This exclusive interview brings together two visionary editors in the fashion industry — Tanja Beljanski (L’Officiela Arabai ) and Jyoti Matoo (Voir Fashion Magazine) — as they discuss the evolution of digital fashion, representation, and the future of the industry.

In a world where fashion media often follows a narrow standard of beauty, Jyoti Matoo is changing the narrative. As the founder of Voir Fashion Magazine, she has created a digital-first platform that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment.

In this exclusive interview, Matoo opens up about her journey, the challenges of being a woman entrepreneur, and her vision for the future of fashion.

You can view the Full Interview on the Lofficiela website https://lofficielarabia.com/format/women.php

Check out the incredible Photo Shoot Captured by LoLo Creativ

MUA; Kareem Jacrche MakeUp

Hair ; Danilo Giangreco Hair

Styling Assistant; Camila Morgante

Editorial Assistant; Mia Washbrook

Look 1 Jyoti Wears

Victoria Beckham Double Breasted Tuxedo Jacket In Ivory with matching 

Cropped Tuxedo Trouser In Ivory

Necklace and Bracelet Shirin Uma London Fine Jewellery

Shoes Amina Muaddi Anok MuleBag Jimmy Choo SS25 Bon Bon

Look 2 Jyoti Wears

Nadine Merabi Monica Black Blazer

Nadine Merabi Charlotte Black Trousers

Nadine Merabi Leni Black Waist Coat 

Max Mara Sunglasses Available at Marcolin Eyewear

Black Faux Fur Coat Marciano by Guess 

Leni White Waist Coat Nadine Merabi

Good Skate Wide Leg Jeans Good American

Shoes Jimmy Choo Scarlett Shoe

Picture 2 

Coat Balenciaga Faux fur Coat

Bag Jimmy Choo Leopard-print leather-trimmed pony hair shoulder bag

The post A Conversation Between Two Fashion Magazine Editors appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Kira Rudik 

Rudik is a member of Ukraine’s parliament, and she is currently staying in Kyiv to defend and advocate for her people, whilst taking matters of the Russian invasion into her own hands. This includes learning how to use a Kalashnikov rifle, in which she said “holding a Kalashnikov gives me hope”. She feels Putin underestimates the power and strength of the women of Ukraine.

Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska

Whilst being at her husband, Ukrainian president Zelensky’s side throughout this crisis, Olena has used her platform to speak the truth, no matter how brutal or candid this is. She hopes that sharing this truth will help the people of Russia understand the damage that is being done to Ukraine, with one of her recent posts sharing heartbreaking photos of Ukrainian children who have been killed as a result of the Russian attacks.

She ended her posts by saying;

“Show these photos to Russian women – your husbands, brothers, compatriots are killing Ukrainian children! Let them know that they are personally responsible for the death of every Ukrainian child because they gave their tacit consent to these crimes.”

Olena also took to Instagram to honour the women of Ukraine, sharing that the current resistance has a particularly female face;

“Before the war I once wrote that there are two million more women in Ukraine than men. Statistics are just like that. And now it takes on a whole new meaning. Because this means our current resistance has a particularly female face. My admiration and bow to you, incredible compatriots!”

“To those who fight…to those who heal, save, feed. And to those who continue to do their usual job – in pharmacies, shops, on transport, in utilities, so that life lasts and wins. To those who take children to shelters every day without panic and entertain them with games and cartoons to save children’s consciousness from war. To those who give birth in bomb storage.”

Ambassador Oksana Markarova

Oksana Markarova is the Ukrainian ambassador for the United Nations, and she has been following the lead of her boss, Zelensky, in ensuring she uses all media platforms to persuade the international community to rally together in support of Ukraine. From defending her country and advocating for Ukrainian’s human rights, she is a woman who we are grateful for today.

Ellison Barber 

If you have been following the crisis on news channels and social media, you may have seen the viral clip of Barber’s broadcast being interrupted by a young girl who wanted Ellison to play football with her. Barber is just one of the women in journalism who is risking her life whilst being out in Ukraine to keep the world informed of the events unfolding. 

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen is another woman who is using her platform and position to advocate for the Ukrainian people’s rights. Currently, she is pushing for the eradication of fossil fuels, and looking for the EU to stop depending on Russian gas, oil and coal. By implementing these sanctions on Russia, their economy will hugely suffer, in turn impacting Putin. 

Ursula shared this clip for International Women’s Day, highlighting the incredible Ukrainian women who are dedicating their time to supporting their community. 

