InCredipple Spotlight: Periods, Parties & Philly Cheesesteaks
Not your everyday combination, right? But we’re not here to judge. We’re here to shine a light on those who go beyond the status quo with a passion for people and impact being at the heart of all they do.
3 Remarkable brands doing inCredipple work within their communities
The journey toward finding that one thing that gets you out of bed in the morning isn’t always easy. And the real kicker is that once you have found your “thing”, you still need to find a way to make it work. We chose to profile 3 remarkable brands who are doing inCredipple work within their respective industries and communities:
After interviewing the entrepreneurs, one thing became evident; the real answer is not so much the what, but the why.
Being driven by passion and purpose is a sure way to get onto the right path. And although rejection is a huge part of entrepreneurship, choosing the thing you “know” over the “No’s” offers a great reward. As Oprah Winfrey puts it; “If you know, with certainty, that your intention is fully aligned with what you believe, you’ve already won”.
However, in order to win and ultimately succeed, you actually have to start. (shocker, right?) *gasps*
But just a friendly heads up; the journey is hardly ever as linear as you’d imagine. The average “overnight success” takes about 3 years, minimum. So if you’ve ever started anything and have found yourself doing the usual 2 steps forward, 5 steps back salsa, you’re on the right track!
Marea remembers taking the dive head first and starting her first business in 2009.
Rosie had been dabbling in shows since high school and officially started working at a club in 2010.
Kayla shared how her Menstrual cup brand has been in the works for years and was only launched last year.
The fear of starting is greater than actually starting. But sometimes, the light starts with you. Your purpose might just be the light at the end of someone else’s tunnel.
Kayla shares how menstrual cups changed her life, and in the search for the perfect cup, she decided to create it. Her brand seeks to eradicate period poverty and give women the freedom of movement and confidence needed to tackle life during their period, as they would at any other time.
Marea, in addition to running Toasted, helps others find the best way to turn ideas into operating businesses.
“I want to feel free to enjoy music with my whole being in club spaces, and I want that for everyone.”
Rosie Parade
What we’re learning from these brands is that there is no “i” in impact. I mean, phonetically there is, but not where passion is involved. These entrepreneurs do not make any decisions without their greater audience and community in mind. When asked how their work allows them to support other wxmen and groups in their communities, this is what they had to say:
We make it a priority and always look for the ways in which any given project and any given decision can be made with freedom in mind.- P_ssy Party
IG: @p_ssyparty
It allows me to empower other women with access to resources that they wouldn’t ordinarily have- allowing them to continue their lives as usual, with freedom and confidence. It sounds inconsequential, but being able to do simple things like attending school, going to work or just being mobile and having peace of mind during your period, helps you show up in the world. – Necessary Menstrual Cups
IG: @Necessary_za
My team are all incredible women to date. Toasted built its supplier list, collaborations, and partners all by putting women at the centre and working from there. – Toasted
IG: @toasted_jhb
Getting to know the Brains behind the Brand:
Though the entrepreneurs have taken commendable strides toward making their brands household names, getting to know the people behind the passion is just as important.
We asked the founding members of all 3 brands a few questions just to get to understand how their minds work.
What is your favourite childhood memory?
Rosie: Any time spent with my brother.
Kayla: standing on a stool next to my grandmother whilst she teaches me that the key to making delicious food is to stir love in.
Marea: Swimming at the pool in Jwaneng, where I grew up, with my dad and sister.
What is your favourite childhood meal?
Rosie: Mac and cheese.
Kayla: watermelon, litchi, and/or mango.
Marea: Any cake that my godmother baked.
Who is one person(s) who has really influenced who you are today and how?
Rosie: My mother, who is a Libra and has an incredible capacity for love.
Kayla: My granny, my siblings, and funnily enough Oprah. Her search for her higher self and continuous improvement and how she’s a beacon and lighthouse for others inspire me.
Marea: So many.
What is a fun/interesting/random fact that most people don’t know about you?
Rosie: I’m a chronic house plant killer.
Kayla: I was the top student in the Southern hemisphere for a few subjects when I did my A-levels in 2010, the subject I’m most proud of is English literature. I love words but I do have dyslexia so it was a struggle for me.
Marea: I love pop music very much. It’s my go-to. I’m taking 1 Direction, BTS, Justin Bieber.
The world of entrepreneurship is known to be “rough and tough”, but the most prevalent aspect of it all, vulnerability is overlooked more often than not. However, when that vulnerability is embraced, the reward is visibility- being seen.
Marea mentioned how some of her most notable achievements include making Mail and Guardian 200 young South Africans in the business and entrepreneurship category. P_ssy Party has graced festival stages from Oppikoppi to Afropunk, travelled globally, and received some incredible support from organisations that are aligned with their vision. Kayla is proud of the fact that she’s been able to create and scale a brand that was once just a wish she had in her heart, whilst juggling her actual career and 9-5.
The entrepreneurs have not been timid regarding their desire to be impactful. They aim to focus on the fundamentals and facilitate freedom and innovation. P_ssy Party, for example, refers to themselves as a solution to a problem, with their biggest dream being to solve the problem and become entirely irrelevant to the new society they helped to shape. In addition, Marea ultimately aims to reach a place where she is called on for what she’s good at and reach the point where they do less but have more impact. Kayla is striving to scale Necessary Menstrual Cups across the continent and other emerging markets, because simply put, it’s Necessary for women to have access to period care – being able to use organic & non-toxic products shouldn’t be something reserved for the wealthy
If the last 2 years have taught us anything, it’s that anything is possible but nothing is certain. When asked what the next 3-5 years look like for the respective businesses, all answers were completely different but equally valid:
“Many more incredible DJs through our Academy stretching out across the country and the continent.” – P_ssy Party
“Ensuring that Necessary becomes a household name in South Africa, really important for me to get the fundamentals right, and do the little things right so that I can then scale.” – Necessary ZA
“Truly I don’t know this yet”. – Toasted
What we do know for sure, is that their brands have all been catalysts for change and authenticity has been their guiding light throughout.
In conclusion, if the thing you’re doing doesn’t truly speak to who you are, chances are it won’t really resonate with your audience either. You cannot pretend when it comes to passion. When asked how they remain authentic to themselves in their work, the advice was simple, “Be brave, and choose the path you know is true over the path anyone else might try to pave for you”. – (P_ssy Party)
Post written by Khanyisile Mngomezulu
