AIPAS INTERVIEWS - Shades of Phoenix

Today we are joined by Teneil from Shades of Phoenix as part of our series of Aussie Indie Polish Maker interviews. 

What got you into the Indie Polish scene, and how long have you been making polish?

Shades Of Phoenix was launched in January 2013. It all came about when I had spinal surgery in August 2012 and had a lot of time on my hands with recovery. I was only able to sit for 20 minutes at a time and started painting my nails and doing nail art to keep myself occupied and focused. Once I got in to the blogging scene I was opened up to a whole new world and my brain went crazy with ideas. I’d always struggled to find my passion and never really felt I fit in with anything until I found Indie Polish and Shades Of Phoenix. 

What was the first Shades Of Phoenix polish?

Now that is a hard question because it was so long ago now. I believe the first polishes were Hades and Poseidon. They were the first time polish I sat down and played around with and to this day they are still favourites of mine.

Inspiration can be drawn from a wide variety of things.  What are your main sources of inspiration?

History, mythology, and things I love. I try to be different when it comes to my inspirations and how my polishes come about. They generally come about or a reason and purpose within a collection.

Please share with us some of your greatest polish achievements.

I love this question because sometimes with all the hard work and sometimes heartache that goes with running your own business you can forget about the achievements. Shades Of Phoenix's first achievement was securing our first International stockist only 4 months after opening – something I never thought would happen. Then about 2 months ago, Shades Of Phoenix was stocked in our first in-store location in a small town Rockabilly store, and has been doing really well with an exclusive collection. Our next achievement will be attending our first Markets at the beginning of August with a few others already teed up. 

What do you love the most about making polish?  Dislike the most?

I love being able to be creative, be myself. I have loved everything to do with art and being creative since before I could walk.  It is amazing to be able to have the control to create whatever I see in my mind. It's even better when others like it as well. What do I dislike the most? I mess I make; I am a clean freak so struggle a little with the mess and smell when mixing. I also dislike the financial side of having a business just like most adult responsibilities.

What would be one thing that people might not know about being an indie polish creator?

This question really stumped me. I guess there's a lot people don’t know, don’t realise or just don’t even think of when it comes to being an Indie Maker. All that’s important is to know that Indie Makers are just as polish obsessed as everyone else. 

Is there a particular style of polish that your brand is known for?

Glitter packed Jellies!

If you could only make one type of polish from now on, what type would you choose? (creme, glitter, etc)

Glitter packed Jellies! Haha I love glitters, especially holo glitters.

What would be your ultimate fantasy polish to make?  If chemistry and physics were no obstacle?

A polish made from stars. Real glowing, twinkling stars.

If someone could only buy two of your polishes, which two should they buy to get a good idea about your brand?

My main man, Poseidon, and a newbie that’s yet to be released, Wildfire. Both show my love for holo glitters but in two different ways. (PS Keep an eye out for Wildfire)

Where do you see your brand going in the future?  What is the next big thing for Shades of Phoenix? 

The dreams keep getting bigger and bigger for the brand, and the hope that they will come true runs thick through my veins. Shades Of Phoenix is my passion, my best friend and life all rolled in to one. So I can only hope for bigger and better things in the future. I have and will keep sacrificing for the brand so I can keep bring new things to the nail community.

Do you have any new releases?

Up All Night Trio - now available

Pretty Poison Collection - 8 August 2014

Wildfire - TBA

Fan Questions: 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC TO MIX POLISH TO?

I have a paid Spotify account so I always have that going in the background and about once a week surf the net for new music. I love up beat things that get me singing whilst I’m mixing. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY GOOD LUCK CHARMS/TALISMANS AROUND WHEN YOU ARE MAKING POLISH MAGIC? WHAT ARE THEY?

I always have one or the two cats around when I’m home creating. They don’t help much but they are a good comfort for myself.

WHAT DO YOU WATCH WHILE MIXING POLISH?

I sometimes have movies playing the background, most of the time its either LOTR or The Hobbit & Clash of The Titans – just some inspirational faves.

WHAT COMES FIRST, THE POLISH OR THE NAME?

For me it’s the name/collection. I love to give either a history lesson or teach people something about the name of the polish

WHAT WAS THE POLISH THAT STARTED IT OFF FOR YOU?

The first indie I ever bought was two bottles of Emily de Molly. I loved the personal customer service and the quality of the product. I see both Emily de Molly and Pretty Serious as brands that I aspire to be like and inspirations.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE BECOME OBSESSED WITH INDIE POLISH?

I’m still trying to work out how I became obsessed. I think the personal feel of knowing a brand is handmade is amazing.

Do you have anything else to share?

I want to say thank-you to not only the Aussie Indie Fan community but to the other Aussie Indie makers who have really helped put Aussie brands on the map, I’ve made some great friends in the community as well as the tight knit Maker community.

Also, some old favourites have been discontinued and marked down on the website. Aphrodite, Dionysus, Zeus, Eros, Erzulie and Phoenix 2.0 have all been marked down to $8.00 - get them before they are gone forever!

