with owner & founder Taylr Anne
Interview by Lily Day
We choose to feature brands that we adore not because we want to encourage those in our community to consume. In fact, in almost everything that we do we try to encourage people NOT to consume, not to buy materialistic things that they don’t need. However, we are also realists. We are women who have great affection and admiration for elevated style, fashion, and taste. And we know that truthfully, the average person is not going to ever stop consuming completely—no chance. Not even us. But if we can help to encourage people to be conscious and intentional with what they choose to consume, then we can rewrite the playbook on consumption. So, as we have done from the beginning, we will share with you the brands that we have spent hours seeking out so that you can put your dollar where it truly counts, and feel good about it too.
We started highlighting some of the entrepreneurs behind brands that we adore in our journal because we realized how many of them are truly inspiring human beings. We also realized that many of them are women. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. They are hard-working, status-quo-defying, trend-shattering women. And who better to communicate to you the ethos behind their brand than the owner and founder themself? To me, it’s like farm to table but with business. And that’s something I can get behind.
We have admired Taylr Anne and her conscious brand Etto Oil for a while now. And no, that’s not a typo—that’s how she spells it! We love Etto for a myriad of reasons. First, the brand hits so many of the eco-friendly marks that businesses should, like small-batch biodegradable products, locally and sustainably sourced materials and production, and transparency. Secondly, because Taylr is a strong, radiant new mum to her beautiful son Coen and she has something to say about running a business and preparing to enter motherhood at the same time.
So we wanted you to discover Etto Oil straight from the source. And we think you’ll love it as much as we do.
TAYLR, YOU’RE JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AWAY FROM HAVING YOUR FIRST CHILD. WHAT WAS IT LIKE EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY FOR THE FIRST TIME?
It has been such a wild, raw, challenging and beautiful experience! Pregnancy is such a time of change and growth and I am truly amazed by the female body. It happens slowly and progressively, but at the same time I feel like this precious time period in my life has flown so quickly. Watching my little one grow in my body is the most rewarding experience.
AS A MAMA-TO-BE, WHAT WAS YOUR WELLNESS RITUAL INVOLVING SKIN, DIET, AND FITNESS? IN GENERAL?
I feel like more than anything, this time has been mostly full of self-care and rest. I have had bursts of energy throughout my pregnancy, but most days I just want to nourish my body and my mind. My skincare routine has been really focused on clean beauty, and I have been treating myself to monthly facials which have been so beneficial for my skin. I also have been trying to get regular massages for my sore body and they truly do wonders for those third-trimester aches. I have been using Etto Oil on my belly since the early days of pregnancy which has become a total ritual and something I look forward to morning and night. I have also been doing lots of leisurely walks with my dog to keep my body moving— but I am looking forward to the day I can walk further with baby boy strapped to me. 🙂
DID YOU FEEL LIKE PREGNANCY HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR BUSINESS PRACTICES? IN WHAT WAYS DID IT ENHANCE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR BUSINESS OR CHALLENGE IT?
In the beginning of my pregnancy, I was quite tired as my baby was growing so much but this time allowed me to catch up on emails and strategize for future business goals. I feel that during the duration of my pregnancy, I have been able to feel confident with the pace of my business. I took lots of breaks during my days to rest, but always came back to work with a refreshed mind. I am proud of the forward progressions made and I am really excited to see what 2022 brings for both life and work. I have some goals for ETTO— I have recently started my rebranding process and I can’t wait to finish everything. As a small business, I am totally happy with these slow changes and moving at a pace that feels best for my business. Working as a digital creator has also allowed me to be creative in other avenues of my life— beauty, fashion, wellness— as well as share the process of ETTO behind the scenes.
ANY ADVICE OR TIPS FOR OTHER MAMAS-TO-BE WHO RUN THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Rest when needed and use those bursts of energy to not only prepare for baby, but also focus on yourself and what brings you fulfillment. Running a business takes a lot of mental focus, so it is okay to take lots of breaks while you’re literally growing a little one. I am so inspired by other mamas lately, especially those who are running a business. It is so inspiring to see them so passionate about not only being a mother, but also investing energy into their work.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BACKSTORY ON HOW THE BRAND WAS BORN?
I wanted to create something that I would use every day. Something that would be a multipurpose product and nourishing to my skin. I always felt like oil replenished my skin after a long day in the sun and ETTO was an idea that was born during the summer of 2020. Since then, ETTO has a few additional products to the lineup— a pure unscented soap for sensitive skin, a natural sea sponge and a dry brush. These are all items that can be used to create a calming ritual in your routine.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE BRAND IN A FEW WORDS?
An organic collection of goods for your body— to nourish your skin and bring a ritual in your daily routine.
TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AS THE BRAND FOUNDER AND HOW THE WORK IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT TEAM MEMBERS (IF THERE ARE ANY?).
Currently, my husband and I run the entire business— from inventory to fulfilling orders, as well as the creative side of ETTO. It is a fun stage in business as we are hands-on in everything we do.
HOW IS THE BRAND CURRENTLY SUSTAINABLE? IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE BRAND TEND TO CONSTANTLY BECOME MORE ”GREEN”?
I am always trying to find ways to better the brand in every aspect. I wanted to start ETTO the right way. Etto Oil is formulated locally in Laguna Beach, and is bottled here in Costa Mesa. The bottles are printed in California as well with eco-friendly ink and our bar soap is made to be so gentle, even for those with the most sensitive skin. Our sea sponges and dry brushes are both biodegradable and are incredible alternatives to mainstream self-care products. I have grown ETTO very organically and am proud to have this brand evolve in a slow and sustainable way.
WHERE ARE THE ITEMS TYPICALLY MADE?
Etto Oil is formulated and bottled locally in California and our unscented soap is proudly made in the USA.
DOES THE BRAND USE COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING OR IS THE BRAND WORKING TOWARD DOING SO? WHAT KIND OF PACKAGING DO YOU USE?
Our Etto Oil bottles are made from glass and our bar soap packaging is made from paper and sealed with wax. We try to be as sustainable as possible and are currently researching ways to do a recycling program
DOES THE BRAND HAVE ANY COLLABORATIONS OR UPCOMING CAMPAIGNS THAT YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT? ANY NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT?
We have a few ideas in the works which I am excited about and can’t share just yet, but the biggest transition we are working on is our rebranding!
LASTLY, FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW, IS INVESTING IN QUALITY OVER QUANTITY DOABLE?
I think in every aspect of life, we should be pursuing quality over quantity. The older I become, I realize that less is truly more and quality is so important. From a business point, I would rather move at a slower pace in order to create quality products.
Since our interview, Taylr has given birth to her healthy and beautiful son, Coen.
