Lola & Co Organics with Olwethu Ngcobo (S1, E6)

This episode of Shades and Layers takes us to my home country, South Africa, to find out what's happening in the beauty and personal care aisles at supermarkets and . Having had the privilege to visit home frequently also made me aware that there's are many young women making things happen in the personal care industry.

Olwethu Ngcobo, founder of Lolaandcoorganics, is one of these young women in the industry. During her profile interview, we spoke about her brand new handmade lavender-infused facial range, which looks divine and makes us wish we could buy it all. Head on over to her Instagram account where she goes by @lolaandcoorganics and @organicbaddie

What you will learn about Olwethu is that she is able to stay grounded, while staying ambitions. She knows what she wants and goes after it with confidence and determination. It was a fun chat (even the dog joined in at some point).

ON THE CLICKS DEBACLE

The South African beauty and pharmaceutical retailer, Clicks, recently caused outrage among black South Africans with an advertisement featuring black and white women's hair, labeling the black woman's natural afro hair as 'dry and damaged', and the white woman's blonde straight hair as 'normal'. Needless to say the public outrage made international headlines and many politicians and celebrities weighed in on the issue, to great effect.... 

You can hear more about this issue in future episodes with some other beauty entrepreneurs.

Transcript

OLWETHU NGCOBO TRANSCRIPT 

Kutloano Skosana 
0:02

Welcome to episode six of Shades and Layers. I'm your host, Ricci. In the past five episodes, you have heard conversations with women entrepreneurs based in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where I've been living for the past 12 years. Today we expand the conversation to include my home country, South Africa, where the shelf space in the personal care aisles is slowly changing to include products aimed at black women.

This interview with Olwethu Ngcobo, founder of Lola and Co Organics, took place before the Clicks debacle. And if you haven't heard of that story, you can find out more information in the show notes for this episode, and you will hear me talk about it with a couple of my future guests. For now, Olwethu’s story and her handmade organic body care range, Lola and Co Organics. What you will find out in this first part of our chat is about her creativity. She makes products that literally look like food. She also loves farming, is drawn to indigenous vegetation and sustainable living. Let's start with the evolution of Lola and Co Organics. 

PART ONE

 1:06

Olwethu Ngcobo: The company was officially founded in 2018.

 1:27

Kutloano Skosana Ricci: Mm-hmm. 

ON: Before that I was doing the product, but I was still also studying. I was doing, I was still selling, but I didn't really launch, you know, with my logo and the new packaging until 2018. So 2018 is when I officially counted as our launch year. 

 1:28

KSR: Mm-hmm. What were you selling before you launched the company and who were you selling to?

 1:34

ON: Before the company, I used to do natural living blogging. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: So I used to blog about it and I used to tell, show people how you know, how to garden at home, how to use the same ingredients that you're cooking with also, as for skincare…

KSR: mm-hmm. 

 1:53

ON: … because you know, the oils that you cook with are also good for your skin. So whatever you feed yourself, it should be good enough for your skin. Your skin is the biggest organ in your body… 

 2:04

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: ... And you should be wary of all the products that you are putting it on because you know, some of them might end up in your bloodstream… 

KSR: Mm-hmm… 

ON: ... So I was just showing people how they can use some clean, authentic oils that they have in their cupboards, also for skincare… 

KSR: Mm-hmm…  

ON: and stuff like, you know, when you're doing your coffee grinds instead of throwing them out, those would be good for scrub. So I would make different types of recipes on my website and a lot of people will be like, “I like this. Can you make it for me? Because I can find the ingredients.”… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: … or “I don't have time to do it at home. So I'm working. And if you would do it for me, I would like it.” 

KSR: Okay. 

ON: So I started it like that and I just used to mix whatever we have and other people would order it. So when I officially sold it as a business, then I started from scratch again.

KSR: Okay. And you bought a lab and everything. I mean, how, how did that process unfold? 

ON: The process I would, you know, I'd go on YouTube and I'd see how other people are formulating and I started buying also the equipment, and then I found my online school, which teaches people how to formulate organic skincare to be certified. Where to find your ingredients, packaging.  And I registered with Formula Botanica online… 

KSR: Mm-hmm  

ON: … and they based, I think in the UK. 

KSR: Yep. 

