Allison Weldon - Founder, Sangre de Fruta Botanica
Cleopatra herself applied essential oils and botanical butters to her skin for protection from the elements and for sensual indulgence. The practice could’ve faded as merely a footnote in history, but Vancouver-based Sangre de Fruta Botanical is echoing those tales from the past by indulging in Mother Earth’s delicious ingredients; founder Allison Weldon crafts handmade botanical products inspired by the ancient beauty regimes and remedies of the Egyptians and others. Sangre de Fruta is Spanish for ‘blood of fruit’ or ‘fruit blood,’ a fitting moniker for a natural skin care company that strives to create products that represent “beauty, magic, medicine,” in a way that women have valued for centuries. Allison opened the door to the world of apothecary when a friend-turned-mentor taught her how to create potions on the fly that delighted and ignited the senses. Though she studied fashion communications and worked in numerous marketing, design and film jobs, Allison always felt that industry wasn’t a place she fit. She courageously abandoned it, started her own company, nearly went bankrupt due to a toxic relationship, and had to learn to pick herself up again before taking another stab at entrepreneurship. It was conviction, joy and dedication to a greater beauty message that kept her grounded and determined to explore uncharted seas with Sangre de Fruta; the natural skin care line uses water-free formulas made from locally-sourced, organic and wild-crafted plant-based ingredients. If you have the pleasure of meeting Allison, you’ll get the impression that although she is sweet and soft, she’s also incredibly strong and a woman to be reckoned with. She has a point of view that not everyone understands, but she isn’t out to please the whole world. Facing her fears of failure, anxiety and the other sobering realities of entrepreneurship, she’s working on mastering the craft of taking pause, truly listening to her mind and body’s cues, and continuing to learn and move forward.