Refugee Centre Staff

With the people of Ukraine being forced to flee their country, refugee centres are a crucial part of aiding the transition for the emotionally and physically exhausted Ukrainian refugees. The largest percentage of Ukrainian refugees have fled to Poland, with many firstly stopping at Korczowa, a nearby town on the Ukrainian-Polish border. The Korczowa refugee centre has around 2000 camp beds set up, with an expected 700 people sleeping there a night. The staff of refugee centres work 24 hours a day to ensure help is available for the Ukrainian refugees, and for that, we feel they need to be mentioned. 

The Women Of Ukraine 

At the epicentre of this crisis is the people of Ukraine. It is hard to comprehend the emotional trauma they are currently dealing with, with women forced to leave their homes and uproot their family’s lives, or send their children to safer locations whilst they stay in Ukraine. The desperation for safety has never been so apparent, particularly in a recent news story where Yulia Volodymyrivna Pisecka had to stay in Zaporizhzhia to care for her sick mother, forcing her to send her 11-year-old son on a 600-mile journey to the Slovakian border on his own. Yulia had written a relative’s phone number on his hand, ensuring he had somewhere to stay when he reached the border.  

More recently, as a result of the Russian attacks on Irpin, Ukrainians were forced to flee the city. Pictured above, we see an elderly lady having to endure a tough, physically demanding evacuation, a situation no elderly woman should have to face.

These are just two examples of the tough decisions and situations being faced by mothers and women in Ukraine, and we can’t imagine how difficult this must be.

This International Women’s Day, we are grateful to those who are making history by fighting for Ukrainian rights, and we are keeping the brave women of Ukraine in our thoughts. 

If you would like to learn how you can support Ukraine, you can find out more here.

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Hindustan News Hub}

The post Honouring The Women Making A Difference In The Current Humanitarian Crisis appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Swedish Pop giant, Zara Larsson, is no stranger to the spotlight. Having produced several smash hits including ‘Lush Life’ and ‘Never Forget You’, it should come as no surprise that Larsson continues to solidify her presence in the international pop scene with the release of Poster Girl.

Marking four years since her first international release, the singer’s newest album features twelve tracks that trace Larsson’s growth into a more mature sound. Threading together her observations on love with reflections on the transition into womanhood, Larsson intertwines elements of R&B, disco, and 80’s synth beats to create songs that play on the sonic thrills of glittery pop music.

Love is an endless source of fascination for Larsson. Whether the toxicity of ‘Ruin My Life’, the flirty butterflies of ‘FFF’, or the thrilling narrative of ‘Look What You’ve Done’ (who knew a woman on the run from the police could sound so good?), Poster Girl breathes an exciting dramaticism into a topic that is often criticised for its overuse. It probably helps that Larsson left no room for soppy ballads, instead infusing the ups and downs of love with funky beats that highlighted an overarching optimism for the future.

Larsson’s – and pop music’s – focus on love is nothing new, but the singer was keen to keep exploring it as a cohesive concept for her album. Love is addressed through relationships and narratives, but Larsson also recognises the importance of self-love and experience. This is where the lows of love (and its propensity for vulnerability) becomes one of the core themes of Poster Girl.

Speaking to Paper, Larsson explained how “In everyday life, I see myself as a very strong woman… So if I could just be strong, but still say I’m weak in this, or I feel sad in this, it’s like life.” Through love, Larsson expands on how our experiences define our ability to mature and grow; development shouldn’t just focus on our strengths, but also our vulnerabilities and weaknesses too. In allowing herself to be shown as vulnerable, Larsson envisioned her growth into a strong woman who learned from her experiences.

Poster Girl delves into Larsson’s wish to celebrate her growth as a woman, and in many ways pays tribute to other women in the music industry who inspired her growing up. For example, the cover art for the album pays homage to how a young Larsson would decorate her childhood bedroom with posters of Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and Rihanna; by placing her own image on the bedroom wall, Larsson highlighted her wish to set a similar example

for young girls who grow up dreaming to be a performer. Poster Girl acknowledges Larsson’s stepping into a new phase of her life, one which has seen her grow into what she aspired to be.

Larsson also made sure that she had a central hand in the creation of the album and its projects, while employing the help of other women in the industry to materialise her vision. Writing credits include Julia Michaels, Sarah Aarons, and Kamille, giving the album a female-centric vision of the themes Larsson wanted to explore. Speaking again to Paper, Larsson commented: “I want to give women a seat in the writers room, you know. Let’s say we accidentally write a smash hit. Why would I give that to a man?”