ON: … And I started online and there I got to learn so much about, you know, just mixing and formulating your own. Cuz when you go on YouTube, you just learn how to use someone else's recipe.

KSR: Sure. 

ON: So when I went to formulation school, I got to learn about ingredients and how I should mix them and what type of results, you know, if I'm looking for certain results, what ingredients I should look for. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: There's certain percentage to add and mix on my formulation. Preserving your formulation.

So it got to be an eye-opener for me that it's not just about following someone’s recipe, but it's about me creating what I know, also, for as brown skin, we need… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: … and then I can focus on that.

KSR: Mm. And which, ingredients were you drawn to when, as you were learning about each and everyone and how it inter interacts with your skin, et cetera?

ON: Yes. I got to realize that, you know, as I said, like oils and butters that we use are very good for your skin. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: You know, we just cook with oils, but oils are very good for your skin because as much as we also have, you know, oil in us called sebum, you know, it produces its own, oil for the skin to keep it moisturized.

So when you also now work with oils that are similar to sebum that is in your skin, it's also great to penetrate easily on your face and you can keep that moisture going on for a long while. So I, I got to now love more about butters and also I got to learn more about hydrosols, which now I'm, it's distilling herbs and then you just take the water that comes from the distillation, and we use that for creating toners and our, all our facial creams or body creams. In that way, you get to use the essence of the water… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: … in your body. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. And which herbs, do you enjoy working with?

ON: Actually impepho is one of my favorites.

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: I think a lot of people only focus on it for using it, you know, for cleansing their space, burning it and sageing their houses. But it's also great as another, you know, for acne. It's a great, great for acne prone skin, eczema, breakout. So I'm starting to use that in my distillation so I can use the, the oils, the essential oils of that in our soaps so that you can use it in your house also as a, as a room spray. You know, other people don't like the smell, but there's many other ways of the properties that we can use from the plant.

So I'm enjoying discovering our natural and organic and indigenous herbs that we grew up with, and looking at them in a different way than the way we grew up with, because there's many elements to a plant, you know. If you just burn it, there's also other ways if you boil it or you're going to distill it, you get other, other benefits that it might have that you don't know.

KSR: Mm. And would that be contained in the latest products that you've been working on? I've been watching your Insta, by the way, and I can see that you're super busy. 

ON: Yeah. 

KSR: So tell me about those products you're working with. 

ON: You know with formulating, you know, you, it's like a recipe. When you are in your kitchen, you have to play around and see what's going to work. So I'm just distilling the herbs, and then when I distill them, I just wait for something to pop up in my mind and say (connection break).

So now I was focusing on lavender, which is great for being an antiseptic antimicrobial. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: And you know, it's great if you are also acne prone. So, I wanted to start with that cuz also I have lots of it in my garden. So I was distilling that, and so I was like, lemme start with this range first, and then after that I can launch another range. Because you don't want to just launch a big range, and everyone doesn't have a chance to go through each and every product first. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: So, I wanted to do the lavender, and then after the lavender, definitely, we're going to have lots and lots of herbs. You know, even Artemisia Afra is everywhere for the Corona herb, the virus. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: Umhlonyane, that's what we call it. So, there's other benefits also into it that are not just, you know, for ingestion, for your insides, but also for outside. It's great for steaming your face, all those things.

KSR: Mm-hmm. What's going to be in your new product, in the product range? 

ON: In the new product range, I wanted to have a facial cleanser cause we don't have a facial cleanser right now. We have only bar soaps, so I want to focus on that facial cleanser using the lavender hydrosol, which would be great, you know, when you wear makeup or sunscreen and you've been outside the whole day. It's a great antiseptic to relax your skin and you know, revive it and give it that new glow and help your skin regenerate. So, we're gonna have that facial wash with the toner and the facial cream, all from the lavender range. 

KSR: And the products look absolutely gorgeous. They look like you can eat them. So can you talk about a little bit of the behind the scenes , behind what you're doing right now?

ON: I'm also a good cook. You know, I love cooking too. 

KSR: Yeah. 

ON: So I'm very good at that. But also I wanted to, now when you're also washing, you know, it's, it can get so boring. It's like you just get excited, like it's food for your skin. It's time for your food to be, it's time for your skin to be eating when you're going to take a bath. So, you know, you prepare it. You put your bath salt, your oil, and then you have your mask, your scrubs. So even with the soap, it just musn’t be just a bar of soap, you know, like… 

KSR: Sure. 

