Tell us a little about your brand. Who are you, what products do you offer?
My name is Sylvia Achala Zurmuehl. I am originally from Switzerland, but I have travelled to many countries due to personal troubles. I learned Zen meditation as a way to ground myself, and my Zen Master gave me the name Achala. During my travels, I arrived in Naoussa, a beautiful town in North Greece where Aristotle taught Alexander the Great the art of leading an empire. It was there that I rediscovered my childhood soul and healed myself with the help of the magnificent wild herbs found on Mount Vermion.
In my brand, I use a wide variety of wonderfully fragrant wild herbs from Mount Vermion, combined with rare Swiss recipes, to harness all the potential of the wildflowers in my products. The perfect marriage of fresh herbs, ancient wisdom, and high-quality ingredients without preservatives or colourings is used in Achala Natural Beauty Products.
What are your sources of inspiration?
My inspiration comes from meditating in nature and from my education as a specialist in nature and the environment, which taught me about the wisdom of nature and how to incorporate it into my own life. My thesis work was about waste management. When I came to Greece and saw the garbage in the river, I realized that I wanted to act responsibly. Only by setting an example can we have an effect.
Image: ACHALA natural products product
How would you describe your design/product concept?
"As close to nature as possible!" I started researching what "normal" cosmetic products contain and understood that everything we use ends up in garbage piles and ultimately in the soil, water, and food chain. Therefore, only natural ingredients can make a huge difference. Only bio-certified ingredients from Greece, such as olive oil, wild herbs, and beeswax, form the base of my products. To extend the shelf life of my products, I include grape distillate from Naoussa and essential oils - pure essences from nature!
Why do you do what you do? What do you like about your job?
My work is my life's philosophy! I want to help preserve nature and, at the same time, show that we can make anything from nature with respect and without exploitation. The modern term for this would be the sustainability principle, but I have been living true to this for several years now!
Image: ACHALA natural products product
What are your tips for customers who are interested in your products?
To be open and try new products which are designed with sustainability in mind.
What are the essential skills required for becoming a successful brand owner, and what advice would you offer to new brands?
It doesn't only take skills. What is most needed is the love for what you want to do. If you love what you are doing, then the knowledge you need will come to you slowly but surely! You will find a book with recipes, you will talk to people who can help with marketing, and finally, you will be happy to do what was once just a dream.
Image: ACHALA natural products product
Image: ACHALA Natural Products founder
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