Introducing the very talented Artisan, Cocoshore. From Ipswich, Olivia makes vegan, organic, handmade bath and body products using simple, skin-loving ingredients.
Find out why Olivia started creating and why handmade matters so much, and have a look at the full range.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
Cocoshore is a range of vegan, organic, handmade bath and body products: sugar body scrubs, whipped shea butter, bath tea, bath fizzies, clay face masks and reusable make-up wipes. Every product starts with research into the best ingredients, then sourcing the right ones, and then plenty of trial and error until it feels right.
I use simple, skin-loving ingredients, and I always share the full ingredient list so you know exactly what you're putting on your skin.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
I've always been creative. It's just who I am, and I've always needed somewhere to put that energy. Being able to turn it into a business is something I don't take for granted.
I took over Cocoshore, and it became truly mine when I went back to the heart of the brand, "Love Your Body", and brought self-care into the centre of it.
Now I get to spend my days experimenting, trying new things and making products that help people feel cared for.
It still feels a little surreal that something I love doing is also my work.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration is the person on the other end: the woman who never has time for herself, or who just wants to know what's in her products and have something natural that works.
I'm also inspired by simply trying new things and seeing what happens. A good idea often starts as a feeling I want someone to have, and the recipe follows.
Where did you learn your craft?
Mostly by doing. I learned through research, sourcing, and lots of trial and error, testing and adjusting until a product felt right. There's no shortcut for it, and I love that it keeps me curious.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Because handmade means I know exactly what goes into every product, and so do you.
It's slower and it's more work, and a lot of that work happens behind the scenes where nobody sees it. But it's what lets me make something that cares for people exactly as they are, not something that tries to fix them.
Olivia is a much loved member of the MadeIt Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ MadeIt: Handmade not Massmade Australia ~ and sharing new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Cocoshore make sure you join our FB Group and say hi!