If you are interested in finding out more about SHADES OF PHOENIX, we have included the store, stockist and social media information below.  Thank you for sharing your time with us, Teneil.

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Teneil has kindly offered a special 10% discount code for AIPAS members, which can be found in the AIPAS Facebook group announcing the interview.

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Shop: www.shadesofphoenix.bigcartel.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shadesofphoenix
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/1435298150024819/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/shadesofphoenix

AIPAS Interviews - Sayuri Nail Lacquer

Today we are joined by Anthea from Sayuri Nail Lacquer, our second willing victim in our series of Aussie Indie Polish Maker interviews. 

What got you into the Indie Polish scene, and how long have you been making polish?

I developed a bit of a polish obsession back in 2011 after a friend took me with her to a beauty wholesale store and I discovered OPI. I then stumbled across the Gloss ‘n Sparkle page on Etsy and fell in love with the wonderful, glittery world of indie polishes. I’ve been creating polish for about a year and a half now. Although Sayuri only launched in March 2013 the business was in development from October 2012.

What was the first Sayuri Nail Lacquer polish?

The entire Streets Of Tokyo collection was in development at the same time, although Fairy Kei was the first polish to reach completion.

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Fairy Kei - photography by Rose (Every Little Polish)

Inspiration can be drawn from a wide variety of things.  What are your main sources of inspiration?

My inspirations tend to be a bit abstract. I have a fashion qualification, and I think that definitely plays a role in my creative process. My studies taught me to find inspiration in anything from the texture of a leaf, to the colours in a painting, or even the shape of a chair. My inspirations are often more about the thought or the idea of something, rather than a tangible item.

Please share with us some of your greatest polish achievements.

An achievement in itself is just the growth of the business. Everything from inception to being taken on by distributors, and gaining a loyal following not only online but at the markets and events we attend.

I like to think that one of the greatest achievements though was keeping the business running while I was living in Japan for 5 months. It involved a LOT of organisation before I left, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my partner Michael who kept things running smoothly back here in Australia. Michael has been just as much a part of Sayuri as I have from the very beginning, but it was a true test of teamwork to keep the business running when we were in different countries.

What do you love the most about making polish?  Dislike the most?

I love that my job is something that I enjoy. It’s my creative outlet and I find it therapeutic. My least favourite part? Wearing a respirator mask while mixing. It gets so hot and stuffy!

What would be one thing that people might not know about being an indie polish creator?

Nicki from Celestial Cosmetics summed it up well in last month’s interview. We don’t make a lot of money, and it’s incredibly time consuming. It’s not the sort of business you can get into just for the money, you have to LOVE what you’re doing. There is so much time involved, even just when sourcing ingredients or ordering labels, even putting together promotional material to post on social media is time consuming. Realistically, the monetary payoff when you consider the time involved is almost pitiful, particularly when you’re first starting off, but we love what we do and that makes it all worth it.

Is there a particular style of polish that your brand is known for?

Although it’s not intentional, I think we’re known for interesting and unusual glitter combinations. Oh, Horsefeathers! is a good example of that. Also our pretty pastels, like in the Crystal Dreams collection. I’m a sucker for anything cute and pretty and I think that must show through.

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Oh, Horsefeathers!  - photography by Belinda (nailingaround)

If you could only make one type of polish from now on, what type would you choose? (creme, glitter, etc)

Oh gosh, I don’t think I could possibly choose! I find that what I create tends to reflect what I feel like wearing at the time. When the Streets of Tokyo collection was created I was really into glitter toppers so there’s quite a few of those in that collection, and now I’m more into polishes with subtle effects. If I HAD to pick just one, I would have to go with cremes as they’re timeless (although unfortunately not the most fun).

What would be your ultimate fantasy polish to make?  If chemistry and physics were no obstacle?

Hmmm. Imagine nail stickers/wraps but in brush-on form. So you’d apply your polish as usual but would end up with an image on your nail. I know that probably sounds silly when you can just go and buy nail stickers, but I find them such a pain to apply sometimes! Plus for the price of one set of wraps you could buy a bottle of polish that you can use several times.

If someone could only buy two of your polishes, which two should they buy to get a good idea about your brand?

Sugar Coated Dreams (for the pastel and glitter topper lovers), and Psychadelia (for those who prefer a non-glitter polish that still has an eye-catching effect).  

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Sugar Coated Dreams

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Psychadelia

Where do you see your brand going in the future?  What is the next big thing for Sayuri Nail Lacquer?

Now that I’m back in Australia it’s full steam ahead. We really want to make a name for ourselves in Brisbane and the surrounding areas by attending more markets and events. We just finished up at Gold Coast Supanova and it’s so rewarding to be able to talk to customers in person, which is something that you just can’t benefit from when selling solely online. We’re hoping to find a few more international distributors in the coming months as well.

Do you have any new releases?

Our newest collection, Beyond The Shadows, will be released later in the month.  It's inspired by the different effects that some colours possess when exposed to sunlight versus the shadows.  Here's some sneaky peeks, there are glitter combinations to come as well.