Raising up the voices and talents of women was central to Poster Girl, matching up to the messages of female empowerment that are interlaced into many of its tracks. The music videos also upheld Larsson’s wish to support women within the music industry, with the likes of Charlotte Rutherford and Viivi Huuska in the director’s seat. Larsson herself is also noted for co-directing some of her content, specifically the music video for ‘Talk About Love’.

The release of Poster Girl follows the long-running resurgence of dance-based pop music, which has recently propelled Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga into new realms of stardom. For Larsson, however, this is just another opportunity for to refine her sound while honouring the influences she grew up with. While there are elements of disco and 80’s dancefloor anthems, the branding of Larsson’s music – her honesty, her interest in the intricacies of relationships, and the upbeat mixing of genres – is distinctly her own.

Larsson will be celebrating the release of her album with an online concert via YouTube on the 8^th of March 2021, presented through Live Nation and IKEA. Aptly falling on International Women’s Day, the livestream will be the first time Larsson will perform the songs from Poster Girl live. Watch the show here at 7PM GMT.

Words By Charlie Colville

The post Zara Larsson’s Poster Girl Explores What it Means to Be a Strong Woman in 2021 appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The Fashion Industry is full to the brim of incredible innovators, creators and boundary breakers. Celebrating International Women’s Day, Voir Fashion pays homage to the fresh, bold, daring women that are powerfully leading the industry. The catalysts of progression, these women are making great strides, raising the standards and breaking through ceilings. From the architects of punk fashion to the authors of a new, re-defined femininity, there’s a lot to be celebrated.

Marine Serre

Blurring the lines between sportswear and high fashion, enter Marine Serre. In 2017, Serre became the youngest designer at the time to pick up an LVMH Award. Serre debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 2018, consistently appearing since and often using recycled fabrics for her silhouettes. This is really an embodiment of Serre’s futuristic vision, as the forward-thinking, environmentally conscious designs in Serre’s ‘Green Line’ collection were comprised of 50% recycled materials including bedsheets and jeans. In addition, Serre’s work is never shy of making a social or political statement. Serre’s ‘emblem’, the crescent moon, was featured in her winning LVMH collection (titled ‘Radical Call for Love’), and is a commentary on a fast-metamorphosing Europe, migration, immigration, and national identity – the crescent moon is drawn from the Turkish and old Soviet flags. Notable designs from Serre’s past collections include a key fob embellished black opera coat (Spring 2019), and the frayed hem dress constructed of Byzantine floral patterns, paired with a crescent brooch atop a black headband (Spring 2018), and, of course, the celestial patterned nude bodysuit featured in the 2021 Fall Collection. 

Aurora James

Even ‘progressive’ or ‘influential’ doesn’t quite cover the impact made by Aurora James yet. James is the founder and creative director of Brother Vellies, which handcrafts handbags and shoes in Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco and Kenya. The label was founded in 2013, and strives to retain and maintain traditional African crafting techniques in each beautiful collection. James founded the 15 Percent Pledge, which encourages companies to dedicate at least 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, given that 15% of the US’s population is made up of Black people. This was a hugely progressive step, as Sephora became the first publicly announced company to join the pledge. For James, Brother Vellies was based on taking the ‘Vellie’ shoe, which is a traditional African shoe, (described by James as the ‘prototypical desert boot’) and to add a contemporary twist. This vision of James’ has, however, vastly grown, as Brother Vellies has expanded into creating heels and sandals, loafers, mules, and even a Bodega of home and lifestyle products. James’ designs make use of natural materials to create fanciful flourishes such as madras bows and pompoms. Brother Vellies’ designs are often adorned in bright pinks, yellows, oranges, and silvers, an artistic celebration of James’ crafters. Favourites from Brother Vellies designs include the 2020 Boots featuring a dark brown and cream shearing which display a Yin Yang symbol – a reminder of the good still yet to come despite the bad in 2020. Another favourite, Brother Vellies’ signature billfold bag, the Lijadu Billfold, named after the Lijadu sisters.

