Meet Heike - Founder of Wellicious

I was born in Germany and as a child, I was inspired by my grandmother Maria’s commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle and my parents' two-decade-long residence in Eastern Africa, where they lived among the wonders of nature. I have always wanted to combine my love of yoga with the philosophy that style should not be at the expense of our planet, and so I set up Wellicious in London in 2007.
 

We are proud to make circular clothes which are both good for people and the planet. Our clothes are environmentally friendly and non-harmful. In the future, we will continue to work with suppliers from the EU and manufacture our products solely in the EU.
 

Most days, I am up quite early to help prepare my children for school and walk my dogs. I like to take some time at the beginning of the day to plan for my day ahead, and also try to squeeze in some ‘me’ time which might include some yoga or meditation. In the evenings, I switch off from work and prioritise spending good quality time with my family.
 

When I am travelling lots, I make sure I have lots of water and healthy snacks. If I am ever feeling stressed, I stop what I am doing and take a few deep breaths to help recentre and rebalance myself.

I love eating colourful vegetable bowls with quinoa or other healthy grains. I find them so hearty and nourishing. I am also a big fan of soups, especially in the winter, and I like to make them from scratch.

Our Wellicious team works remotely, which allows us to be flexible with our time and have a good work/life balance. We check in with each other throughout the day and ensure we are working in a balanced and efficient way.
 

At every step during the production, we have encountered challenges but we overcame them with a positive mindset and a can-do attitude. Our pioneering Cradle to Cradle Certified® line is the result of six years of extensive sustainable material development research, resulting in numerous industry-changing breakthroughs, including the use of a new, non-toxic type of elastane. It was our aim to build a company where we could manufacture durable and circular yoga and activewear products, reuse and recycle all materials and eliminate fashion waste and pollution. The idea of a transparent biodegradable yoga and activewear clothing line, safe for biological systems and which decomposes into nutrients for other organisms, seemed near impossible – but we dreamed and aimed big – and have succeeded in making that a reality.
 

We maintain ethical and sustainable standards which we have verified through our Cradle to cradle certification . Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the leading multi-attribute standard used globally across industries by designers, brands and manufacturers for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future.
 

Wellicious is the world’s first circular and Cradle to Cradle Certified® yoga-wear brand, which means no waste is produced in the production of our clothes. We also offer a take-back system to our customers. When an item is ready to be returned to the earth (thereby closing its materials’ loop), you can send it back to us in exchange for a 10% discount on your next purchase. In doing so, we will ensure the biodegrading process is optimised so that no trace of your item is left behind.

At present, our primary focus is on introducing our new circular t-shirts to the market. These t-shirts are crafted from Cradle to Cradle Certified® organic cotton, ensuring sustainability throughout their lifecycle. Furthermore, our t-shirts boast a comfortable and contemporary fit, prioritising both style and comfort for our customers.

Starting a business is full of ups and downs. The set backs can often be good learning experiences, which can help to make you stronger and more resilient as you move forward.

Feel free to follow @wellicious on Instagram 😊