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Luminous Illusion

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - Love's Lustre

Sayuri Nail Lacquer - State of Radiance

Fan Questions: 

What is your favourite music to mix polish to?  

I listen to Japanese pop music (J-pop) quite a lot.  It's reached a point now where I can hear a song and remember what polish I was creating at the time the song was released.

What comes first, the polish or the name?  

The general inspiration for the collection, then the polish, and then the names.  Naming is generally harder for me than creating the polish.

What was the polish that started it off for you?   

My first polish was OPI Come To Poppy.  My first indies were Gloss 'n Sparkle's Dazzling Dusk and Unicorn Droppings.

If you are interested in finding out more about Sayuri Nail Lacquer, we have included the store, stockist and social media information below.  Thank you for sharing your time with us, Anthea.

Website: http://sayurinaillacquer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SayuriNailLacquer
Instagram: @sayurinaillacquer
Twitter: @SayuriNL

Our stockists: 
Mei Mei’s Signatures http://meimeisignatures.com/
Handmade High Street (Annerley, Brisbane) http://www.handmadehighstreet.com.au/
My Cube (Myer Centre, Brisbane City)

Markets and Events Calendar: http://sayurinaillacquer.com/pages/marketsevents

AIPAS Interviews - Celestial Cosmetics

Today we are joined by Nicki from Celestial Cosmetics for the first in our series of Aussie Indie Polish Maker interviews. 

What got you into the Indie Polish scene, and how long have you been making polish?

In June 2012 I decided it was time to stop biting my nails.  I decided to start making polish for myself in January 2013, and from there my husband said they were too nice to keep to myself and in April 2013 Celestial Cosmetics officially launched.

What was the first Celestial Cosmetics polish?

Celestial Night 

Celestial Cosmetics - Celestial Night

Inspiration can be drawn from a wide variety of things.  What are your main sources of inspiration?

Most of my inspiration is drawn from things I see in my daily life. It could be a car, a bird, the sky.  I like to keep an open mind and I think I interpret  colours in many different ways.

Please share with us some of your greatest polish achievements.

I think my greatest achievement to date was being able to stock with international stockists Mei Mei Signatures, Edgy Polish and Color4Nails.  Color4Nails now stocks all our current polishes, and they all ship worldwide.

My personal achievement was that I started out making polishes on my own.  In the last few months it has become a family affair.  My son is involved in all the technical aspects of the business and my husband will help wherever he can.  He is especially good at packaging, and has some good ideas for polish creations.  Having my own dedicated polish room is also a huge achievement.

What do you love the most about making polish?  Dislike the most?

I love creating polishes and I find that if I need to relax, that’s where I head to.  I don’t find it a chore, I zone out and am so relaxed after working in my polish room.

I don’t think there is anything I dislike as such, but I do find packaging is a slightly less exciting.

What would be one thing that people might not know about being an indie polish creator?

I think a lot of people presume we make a lot of money, and that is not true.  Being an indie polish creator takes a lot of time, dedication and money especially whilst you are establishing your business.  The Australian market is also very difficult to break into.

Is there a particular style of polish that your brand is known for?

I love making holo’s and they seem to be loved by my customers.

If you could only make one type of polish from now on, what type would you choose? (creme, glitter, etc)

Once again it would be holo’s.

What would be your ultimate fantasy polish to make?  If chemistry and physics were no obstacle?

A matte holo (not using a matte topcoat over a holo).  I can picture what it would look like but it’s impossible to explain.

If someone could only buy two of your polishes, which two should they buy to get a good idea about your brand?

That is so hard, it’s like picking a favourite child.  I think I would go for Celestial Night and Blitzen’s Budgie Smuggler.

Celestial Cosmetics - Blitzen's Budgie Smuggler

Where do you see your brand going in the future?  What is the next big thing for Celestial Cosmetics?

I have so many plans and ideas, but not everything is possible for a handmade product.  I would love to be stocked by an exclusive chainstore, so that is what I am working towards. 

Do you have any new releases?

I have some new releases that will be available 1st April.  I am sorry but I don’t have sneak peaks at the moment, but keep an eye on our Facebook page and Instagram.

Fan Questions: 

What is your favourite music to mix polish to?  

INXS

What comes first, the polish or the name?  

Definitely the polish.  Once I see the finished product the name usually follows with ease.

Why do you think people become obsessed with indie polish?   

I believe we all strive for the highest quality polish and the best customer service.  You don’t always get that from main stream brands.

Do you have anything else to share?

We will be celebrating our 1st Anniversary on 25th April.  There will be a variety of offers available from 1st April leading up to the big day.  I will be announcing the details of each offer as they happen on our Facebook page.

If you are interested in finding out more about Celestial Cosmetics, we have included the store, stockist and social media information below.  Thank you for sharing your time with us, Nicki.

Shop: http://www.celestialcosmetics.com.au/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CelestialCosmetics

Instagram:  @celestialcosmetics

Twitter:  @celestialcos

International Stockists:

http://color4nails.com/

http://www.edgypolish.com/

http://meimeisignatures.com/