I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Tell me a little about your company. On December 5th, 2005 AnitaGrant.com was created, by the all round self-proclaimed cosmetic-label-reader-ingredient junkie-mixtress, Anita. At anitagrant.com we believe in cultural focus by purchasing directly from farming communities and/or partnerships with fair trade suppliers throughout the world, helping to maintain economic independence & cultural survival. Using a variety of plant-based ingredients from different countries around the globe; we are celebrating ecological & cultural diversity.



How did you get started running your business? It wasn't until I blistered my hands using a store bought bottle of so called "safe synthetics" that I decided not to purchase another off the shelf hair care product again. Since 2005, I've been making my own brand of natural and organic skin care and hair care. You shouldn't need a degree in bio-chemistry to understand the ingredient list of a hair care or skin care product label. It was a bit difficult at first to decipher all the Latin (INCI) nomenclature of the ingredients and separate the "bozwellox" from true benefits but I got there in the end. It's so liberating to be able to read the label of a product, understand the ingredients contained within and say "NATURALLY, I can do better."

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? If I were trapped on a desert island it better be one with a Coconut tree and fresh Coconuts hanging from it. I would cut it open and eat the fresh white meat, rub a bit of the Coconut water on my hands and moisturize my skin and curly Afro hair with it - loads of uses.

Any advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs? Set yourself apart from the rest - be fresh, innovative and unique with what ever it is you offer.

What inspires your work? Food - yummy stuff - like Fair Trade Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, Sapote Seed, Coffee, Papaya Oil, Watermelon Oil...oh I can go on and on but I'll stop or I'll make myself hungry.

Find the whole line of all natural skin, hair and body care products at AnitaGrant.com