be using. But to me the strength and character that I put into that first shoe and hopefully continue to put into the rest of them is really what the rest of the brand is about, so I’ve always loved men’s shoes […] it definitely is that pared back classic men’s styling that I go for now.” You may be wondering what’s in store for habbot this year? They’ve teamed up with our friends Kinnon and us for a beauty-full collaboration! . The competition ends on the 8th of May 2019. Sign up to our beauty-full gang to stay in the loop on all the going-ons at beauty's got soul HQ. What’s refreshing about Annie Abbot’s approach to design is her ability to take feedback and act upon it, serving the luscious leather that we all crave on silver trays with the feedback placed right in the sole. Although Annie may not have a whole habbot gallery in glass cases, she sure makes me want to start one. Published on 28/04/2019 by Leonie Henzell CEO of beauty's got soul
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