Natasha Zinko

Free-spirited femininity composed of deadstock fabrics, tartan, tulle, and leathers is Natasha Zinko’s brand, and it works. The eclectic collections of Zinko have made waves in the industry. From the ragtag brightly coloured Spring 2020 collections to the Marie Antoinette-derived Fall 2021 collection, Zinko’s designs are hard to define and yet addictive to look at. A previous law student turned Jewellery maker turned Fashion designer, Zinko’s collections often take inspiration from her home country, Ukraine as well as Pretty Woman, Lady Diana, and a make-do-and-mend attitude. Zinko’s fashion inspiration comes from Rei Kawakubo, Lady Diana, and Azzedine Alaia. This blend of hugely alternative styles really defines Zinko’s collections. Minimalism is non-existent in Zinko’s designs, as folkloric patterns, bold silhouettes, and historical periods all blend into one. The Spring 2020 collection featured multi-coloured vintage bandanas and explored gender fluidity alongside sustainability (the collection was partially made up of recycled materials). Ever the progressive, Zinko has even worked with local authorities in her hometown of Odessa to create and distribute recycling facilities. Though all of Zinko’s designs deserve a thorough gaze and analysis, highlights include the patchwork ruffled denim suit from the Fall 2021 collection and the asymmetric ruffled vintage handkerchief dress from Spring 2020. 

Simone Rocha

Victorian romance, Perspex furniture, and femininity all come to mind when discussing Simone Rocha. The Irish International designer made waves in the industry as early as her graduation.  Rocha launched her graduate collection at the Tate Modern and in London Fashion Week in 2010. Since then, Rocha’s journey has been anything but quiet. Rocha’s designs, in all their amorous and eldritch femininity have consistently walked in Fashion Week and have on multiple occasions attracted awards and accolades for Rocha. The collections have caught the eye of renowned retailers, such as the Dover Street Market, Matchesfashion, Ikram, I.T, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue. In addition, Rocha has picked up various awards such as the British Fashion Awards ‘Emerging Talent, Ready-to-Wear’ in 2013 and the Fashion Award’s ‘British Womenswear Designer Award’ in 2016 –  to name a few. It is unsurprising that Simone Rocha has caught the attention of many in the industry, however. Rocha’s designs are often influenced by literature (among many other things), nature, and history. For us, a creation by Rocha that effortlessly captures the essence of Rocha’s brand – a window display in Rocha’s Mount Street London store in 2015 named ‘Flowers and Cars’. The display featured a car completely filled with flowers – a perfect allegory of the manufactured meets mother nature trope that Rocha’s designs so heavily exude.

Vivienne Westwood

It would be hard to compile a list of influential women designers in the industry and not mention Vivienne Westwood. A designer whose work remains just as impactful today as it was in the 70s, the punk fashion architect has always produced collections that are an artistic expression of her own values. In the late ‘60s, Westwood and Malcolm McLaren were fascinated by ‘50s clothing and culture and combining it with youth rebellion. It’s fair to say that this element has always had a quiet presence in Westwood’s designs. In the ‘70s, Westwood turned her attention to leather, zips, studs, and biker style designs. Westwood’s inspiration and creations continued to evolve, summarised with the transition from the iconic ‘80s ‘Pirate Collection’ with all of its romantic undertones to the late ‘80s early ‘90s Harris Tweed collections inspired by the ‘Tatler’ girls, and finally to the 2000s collections which focused on the dimensions of the fabric itself, rather than historicism. Westwood’s political and social activism has always been prevalent in both her designs and personal life, from an ambassador for clean energy for Trillion Fund to PETA ad campaigns to Tatler front covers emblazoned ‘This Woman was once a Punk’ whilst dressed as Margaret Thatcher. Whilst there are too many highlights to cover, the cheesecloth t-shirt with ‘Destroy’ printed across the front that Westwood herself sported in the ‘70s during the punk renaissance will forever be engrained in our minds.

Words By Megan Selway, Graphics By Victoria Zhao

The post International Women’s Day: Our Homage To The Influential Female Designers Of The Moment appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Trailblazer Noelly Michoux shares her mission to redefine an industry with her newly-founded customised skincare brand 4.5.6 Skin, that looks to address the global beauty market gap for non-caucasian skin. Through a clever blend of science and education, 4.5.6 focuses on providing for those with melanin-rich skin on an empowering level as well as a topical one—ensuring a bespoke customer experience with every product. But aside from the innovative business model, recyclable packaging, and clinically advanced formulations, we’re even more excited to learn about the inspiring woman with a trailblazing attitude and bubbly personality to match, who made it all happen. 