ON: … It must be so interesting that you know, when you are rubbing it on your skin, you can feel the oils, the essential oils, and you feel like, oh my gosh, it's so edible. Like I can eat it. Like if that makes you happy, it's such a great time for bath time for you to just relax, calm down, and de-stress. You know, we live in a world where we have so much anxiety, stress, so when I create the product, I want someone to just, you know, lose themselves into the products and not just focus on quickly washing and getting out.

You know, I want you to just be and it consume it. Know that we have put all these ingredients that are good for your skin, and when you also make time to be relaxing at home, make sure that you are consuming these products, we know that you are enjoying them visually… 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: …and also with the results that will come.

KSR: Mm-hmm. So who are your typical customers? 

ON: My typical customers are people who are environmentally aware, people who are concerned about where their coin is going, where the products are coming from. It's people who want to be aware of their environment. So it's anyone who just wants to ask questions cause we have the answers.

KSR: Mm-hmm.  And, you know, do you do everything by hand? How much can you produce? You know, how, how does your business work?

ON: Yes, I do everything by hand. Oh my gosh. Let me tell you. Because that was why, like why logo is, it's handcrafted skincare, you know? Because when you use machines, sometimes we just throw all these things in and you're not really intact and you are not connected to the product. So right now I used to do everything by myself. And right now, as the company's growing so fast, I'm starting to add on the team, you know? I'm trying to work with more young women that really also don't have skills. Cause everything else we have to teach you here, you know? 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: So, you don't really have to have a degree for anything or a diploma for that. But I'm just working with young women who are willing to be independent. Cause with this skill, if you know how to make lip balms, if you're on know how to make soaps in the near future, you can also, you know, they can also open their own businesses so that we can start taking over that space. Cause, the toiletry business space, there's only a few for, you know, us black and brown people. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. You're right. So there's a greater mission behind your and philosophy behind your brand?

ON: Yes. Cause even with me know when I'm thinking about opening factories in the future, cause that's something that, you know, we have to do when we're growing, we need more space, you know, more people. So, I'm thinking about that, that, you know, in the future, I definitely know that I want to have most, some of my factories in the townships, you know, that's where we can also create more jobs because that's where also our customers are. You know, you need to teach people about respecting their currency, buying products that are going to be for their skin, for them, and in an economy where we can all share. Because I'm using mainly handcrafted, I'm going to need more people to work. And that also revolves the economy around ourselves. You know, if you work in the township, you buy from the township, you're going to buy online if you stay on the suburbs. So, everyone can engage in their own space. 

KSR: Oh, that's great. I mean, this is, yeah, paying it forward. Right now you’re also engaged in, of course, I assume, sourcing products. Do you grow everything yourself or do you have suppliers who give you your raw in who you get your raw ingredients from?  

ON: No, I grow some of my products, but definitely not because with oils, you know, you can't grow your own oils… 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: … you have to also process them… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: …and everything like that. So, I do source some of my products and I mainly try, it must be woman, you know, black woman, whatever woman that are running. So I just lost my products from different women that have… Another lady, she's from Ghana, I buy my Shea butter from her. And there's another lady also, she's in Cape Town, I buy also some stuff she ships to me. So, I look for the ingredients that I'm going to use for that time and then I see where I can source it.

But it's mainly all, all of them are locally, sourced. We don't ship anything outside of the country as that will be, you know, one of the things, we don't want to focus on carbon emissions and moving all these ingredients up and down. So, if it's going to be country or Africa based, then we want to focus mainly on those ingredients cuz that can also boost our economy and, you know, improve also, these people that work in the fields…

KSR:  Mm. 

ON: …By giving them business. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. What sparked your interest in this field? 

ON: I just think it's the way, you know, that I am. It's something that makes me happy. So, I just wanna share, you know, all this information that I have about plants or our environment, because we all grew up with this, you know, and I think by the time we are growing and also getting into the rat race of making money, we forget that being in touch with nature actually can bring us the happiness that we are all looking for.

So, by sharing all these, products with other people, it's a way where I just feel like, you know, if we all have a gift to know something and then we know that it can change our environment, you know, it's not only for us to have, it's for everyone to have. So, the… I keep learning about plants because it's like, we all going to benefit from this.

