Blog
Clean Connoisseurs
09 . 23 . 2024
In an age when health and wellness are more important than ever, creativity meets consciousness in the most inspiring ways for these four innovative makers who are redefining what it means to create with purpose.
In 2019 when Sydney Poll's father was hospitalized with Pancreatic cancer, she noticed every hospital meal seemed more like junk food that was likely hurting his health, not helping. This realization opened her eyes to the profound impact our dietary choices have on our well-being and led to her mission of producing healthy gourmet condiments.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Sydney: I love creating a product that I know tastes good and is good for you. It is wonderful to be able to share something creative and delicious. I love being able to teach the world about clean eating and how it doesn't have to taste bad.
Where did your love for food come from?
Sydney: I come from the food industry. My dad's family owned a bakery supply company, and I used to go to the National Restaurant Association food show with my dad every year just for fun to try all the new things people were making.
What is special about your products?
Sydney: We are the only brand that I have seen that uses fully clean ingredients like organic anti-inflammatory olive oil and glass bottles to avoid toxins from plastic. We don't use any sugars, and our product is shelf stable once opened. We use very high-end materials that allow our flavor to be unique, tasty and good for you.
As a mother of three young children, Grace Soraparu is always looking for creative ways to maintain a natural and healthy household. This ideology is what drives her to create personal care and beauty products using natural, vegan friendly ingredients that are organically sourced whenever possible.
What led you to start Whole Love Organics?
Grace: I was a stay-at-home mom, nursing my youngest son and I started to research all the harmful chemicals found in our personal care products. I couldn't afford the deodorants that were currently on the market, so I started making my own. I gave them to family and friends, and they loved them. The rest is history!
What motivates you?
Grace: Knowing I help people create healthier homes and use healthier personal care products. When customers tell me they have been searching for years to find a deodorant that works for them and doesn't use harsh ingredients and they fell in love with mine, that keeps me going!
What is an instance from your personal life that has sparked creativity?
Grace: One of my kids requested a special scented room spray and we worked together to come up with a blend he loved. Being able to make that with him was a really special and creative moment.
Marilyn Bingham used her personal experience living with eczema as motivation for creating her body butters and soy candles without any harsh chemicals. Seeing and feeling the difference on her own body, she wishes to share these amazing results with others so that they may experience relief as well.
Tell us about your work.
Marilyn: I hand whip my butters using all raw materials such as Shea and Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond, Castor, Coconut and Vitamin E oils. For my Soy candles, I use 100% soy wax along with natural candle wicks and essential oils. The best thing about my soy candles is that as they melt, you can use them as massage oil and moisturizer for your skin.
What led you to begin creating Soy Candles and Body Butters?
Marilyn: I personally have super dry skin and eczema. No matter what product I used, 10 minutes later my skin would be dry again. So, I began experimenting with Soy, Shea and Cocoa Butters and finally found relief. I want to share these results with everyone, because my products will bring others relief and moisture.
What makes your products unique?
Marilyn: Our natural ingredients help heal and treat delicate skin, diminish signs of aging, and provide relief from some major skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and more.
Maggie Schmieder believes that the beauty makeup imparts on a person's spirit as well as the ability it has to allow another person to create using their body as a canvas, is magical. With this in mind, she created a multi-purpose balm formulated without any additional lake or synthetic dyes that all women can feel beautiful wearing.
Why do you create?
Maggie: For as long as I can remember I have been a creator, it's the most meaningful way for me to find balance and peace in this crazy life. I quite literally recharge from creating with my hands.
What inspires you?
Maggie: As I have grown older and more in tune with my craft, I have realized that I'm most passionate about making functional art. Nothing is more functional than makeup. So, I created Bitty Balm, an intentionally clean and nontoxic makeup that all women can feel good about putting on their skin.
What do you enjoy most about being a maker?
Maggie: Creating something that people actually love is the most humbling part of being a maker. I strive to make the best and be better at it each day. I really take pride in what Bitty Balm offers to our customers. It's a journey that I share, and I hope that our clients love it as much as we do.
Meet and shop from these artists and hundreds more at the One of a Kind Holiday Show, December 5-8!