We caught up with Noelly to learn more about her incredible journey towards entrepreneurship, and all of the trials and tribulations that went along with it—but additionally, how she unwinds from her hectic schedule through podcasts and Cameroonian music. And whilst there are still challenges when juggling between motherhood, wifehood, and a brand-new business, Noelly’s proving that it’s not only possible to become a successful entrepreneur—even in the midst of a global pandemic—but she’s also motivating us to do the same and encouraging those too afraid to take that first leap, to just do it. 

And as a strong pioneer for women everywhere, we can’t help but feel in awe of her resilience and determination throughout the entire process. But with such a passionate and driven CEO at the helm, we have no doubt that 4.5.6 Skin will succeed in their goal to close the knowledge gap—and the skincare race gap—once and for all. 

Hi Noelly, it’s so lovely to meet you! Would you like to tell us about yourself and your skincare journey?

Hello Voir! Well, it wasn’t my plan to become an entrepreneur at all. I’d just been frustrated with beauty products in general as a dark-skinned girl growing up in Normandy, where trying to find anything was a real struggle. My mum would bring butters and oils from Cameroon, but obviously as a young person you were drawn to the beautiful things that your friends were using instead. And at first, I attributed the lack of products to me living in a small village, but when I moved to Paris with hopes for more options, I was left so disappointed! Then I moved to London with high expectations thinking it would be different, but I was still faced with the same problem, and then again when I went to the US. I became obsessed, and by that time I’d become quite the skincare addict to the point where I learned how to look at a formula and then be like, ‘yeah, this isn’t going to work for me.’ So that’s when I identified through my own struggle, the link between people who have melanin in their skin, and those not being satisfied with what the beauty industry had to offer. But it wasn’t until I started working for this ecommerce agency that specialised in French luxury beauty products, that I realised there was a much larger issue and I wanted to do something about it. 

Talk us through the journey of creating 4.5.6 Skin, where did it all start?

When I had my first child in 2013, I got the pregnancy mask, and the hyperpigmentation was so bad I was thinking, ‘seriously? Here we go again with the trouble. You really need to do something,’ but I didn’t. I wasn’t ready. But when I had my son in August 2017, I thought there’s just no way I can go back to working for anyone, and that’s when the truest part of myself was telling me, ‘this is what you need to be doing, this is your calling.’ So I decided to ignore the voice in my head that said I would fail, and in early 2018, I just wrote a concept for this melanin driven skincare brand that would offer topical solutions fitting the melanin skin principles (instilled with nutraceuticals), then just topped it off with a mission to close the education gap. Because even just finding out about how melanin skin works healed me because I knew then that my skin wasn’t the problem. It was empowering. But it wasn’t until I joined the French Cosmetic Valley network after my first formulator bailed mid-production, that I was put in touch with my now co-founder Iman, a Tunisian woman who’s a doctor and pharmaceutical skin expert with a history in nutraceuticals and prescriptive skincare for melanin-rich skin. I mean, god sent her, obviously. Then we teamed up with New York City based dermatologist and melanin skin specialist, Dr. Charles, and began setting up production from the LVMH Research Centre labs. Although, it wasn’t long before we realised, we had to create our own lab because we were operating in an industry that’s really only set up for white skin. And when you want to challenge the status quo, you can’t do that in someone else’s lab with someone else’s process that isn’t set up for the audience you’re trying to serve. So we turned around and said, ‘we need to start our own lab.’ And then we created these amazing products that actually understood how melanin-rich skin works, manufactured and customised them for our clients, and sold them through our own website. I think for a brand like ours with huge ambitions, who want to do it the right way, you have to do that with freedom and independence. 

And tell us about the name 4.5.6 Skin, how did you come up with it?

Oh yeah, that wasn’t the initial name actually [laughs]. It was RYS, which stands for ‘reclaim your skin.’ So that was when I first created the company, but if you get an invoice from me, it won’t be 4.5.6 Skin, it’ll be RYS Cosmetiques because I thought, ‘I’m going to have many more brands, and this is the mother company, so why not. Let’s do it.’ But as we were specifying the branding for our target market, we just knew that the name wasn’t going to work out. I asked myself how can I find a name that would make the Latina girl, the Middle-Eastern girl, the mixed race girl, and the black girl all understand that this is about you, without getting into the social cultural past of society. And when we were looking for a different name—I was working with this guy Patrick Fizz and he’s coming up with things, I was like, ‘that sounds too French, that’s too generic, that’s too urban. I don’t want anything urban.’ [Laughs]. Then I thought, ‘why are we even going this far? We’re making skincare for the skin phototypes four, five, and six, let’s just call the brand 4.5.6.’ Everyone laughed but then we were like, ‘yeah, since we’re trying to be different anyway, why not be different with naming the company too?’ And that’s how 4.5.6 stayed. 