It makes me happy and I'm just someone who is always, you know… I want to learn more about things. And also, from the background of my high school, I went to a, a high school that focused on, it was called COSAT –  it's a Center for Science and Technology. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: … So, we were into, you know, different type of learning, not just going one way forward in life. So we would do the experiments going up – Maths, you know, we'd build projects. We were doing all these engineering projects, so they taught us to be independent thinkers. And I think in that way, also, it helped me see, you know… cause I also came to Jo’burg to just like, I wanna start working in a permanent business company, you know, work for other people and that, but as time went, you know, the way I was raised and the way I use my brain to think, I was like, I'm not thinking of going to work in a corporate… 

KSR: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

ON: … you know, I think I can start doing other things. So, I incorporate all these things that I learned. Like I do my own photography, so when I do photography for the brand, I know what angles maybe what look I wanna go for, because also that I've taught myself, and we've been taught also at school to just doing, you know, different angles, photography, this and that.

So, it's a nice way to just not forget how you grew up, the things you were taught. Because my grandmother, every time we were sick, you know, she would not go to the chemist. She would just make us go to the garden, get umhlonyane and you drink and you're good.

BREAK

The best part of any interview is when people talk about themselves, not just their business, but the core of who they are and what's made them like that. This episode of Shades and Layers focuses on Olwethu Ngcobo, founder of Lola and Co Organics. In part two, we start with her childhood in Worcester, in the Western Cape, and how that has influenced everything she does with her brand.

PART TWO

ON: Yeah. I didn't grow up in a, it's not even in a farm. I grew up in the Western Cape... Cause we were, we surrounded by farms in Wooster, you know? 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: So, my grandmother worked in a farm. They worked in a canning business where they did, you know, canned fruits. My grandfather also worked in the farms. My other uncle worked at a factory for clothing tacks where they dye clothes. (16:46)

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: So, we were all exposed to these different types of businesses cause we were allowed to visit, you know, growing up. So, I've got to see different types of ways where you can use one product to make a lot of things in one product. You know, like with grapes, we would make the wine and then you would get raisins. You can get… You know, you use the, also the, the skins to use as a natural dye. Like there's many ways you can explore one thing, also other thing. That's why even you can look within yourself like that. Like you are not based on one thing, you know, there's many things that build you up that make you who you are –  different interests. So, when you're also exploring your career, just also focus on that, that you're not one, a one trick pony, you know, there's many layers to you. So, just keep peeling at them and seeing how all the things maybe you grew up with. Cause now even like people who are chefs, they are starting to introduce, you know, traditional food… 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: …in a gourmet way… 

KSR: Mm-hmm. 

ON: …in a style that's going to be international. We don't have to grow up with certain ingredients the way we know, and then just leave it as it is. We must explore them, see how we can make it into a world standard for everyone else to share, you know? 

KSR: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So you grew up, visiting your uncles and grandma and, everyone in factories. What else was fun about growing up in Worcester?

ON: I think also just the environment. Worcester, there is something very beautiful when you, especially like outside. So, we would explore, you know, going out… when it was holiday time, me and my family and my cousins, everyone would like, you know, get on the kombi, we go to Netjies –  it's like a nature reserve. There's swimming pools, there's the hiking spots, there's rivers, nature's always around us, so we were always engaging in it.

Whether it's like right now it, it's winter, or right now the mountains are big, beautiful covered in snow. So, you were always aware of the seasons, you were always aware of that. You know, it's taking place, it's changing. The flowers would bloom the mountain get so beautiful in summer, so if you're going hiking, there's a lot of herbs there.

And my mom also work, used to work at Fynbos. You know, Fynbos is where they maintain all the amazing fauna... 

KSR: Mm. 

ON: …that's in the Western Cape. So sometimes I go there with there and I'll see all these beautiful, and I just got into hiking. I didn't realize I was hiking then. You know, my mom didn't like it. She was like, “Ah, going up this mountain is not fun.” 

But for me, that was like, “Oh my gosh, this is so much fun.” 

You know, you get to go and explore all these hills. But I didn't know the benefits of the (connection break)… it was just being outside, seeing beautiful flowers and you know, by learning through now other family members that, oh, this herb is for this, this herb is for that. So I'm like, “Oh my gosh, this is so interesting.” 

