Feest is a local company devoted to creating beautiful, handmade aromatherapy products that are 100% natural. Portobello West got to interview the founder of Feest and learn more about this awesome business and it’s popular products.
Feest was launched in 2011, with the goal of the business being to create a local, handmade and all-natural candle and body care line. “It began with a desire to share the products I was making for myself, my family and friends and turned into a line that I’m incredibly proud of.” From start to finish, Feest products are handmade with love. “I maintain my hands-on role from conceptualization and experimentation to package design, business development and the hands-on creation of the products.”
One thing we need to know about Feest is “that Feest Naturals are really all natural! There’s an ambiguousness to the term ‘natural’ in many cases as it’s not regulated in the same sense as the organic product market,” but rest assured customers can use Feest products knowing that it is made from nothing but natural ingredients. “The candles are made of 100% vegan soy wax, chosen for its slow and clean burning properties. Each candle is scented with only essential oils, pure plant-based extracts, and it makes a huge difference in the aroma.” Various other products that make up the Feest line include bath salts, sugar scrubs, balms, and more – and all follow that same ethic and never include synthetic ingredients or preservatives.
The inspiration for Feest products comes from “simply in the way this city and the people in it live and breathe. Living in a holistic, health-conscious and style-centric city I find a lot of inspiration in our yoga culture, our green spaces, gardens, and in our DIY pioneer culture.”
“Style-wise I find inspiration in the Kinfolk aesthetic, in the locovorian slow-food movement, in so many other makers that I know personally. I adore the forests, hiking, the seashore and in food – it always comes back to gardens and food which is probably why I use a lot of herbaceous notes in my candles and blossoms and petals in my tea line!”
This plethora of muses that create the initial inspiration for these products paints a picture of lush greenery and the beauty of nature, bringing us back to what Feest is all about – handmade natural products that customers can be proud to use.
The Vancouver scene of local vendors is vast and offers a lot of opportunity for not only consumers to shop consciously but also a strong sense of community and support amongst the vendors. “Vancouver is such a hub of creativity and I’ve found an amazing sense of collaboration and support here. Shoppers are passionate about buying local, handmade goods and place a real value on connecting with the makers of the products they love. Makers are infinitely talented and I’m constantly inspired by the creativity of the community.”
One must-have product from the Feest collection is “definitely the Energizing citrus sugar scrub! It’s made with a natural blend of cane sugar, which is an amazing exfoliant, and a blend of avocado, sunflower, and exotic kukui nut oils. It does wonders to make your skin baby soft and super smooth.”
Shopping local has a special meaning to each person who supports it. “It is so important to shop local because it not only helps to financially support a group of makers who are passionate about creating unique products, but it’s also a vote of confidence. It’s your voice cheering on someone who chooses to take a risk and share something they love with others.”
The next move for Feest has already debuted; a new line known as Eureka Teas. This line has a variety of three very personal hand-blended small-batch loose leaf teas “that are as pretty as they are delicious. My goal is to add several more teas in time for the holiday season as well as some fun gift packaging. I’d also like to add brewed iced tea to the line for Spring 2015 too!” The growth and successes that Feest has already seen in a short amount of time is just the beginning!
Feest Naturals products are carried in shops from coast to coast, with a few in the USA as well. Locally, Feest can be found at Hunter & Hare on West Pender, Dandelion Emporium, and Brick & Mortar living to name a few. To learn more and browse the products visit www.feest.ca!
Written by: Kelli Klassen
VISIT The Feest Website: http://www.feest.ca/
TWEET Feest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/feestnaturals
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