Guest Artist: Soap Folk on Sustainable Skincare
Just a stones throw from our Tetbury salon is Soap Folk, a company who create beautiful soap products with a conscience. With sustainability at the heart of everything they do, Soap Folk’s products range from Spiced Apple to Juniper Berry to Goats Milk and Honey, they sound just about good enough to eat!
And did we mention how stunning their packaging was? Not only do they use natural, organic and biodegradable ingredients, they’re also keen collaborators. Joining forces with local Stroud Designer Susie Hetherington, taking inspiration from the Stroud valley around them together they have designed the most aesthetically pleasing packaging that would take pride of place in all of our bathrooms!
Photography by Stephen Lethnall, designs by Susie Hetherington
As the world began to realise that bar soaps are kinder to the planet, my vision was to create a product that would stand head and shoulders above the rest in terms of its ethical and sustainable credentials, whilst also being a truly luxurious treat for the skin”
Fiona McBryde – Founder & Soap Maker.
Where did the concept begin and who founded the brand?
Soap Folk was founded by me, Fiona, in my kitchen initially as a desire to make natural gentle soaps for my family and friends to enjoy. It’s been wonderful to grow this simple concept into a brand now stocked in retailers across the UK.
Being a sustainable, natural brand - were there challenges in production in the beginning for you?
Finding good quality organic and natural ingredients and sustainable packaging requires a lot of work and thinking outside the box (sometimes literally!) Sometimes “the right thing to do” isn’t always clear cut. It’s important to us though that sustainability underpins our brand and isn’t just an add on.
Photography by Stephen Lethnall, designs by Susie Hetherington
Where did the name come from and how many people are currently working with you on the brand?
Soap Folk came from a desire to put people at the heart of what we do, whether customers, staff or community. Our amazing team - whether they help make soap in the workshop, with marketing, or sales, is growing all the time.
The packaging is beautiful, so unique- tell us a little about that?
We work closely with friend and collaborator Susie Hetherington who is a talented local designer. We wanted the packaging to be colourful, joyful and reflect the spirit of the Stroud Valleys where we live, as well as explain our top eco-credentials - not easy in a small area!
For those of us that want to reach for something a little more sustainable, ethical, organic and/or natural in our skincare routine - what should we be looking out for to avoid and what should we look to use?
It is always good to look for:
- Natural or organic ingredients
- No Sodium Laureth Sulphate, parabens or any sulphates which can be irritants and don't decompose naturally in the water system
- No palm oil (unless it’s sustainable palm oil)
-Recyclable packaging
- No animal testing
- Small-batch, low waste
Fun fact:
The carbon footprint of liquid hand soap and shower gel is 25% larger than that of soap bars, so just that one switch can make a difference. - Fiona McBryde, Soap Folk Founder
Check out our collection of Guest Artist pieces, and if you’d like to work with us then get in touch!