Cause you know, instead of you using it like that, we can also use it like that. So, all these old memories I have are also things I keep popping in my mind, like, “Oh my gosh, remember when we did this? When you did that?” It's all collaborating to who I am right now – all the surroundings that you know have influenced me growing up. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  And how are you finding living in Johannesburg? 

ON: It's very interesting. You know, many times you would… cause Johannesburg, it's just a rat race and it's work, work, work. Or people just go to restaurant and that's it. And I think it's been so interesting since with this lockdown, you know, a lot of restaurants are closed, alcohol is closed, socializing was not there, and people had to find alternative ways, you know, to keep them busy and have new hobbies. And that's when now people are starting to garden and hiking. So Joburg is also starting cuz it's no longer that place where we were all here just stressed, you know, just trying to find money and trying to be successful. So, when I also started the, the business, it was about trying to also bring some harmony in the peace trying in the, in the city, trying to bring something that's going to give us some…

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: … De-stressing feeling, just trying to bring you some peace, wellness into your space. So, the brand is about giving you, all this peace that you want. Cause when you step out of your house, it's that rat race. But once you get home and you set it up… cause now we also have candles…

We are going to add more home products as we go because we just want this to be a whole holistic space where it's mind, body, and soul and your surroundings. So right now, Joburg, you know, used to be such a toxic place when I first used to look at it, but right now I'm seeing it as an opportunity for me to also come at a space where, people can find rest and people can find a recharging space where products can give them that boost to restart again the following day.

KSR: Mm-hmm. So where do you work out of?  Which part of Johannesburg and, you know, what's, you have a house with a backyard? What's, what's your setup? 

ON: Yeah. You know, with me, I'm always someone who just likes to use my space. You know, I don't like… cause even either before gyms were closed that I used to just work out at home, buy my equipment and be in my space.

Cause I feel like sometimes we just put ourselves in this pressures where it's like, you want to get in shape, but it's... , you think you're thinking, “Oh my gosh, I have to set time for gym.” And then when you get to gym, you don't know what you're doing, you feel insecure, you don't know the machines. Cause I used to work out at a gym, you know, in varsity, so I know how other people used to feel.

And also being around in that environment, I knew that if you didn't know what you came here for or you didn't have also that time and someone to guide you through it, it's pointless because people come there, join the membership, they don't… they pay all this money and then they, you know, end up dropping out.

So I would always tell people if, when I try something, try it at home first. Give yourself a couple of months, and once you're consistent with it, then you feel like, “Okay, I can work out more now”, then you can go join a gym. So with me, I work out in my space, whether it's inside, when I'm sitting on the couch, you can always do something like while you watch TV or my office, but I always go outside so like at least when I'm outside I can also get some sun.

I can get all the nature, watch birds like it, just reach out. It's my me time. You, it's like therapy where I guess good time to just not focus on the stress and just focus on being happy and playing around with my body and being in with myself… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: …not just only focusing on being fit and growing my glutes.

KSR: Sure. 

ON: You know, it's more about having fun with yourself and engaging with your environment. So, I work workout outside and then me and my friends, sometimes we'll go hiking on weekends when everyone has time. That's the time we all get to vent about work and everyone. Then we have a picnic and by the time we leave there we all refreshed.

You know, nature just gives you that time to bounce back. Cause even now when you go out and hike in winter, you'll see all the plants are dead brown. They’re morbid. Right now we're going to spring – some nice flowers are starting to pop up. So, you also feel like that glimpse of happiness, like, “Oh my god, gosh, we are heading in a different direction.”

The seasons are changing also in your life. You should just, you know, look at it that way. When you're going through different phases, you are sad, you're depressed, you're happy. This, just look at it as a season. You know there's a reason for every season in your life. So just don't focus only on that part that, “Oh my gosh, things are horrible right now”, or “It's winter right now.” 

You know that winter is passing, but you also have to make sure that when it's passing, you're doing your part in seeing what journey… how you can grow through the process. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. So what's your, what is your setup, at, at home in terms of, your work as well? 

