A vision in deep purple, we met Iskra Lawrence at the Miss Circle NYFW Kickoff Party this week as she rejoins the world of modeling after the birth of her child. We chatted about how her experience of becoming a mom led her to create the vibrant, inclusive brand that is Saltair.
It was her social media content that aimed to help moms who have lost that feeling of self which led to her collaboration with Miss Circle for the NYFW event. “They slid into my DMs!” she says, “I have done a lot of “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) and I really found that getting dressed up for yourself can help you find yourself again, and I think a lot of people connected with that.”
Saltair was founded from Iskra’s own experience. “I was struggling with postpartum depression, I wasn’t showering for weeks on end, I was only wearing a robe, and generally I was struggling to find motivation to look after myself.”
“Sometimes as a mom that 5 minute shower is your only chance to escape and so making that experience transportative can make a world of difference. The body care products I created for Saltair made me excited about taking care of myself and they’re made with fragrances that create a story – they transport you to a tropical island, or stir happy memories. I realized that in the personal care sector, makeup and skincare are innovative and exciting but bodycare was left out of the conversation. It was kind of basic, clinical or expensive. There weren’t affordable products that give that luxurious feeling everyone deserves.”
Saltair has connected with a lot of people and the brand has grown rapidly in a short space of time; the collections now include a natural deodorant, body mist and a series of haircare products on top of the original wash and lotion collections.
Iskra’s advice for fashion besties in the skincare sector: “Do tons of research, if you have an idea that you think is great, find out if there’s a customer. Know that sometimes you need the people around you to bring you down to earth so you can be realistic about your expectations. And, it’s ok to ask people for help and to sacrifice some of your winnings – you could have 100% of no pie, or 50% of a big pie.”
XOXO,
Your fashion bestie