How was it to actually press the launch button during a pandemic, what were some of the challenges you found?

It was a weird time; the first thing that happened with Covid was the closure of our packaging manufacturer in Italy. We had this whole process going on for months where we were going to do this glass packaging with colour blocks. It was beautiful. But from there we thought that maybe we’re investing too much in the packaging, and that’s not what we should be doing. Plus, it’s just not in our DNA; we’re trying to be that brand that’s all about what’s inside the bottle. The second thing was that we’d just started working on our lab, but then the whole construction area was shut down due to Covid… We were supposed to launch in June 2020, and that didn’t happen. But the minute the French government gave the green light to go back to work, we were lucky enough to have our team continue construction. So we ended up solving our issues with Covid; we found a small packaging manufacturer, got smaller quantities of frosted glass, and we bought a machine to actually personalise our packaging at the lab. At the end we thought, ‘if this ever happens again, we’re not going to get caught up in the middle this time.’

So, you’re all prepared now?

Absolutely. We can buy unmarked glass packaging so we can do the whole customisation in the lab, and that’s it. So that was sorted, and the lab was sorted. Then we just spent our days on the phone chasing people, asking where the orders are to get the ingredients; because that was another thing, sourcing the ingredients. It was so hard for us to select those that really fit our formulation principles. I remember in the middle of formulation, we had to stop working with this supplier with whom we had 80% of our ingredients because we could no longer get the small quantities that we’d been previously promised. And we just thought, ‘okay child, bye bye. Now let’s find a new supplier.’ [Laughs]. Iman and I, we’re hustlers; we’re not going to compromise. And although it was so hard to get the actual product, it happened because we were so relentless. So I’d say that Covid really strengthened our position as a fully integrated brand, and we knew it was really the right decision. We overcame the trials to best serve our customers’ needs, and altogether I think it was an exercise for resilience that only made us stronger. 

Noelly, we think you’re so inspiring! What a story so far. You mentioned that this idea had been in the works since 2013 but with so many barriers along the way, how did you manage to stay motivated?

Yeah, a lot of the time I felt like crap. Just looking at my background, I wasn’t born in the West, I was born in Cameroon and I come from very challenging circumstances, but I think my whole life built me to be the most resilient person [laughs]. Even though I have highs and lows, the vision stays, and I will always find my way back to it by continuing to believe in myself. And remembering that the worst thing that can happen is that I’ll be rejected, but so what? I think that’s what really keeps me pushing; the idea that even if it doesn’t work out then at least I would know that I’d given it my absolute all. 

What’s been your most rewarding moment since launching 4.5.6 Skin?

I think the most rewarding moments are when I get those customers who send messages saying, ‘thank you so much for existing, you guys are doing such amazing work,’ or even when they come back and say, ‘this isn’t working for me.’ So, we’re like, ‘okay, fine, tell us what’s not working because we do have this lab where we can change things up for you.’ And for those who we’ve done that for come back like, ‘I’ve never seen this before, the fact that you guys can actually reformulate and switch up my formula, and now this is working so much better for me… I don’t know what to say to you guys but thank you.’ For me, that’s one of the best things. So, when I see a customer sending us a letter saying how much they have trouble with their skin, how they’ve given up and they’re just patching it up with makeup, that really resonates with me because I’ve been there. 

Earlier you talked about staying motivated, what other advice would you give aspiring beauty entrepreneurs who are inspired by your story?

I’m personally still figuring things out so I don’t feel like I have a lot of advice to give anyone, but the advice I would give is that even though you might not come from a successful background, that doesn’t mean you should stop showing up to the world the way that you want to. Really get close to your own power, your emotions, and your aspirations. Listen to yourself and know that sometimes not knowing can be a blessing in disguise, because when you know everything then you realise how hard it’s going to be and you can just get discouraged. What I’ve found during this whole process is that I never knew how to do anything (really), but just having that attitude and putting that energy out there, I was always able to figure it out. 

If you could go back to 2013, would you do anything differently? 

If I had the courage, then I would’ve done this a lot sooner, but that’s not a regret. I’d just tell myself to get out there and stop being afraid. 

What’s your favourite product from the 4.5.6 Skin range?