ON: I had to clear out another spare bedroom I had. It was like empty, you know, so I was like, lemme just use this as my lab. And right now, I feel like I'm overgrowing it. So, I'm starting to look at spaces like business hubs. I've been viewing some, so I think for next year I'm gonna definitely be in a different business, ulocation. Cause we are growing and that's exciting, so…

KSR: Mm-hmm. That's great. 

ON: … I can officially, you know, start having different headquarters next year. 

KSR: Yeah. That's fantastic. Yeah. Tell me about the business side. Are you looking for funding? What, what are your goals? 

ON: My goals? You know, every time I also think about funding, people will say that you want funding? And I'm like, you know, I would love funding, but also in a way I feel like I wanna take my time with that.  Because when people come in your company, they're also gonna have their own expectations. They're also gonna want certain things maybe to go this way, that way…

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: So right now, I just feel like the business is growing, you know, steadily and it's supporting itself with the profits that are coming from the, you know, the customers and engagement.

So I feel like if we give it time, you know, it can be what I wanted. Maybe sometimes with that funding, but I also know if I get funding it can, you know, shoot up quickly than maybe what I would wait for in a year or two. So, I'm just like, I want funding. But right now, I think I just wanna find my feet so that I can have time to train my staff and be with the people who are also going to be in this business because they understand the way we want to do things.

I just don't wanna work with people who are not passionate, you know, the way I'm so passionate… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: … so also finding a team. It's been one of those things where I'm just like, I don't wanna force people. I don't wanna have a team where I have to like push. I want them to wake up for themselves and push for it because they passionate for it.

KSR: And how do you find those people? 

ON: So, we find people that are into your brand, they engage with your posts. People like that. That's why also social media is great cause you can find people anywhere. Right now, through your engagements.

BREAK

We're now reaching the final part of the conversation with Olwethu Ngcobo, founder of Lola and Co Organics, a handmade personal care brand from South Africa. They say, “No dreamer is ever too small and no dream is ever too big.” Olwethu certainly understands that, and she is a woman with big dreams.

PART THREE

KSR: How do you define success? 

ON: I define success by someone doing something that they love, something that they're passionate about, even though, you know, you are not getting that million dollar check, but you wake up every day, you get excited to go do that job, you get happy, you get… it gives you all that satisfaction, that’s success.

And then, you know, once you are happy in the space, a lot of things are opening up. You get a chance to be engaging with the people you want, be in the spaces you want to be, and you are not going to feel so much stress doing that because it's not something that, you know, it's boring you. Like going to maybe work for someone, and you know that you're not into that business of your way. You have to drag yourself out of bed…

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: … if you just wake up happy, excited, it doesn't give you stress and anxiety, you are on the right track to success . 

KSR: Fantastic. So, in… let's say five years’ time, what are we going to see from Lola and Co Organics? 

ON: Oh my gosh, so much. Because you know, when I look at the brand right now, I'm not looking at it just only for skincare.

It's, as I said, I want it to be a holistic experience for everyone. So, we, I wanna start doing home products. It's cleaning organic products, pet care, baby products. We are going to do also food products. You know, where we are growing, we're going to be delivering online, organic veggies to people, organic condiments, crafted, handcrafted food.

So it's going to be a place where if you go inside, cause one day we also wanna open our own branches where we have homeopathic and all the apothecary products where someone can heal themselves. You can wash, you can eat, you can also… we wanna also start branching into clothes, you know? But I wanna use plant-based, materials and we use plant-based dyes cause you can dye also with your food, you know? 

KSR: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

ON: So it's many things that we're going to add. It's just going to be a lifestyle brand, you know... 

KSR: Wonderful. 

ON: …where a one stop shop for your holistic and wellness. 

KSR: Wonderful

ON: … for your family. Yes. 

KSR: What's behind the name?

ON: I know everyone ask me like, Lola Lola's my, I say that to people. I'm like, I have many personalities, so I have to name all of them.  

KSR: Funny. 

ON: Lola's the girl who likes, you know, all the beautiful stuff. She likes being happy, beautiful things. And that's where I create all these beautiful things. And then the Co you know, it's the customer.

We are all, it's me and you in this organic space. We are sharing the lifestyle together cause we both, we are all in it. You know, the environment is here for us to share. We all have to build each other up by showing our happiness, our gifts, and… that's why… Lola, it's me. The Co is the friend, my company, my customers, we are all in the organic space.

