The owners
We're Geevie and Sophia, a dynamic duo of Spanish-American identical twins. Believe it or not, it's just the two of us handcrafting all our products and running the show! We graduated from college in 2020 and now find ourselves as 25-year-old businesswomen.
Although we were born in the US, we had the privilege of growing up in Valencia, Spain during our childhood before settling down in Minneapolis, MN and eventually launching our small biz in 2018.
Geevie handles all graphic marketing, deodorant and lip balm production and customer service. Sophia tackles taxes, cleansing oil and soap production, and wholesale accounts. Everything else in between is a team effort!
How it started
Our journey began back in 2017 during our freshman year of college when we stumbled upon the inspiring Zero Waste Movement through social media. Motivated to reduce our plastic consumption, we embarked on a mission to find plastic-free alternatives to our favorite products. To our surprise, we couldn't find what we were looking for, so we decided to take matters into our own hands and began crafting our own essentials.
As we delved deeper into the world of homemade products, we developed a profound appreciation for the power of plants and the simplicity of natural ingredients. Not only did this lifestyle change transform our troubled skin, but it also had a positive impact on various aspects of our lives. It ignited a desire within us to revolutionize the beauty industry by making plastic-free products more accessible to all. We envisioned clean and simple formulations that would prioritize our health, preserve our waterways, and safeguard the environment. Throughout this incredible journey, we discovered the joy of creativity and innovation.
In 2018, responding to the demand from our Instagram followers, we began selling our DIY products. Our blog, @sustainyrself, which we had started in 2017, served as a place for inspiration, offering practical tips and guidance on reducing plastic in our homes, daily routines, and everyday lives. Little did we anticipate that just one year after launching our sustainable lifestyle page, we would embark on an entirely new adventure - starting our own business.
How it's going
Our humble beginnings trace back to the cozy confines of our mom's basement and tiny kitchen in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we passionately pursued our business for the first four years. But as time went on, the lines between living and working at home blurred, and we felt the toll it was taking on our mental well-being and motivation. It was time to move the business out. In February 2022, we made the exciting move into a huge and bright studio office in North East Minneapolis. Since then, we have infused new life into our shop and it has been a joy to create in a space we truly love and can call our own.
Becoming businesswomen was never something we had envisioned for ourselves before we started selling our products. We were filled with doubt and uncertainty, questioning whether we had what it took to navigate the complexities of running a business. The world of taxes, certifications, pricing strategies, and responsible sourcing — it was all a mystery to us. Building our business took a lot of trial and error, but we were fortunate enough to have an incredible Instagram community that supported us every step of the way.
As we continue to grow, our values remain unchanged. We pour our hearts into creating products that work, that are safe for both you and the planet. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. That's why our packaging is zero-waste, and we go the extra mile to offset the carbon emissions of every order we ship. We're not interested in taking shortcuts or compromising our principles. You won't find our products on corporate marketplaces like Amazon, where profit often comes before people and the environment.
We are eternally grateful for your presence, support and encouragement. It fills us with joy to see our creations making a positive impact in the lives of others. Your support fuels our passion and reminds us why we started in the first place. Together, we can demand a future where sustainability and personal care go hand in hand.