You know, that’s the most difficult question that people ask me because I’m like, ‘what? You want me to choose? I can’t!’ I love all of my products of course, but there’s one product in particular that gets me and it’s our cleansing oil. Because my skin is so dry and it gets dehydrated (it’s also super sensitive), when I use this product it’s like putting a balm of goodness, self-care, and love on my face, and then it feels like the whole burden of the day is melting away along with the dirt and pollution. Then when I rinse it off, I’m left with nothing but comfortable and clean skin, and it really feels like a full reset for me. So, yeah… If you were to ask me which product I’d take to a deserted island, that would be the one. And if you ask me to go without it, then that’s going to be a problem because I’m addicted to it. 

How do you wind down and take a step back from everything?

Oh, I’m bad at it. I mean, really really bad at it. I’m a new entrepreneur, so this lifestyle isn’t normal for me and there’s still so much fear surrounding it that I’m lacking the ability to disconnect. But when we went through the first lockdown last year, I had both my kids at home due to the schools being closed, and just being able to look at them, that really allowed me to be like, ‘okay, something needs to change here.’ In the mornings I have a yoga class, and I see this amazing mental coach who gives me tools on how to calm myself down and how to compartmentalise my life. Although just listening to Cameroonian music and dancing like I’m back in my village is super healing for my soul too. Something that I love as well are podcasts; they’re my go-to source for information. 

Do you have a favourite quote or saying?

‘Beauty starts with knowledge.’ And right now, that’s my favourite quote because it pertains to my business the most. 

And you mentioned that you love listening to podcasts, do you have any favourites?

Oh, yes! I’ve been listening to The Life Coach School Podcast for years now where this woman called Brooke Castillo explains the five elements of how life works; your circumstances and how they impact your thoughts, how your thoughts affect your feelings, then how your feelings inform your actions, and finally how your actions create your results. I love, love, love her podcast [laughs]. I listen to it almost every day. There’s also The Daily, The Glossy Podcast, and Generosity With Yourself because I love listening to these stories of entrepreneurs on how they started and about their journey; they give me hope. Recently I’ve also been listening to Techish by this British girl called Abdesi; she’s amazing, and I’m sticking with her next week too. I’m such a huge fan! Rhys from NPR News Now has such an incredible interview style too if you want to listen to the most heart-breaking family stories. So yeah, there’s a bunch of them that I listen to. I just love podcasts!

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The 3-Step Pigmentation Set

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DAY HACK – Matte Moisturiser

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Interview By Jyoti Matoo, Words By Vinona Baines

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Just a glance at Mocaro’s website and it’s clear that British-Caribbean designer, Monisha Robinson, is onto something. Her bespoke menswear brand epitomises uniqueness in how it manages to pair precious metals with silk to create one-off accessories for suave and modern men.

Whilst many male designers have had womenswear as their focus, think Karl Lagerfield, Christian Dior and Alexander Wang, you may be scratching your head to think of women designers who have dedicated their brands to menswear. Well, now you can add Monisha to that list. Her ‘For Him. By Her’ ethos makes Mocaro truly stand out from the crowd and demonstrates an evolution in the industry with Monisha being a female designer working under the umbrella of menswear much like Bianca Saunders, Pariah Farzaneh and Roni Ilan.

Monisha Robinson in her studio space

In speaking to Monisha, it is clear that she was determined to be unconventional with her brand. She saw a “gap in the market” when observing the outfits worn by men at award shows. “Every bowtie appeared the same” – there was no variation in colour or texture. Men ties were standard, predictable and unadventurous so Monisha set out to create something more exciting – interweaving her expertise in jewellery design with her love for quality fabric to create one-of-a-kind pieces which now forms the baseline of Mocaro../

Monisha’s journey in the world of fashion begins as a secondary school student on the set of an Edward Scissorhands production. Gaining work-experience with a theatrical costumier introduced her into the processes behind design including “patternmaking, sewing, heat-pressing” and provided rich inspiration. Fast-forward a few years and Monisha found herself at London College of Fashion studying womenswear and business and secured an internship at Hatton Garden jewellers. The world-famous jewellery district in fact still plays a large role in Monisha’s brand with every signature piece being “individually hand stamped with the Mocaro hallmark”, made at Hatton Garden.