So Lola and Co Organics and you know, I just didn't want it to be such a… I want it to be relatable. Lola's an a, can be anyone, can any girl who wants to chase after her dreams and just stick to being unique, being yourself, because that's what makes you, you, you know, we won't have another you. It's only Kutloano, and that's nice, you know.

KSR: Yeah. Yeah. What makes you unique? 

ON: What makes me unique? I guess it's my ideas, you know, the way I think, the way I just see life, because that's what I was like. I also get happy when I see other people interpreting life their own way. You know, I'm excited when you are doing things that make you happy, like you're doing the podcast gets me excited, like, “Oh my gosh.”

It's great to have spaces where now, you know, as also brown black girls, we can have our own things and not feel like, we are not enough and we are sharing this space. That's also empowering me to know that, you know, everything is possible. 

KSR: Yeah. 

ON: So, I know that my ideas are different. Even if me and you have the same idea, it won't come out like that because our minds won't, can never be the same, you know?

KSR: Mm-hmm.  You seem very grounded. What, what do you do for, you know, self care? You know, what's your ritual? 

ON: My daily ritual. I wake up and I pray, and I meditate to set my day. You know, I started doing that this year, I think more this year, where I was like, I have to start at least praying twice a day, because right now I do see the difference in... when I speak it out and I ask the universe to gimme this and that, and I'm thankful and I just, you know, give it back. So, I wake up, I will pray, meditate, and then I exercise. I'll always make time for working out because it's just like my playtime. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: And then after that I wash and then I start my day. So, I never really set my day, so like a soldier. I'll go with how I'm feeling. So, if, if I'm feeling happy today, then I can create the product. I don't like to create the product when I'm in a space where I'm not happy, I'm tense cause I'm just like, you know, my energy will be all over that. So, when I'm happy and I'm feeling great, then I know it's formulation day.

Then I can go, maybe the whole day formulating products. And then the following day is going to be I… so I go around my business and then if I have meetings, I will see how my calendar goes. But I just don't like to have such a strict routine because that can also be stressful… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: …so I go with how I'm feeling, but I make sure that I have goals that I set and I finish the goals that I set for that day. I always d do daily goals that are small… 

KSR: Right.  

ON: … and then I have big goals for, you know, a month, three months, six months, a year, so that I can have also big goals that I can chase. But simple goals like waking up, praying, working out, eating good, you know, replying back to my emails. Those are the simple things that like I have to do, you know…

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: …today to make sure that I can be happy and satisfied with certain things so that tomorrow, I have a better day if I have to do admin. I hate it, but, okay. I have to say it.  And I have to force myself, but… I'm very bubbly, so I'm very social. I just like being happy. I don't like being upset. I'm not really, even sometimes I say like, “Oh my gosh, I don't really know myself when I'm angry sometimes.”

And that's scary cause what if I get angry somewhere and I lose myself? But I'm just like, I'm not that person so I can never wait for that moment. I know that if I get even bad news, you know, I never try distorting my reality. Go through it and see what message is in that process. And I just try and move on because really life is bigger than us.

You know, we are always gonna have problems, but I never look at my problems as, you know, such a downward spiral. I look at them as an opportunity for me to make a choice, for me to grow, you know. So, it's a different way of how we look at life. But cause I'm also from humble beginnings and I'm from a family where everyone worked very hard.

We were never given anything easy because we never had anything, you know? So, my mind always my… My family, like how I grew up. Cause my grandmother always made sure, like she would tell you like, there's flour in the cupboard, there's all the ingredients to make bread. But, it needs your hands, and your brain and your energy.

So, I'm not gonna give you guys money to go buy bread, so that makes your life easy. So, we got to learn responsibility very quick. You've got to know that no one is gonna save you, but also… but you just have to also surround you with people who can give you that support when you need it… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: … and I just try find sources that are gonna give me answers instead of just making me more upset, you know?

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: Just let it go. Really. It's not for us to keep, it's for the energy to leave your space. 

KSR: Mm-hmm. You mentioned, having people around you that give you support. Where have you found your own support from this journey that you've embarked on?  

ON: Actually online. Online is very good because most of the things that I'm doing, I don't know anyone who's doing them. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know anyone who was making their own products… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  

ON: … someone who was, you know, doing their own, like living self-sufficiently. I knew that we can live self-sufficient because at home we used to always have a garden for veggies so that we have veggies at home. But I didn't know that, you know, you can just live off grid and do all this.