When asking Monisha on when she felt like Mocaro truly began blossoming, it was made clear that it was when she discovered the right manufacturers to uphold her high standards of quality: “once I found great manufactures – which was hard in terms of getting them to produce to a great standard – I saw Mocaro growing”. Good quality materials such as silk, metals and craftmanship is undoubtedly key to the brand, with the 100% silk fabrics being sourced from Macclesfield mill (est. 1755), the 925-sterling silver detailing stamped with the British Hallmark and a future possibility of incorporating “diamonds” into the next collection.

Undoubtedly, eminence is at the centre of Mocaro, as is authenticity. Robinson’s Caribbean heritage really shines through in the bespoke bowties featuring African fabric. The ties were made to be “bright, vibrant and luxurious” to add both tradition and culture to any outfit. The gold texture of the fabric along with the 18K gold neckband adds another layer of lavishness to the ties which interweave Monisha’s Caribbean and British heritage.

Bespoke Bowties from Mocaro

Being a female entrepreneur and a woman of Caribbean in heritage means Monisha has a unique place perspective on the industry. When asking Monisha on any advice she has for other women and PoC trying to start their own fashion businesses, she states: “Find your niche. Try to be different from the rest. I would also recommend finding a mentor because it is great to have a guide when you’re starting out so they can direct you beforehand and you can get a bit of experience”. Ultimately, Monisha adds, “follow your dreams. Don’t let anything hold you back. Once you have a great product/talent, don’t think or let anything get in your way with perseverance. You just need to keep on going and never give up!”.

With Monisha’s commendable worth ethic and advice, it is unquestionable that Mocaro has a bright future ahead of it. In 5 years Monisha hopes to extend Mocaro’s product range into menswear clothing, cologne after-shave and even skincare. Only time can tell what the future of the brand will be – possibly one with diamonds, perhaps one with Idris Elba (the Mocaro client of Monisha’s dreams) but definitely one that will continue growing and impressing.

Video of the design process on Mocaro’s website

Take a look for yourself here: https://www.mocaro.co.uk/

Words by Hena Sharma

Graphics by Katie Janes

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Empowering, daring, independent; just three of many evocative words that come to mind in relation to International Women’s Day – and Voir Fashion. It is an event that has been continuing for 109 years to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and beauty brands have been vibrantly and emphatically backing the movement. Below we look at five of the brands that are showing their support for International Women’s Day.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop is a beauty brand that is renowned for its ethical products, but perhaps less known is the amount of work it does globally to support and empower women. From the Tungteiya Women’s Shea Butter Association in Ghana, where 500 women are given the opportunity to continue on with shea nut processing techniques from past generations, to Candela in Peru which represents Castañero Brazil nut collectors – a trade traditionally managed by women – the brand makes sure that women have the information, rights and opportunities that they deserve, not just on International Women’s Day, but all year round.

Elemis

Like The Body Shop, Elemis are at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights and education. They have been using their influence to back Women for Women International, a charity that supports female survivors of war. Over 12 months, the survivors learn vital skills such as how to manage their money which they receive through a monthly allowance from the charity. To supplement this, Elemis have got involved with a campaign called which allows women to send survivors messages through their website. They have promised that if they are tagged ‘@Elemis’ on social media and the is used the company will donate £1 to the charity (up to the value of £5000). But quick, this is only happening from 6th-8th March!

L’Occitane

Moisturise your lips in this chilly weather and support the L’Occitane Foundation programme for women’s leadership in Burkino Faso! Every penny spent on the Shea Butter Solidarity Balm (£5) is being used to help fund the education of more than 450 girls and 10,000 women in the landlocked African country and has been brought out specifically for International Women’s Day.

Elizabeth Arden

Who needs men when you’ve got red lipstick! Elizabeth Arden has returned with a limited shade for their March On Campaign designed by Reese Witherspoon, where 100% of proceeds go to UN Women. The project was designed as an homage to Elizabeth Arden giving out red lipsticks to suffragettes in 1912 to boost morale and is sure to remind women everywhere of the hardships that those women went through to secure the rights that we have today. The Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Lipstick – Red Door Red (Limited Edition) is on sale now for £22.00.

Reina Rebelde

This Mexican inspired female owned beauty brand is focussing their attention on a prominent, global issue that effects all women and has been prevalent in the media recently after the Harvey Weinstein accusations. The brand is donating 15% of its sales profits to the Me Too and Time’s Up campaigns until 8th March which both encourage women to speak up for their rights and empower themselves to be in control of their own bodies.

Source: Instagram

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The post International Women’s Day: Empowered and Beautiful appeared first on Voir Fashion.