So, once I started also consuming a lot, of like TV and online life, I started looking at alternative living and I saw, like, it just got me so excited to be like, oh my gosh, you can actually have your own, you build your own house, you can make your own clothes, you can grow your own food. Like I want that, you know?

KSR: Sure. Yeah. 

ON: … And then when people, maybe I share it with my friends, like, “Girl, stop.” You know…

(Laughter)

ON:  … and it's like, oh my gosh, this is another life out there, you know? That's also when I started going to farming courses, cause they admit other people that are into this lifestyle. So, you, you meet people… 

KSR: Mm-hmm.

ON: …you know, through online, through into, even on Facebook.

Other people are like, I, I don't use Facebook. I'm like, I don't use Facebook, but I have these groups there, you know? We share all these ideas like for growing food, for making sewing, and making your clothes, soaps, all of that stuff. So even social media, I always say that to people, like, I don't go to social media.

Maybe just to look at it one way. There's many ways. That's where also I found my online school was on social media. 

KSR: Mm-hmm.  Mm-hmm.

ON: So I use the hashtags I use… whatever, other people's handles to see what they're doing. And if I say, oh my gosh, we actually interested in the same thing and I… I'll start a conversation with you, like, you'll be my online friend if we are sharing the same things. I don't care. I'll just be like a crazy person. But I'll be like, oh my gosh. You know? So now I have a lot of online friends, there's a lot of girls. I speak like, there's this lady in Arizona, yeah, we were talking about pickling. She sent me her pickling recipes. I sent her mine and… 

KSR: Oh, cool.

ON: … we can do, we do online. You know, so it's a very great way to share ideas and expand. Cause technology is not only one way, you know, you can use it for many things of course. So, I use it for edutainment, you know, I educate myself, while I'm entertaining myself. 

KSR: Wow. That's great. And lastly, I always end, my conversations with this question.

So, if you need some time to give it some thought or you just, give me a straight answer, first answer that comes to mind, what makes you feel beautiful?

ON: My own special, unique features. You know, like sometimes I would like look at myself like, oh my gosh, I hate this and that, and I'd be like, oh my gosh, actually this is what makes me me. You know, there's nothing that I can change. I used to like hate my small smile. I'm like, oh my gosh, I wish I had a wide smile.

But you know, like it's all these little things that I'm like, oh my gosh, I hate my hands. I wish I had longer fingernails or whatever. And then I'll be like, oh my gosh, these hands are these amazing hands that are creating all these amazing products, all these amazing ideas. You know, they go through my mind and through my hands.

That's what like the little things sometimes you hate about yourself. Those are the jewels that give you, you know, the things that you are going to go outside and look for. 

KSR: Fantastic. Well, that's all from me and, I've really, really enjoyed this chat. Thank you so very much. Where can people find you and, what's your handle? Where can they buy your products? 

ON: Thank you. Thank you so much. I was gonna say that to you too. Thank you for, you know, considering this with me. I'm so happy and wish you all the best. 

KSR: Thank you. 

ON: This is an exciting platform, an exciting one. And also, we also met online, so that's what I'm like, you know, online people make sure you online.

KSR: Yes. 

ON: For the best. So if you are looking for me for any questions, for any, you know, interest in chats business, whatever it is, you can find me on my Instagram page, it's @organicbaddie, also on my Twitter, and you can send me an email. I have my email address also, it's on my Instagram, it's (olwethugmail.com – couldn’t catch the email address and insta is private) and everyone can check out my website lolaandcoorganics.co.za. If you wanna also check Lola and Co Organics, we're also on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, so that's where I am. 

KSR: Great. 

ON: And yeah, thank you so much for the opportunity. I appreciate it. 

KSR: Thank you 

OUTRO

Olwethu currently has a popup shop at the Carvers Maker's Market in Hyde Park Corner. So, if you are in Johannesburg, that's where you can go and sample some of her goodies.

For the rest of us, there's eye candy on Insta and the possibility to place an order online. Details are available in the show notes. 

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Shades and Layers. Please remember to rate and review wherever you get your podcast. You can also send us an email on hello@shadesandlayers.com. 

Until next time, please take good care.