Creating the best bath and body products for the environment with HOTEL, MIKE 

Firstly we are so happy to have your range on our e-shop. For those who aren’t familiar with HOTEL, MIKE could you tell us a little bit about the brand?

We are so excited that we can now be found on Rêve! HOTEL, MIKE is a bath and body brand designed with the environment at heart. Cold process is a core principle of the range and the products have all been formulated with a careful selection of fermented, upcycled and biotech active ingredients to help minimize resource usage and environmental impact. Duality is the thread that weaves our identity together. We combine the world of biotechnology with living nature in an elevated yet playful way.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability at HOTEL, MIKE means finding new ways to interact with the planet harmoniously. It is not about striving for perfection. But instead attempting to be the best we can be, continuously evolving alongside innovation to create a positive difference. The environment is at the heart of all that we do, whilst never compromising on quality, performance or aesthetics.

What was the inspiration behind ?

The name was inspired by the nato alphabet. ‘HOTEL’ represents the H of my first name and ‘MIKE’ represents the M of my last name. I wanted the branding to be colorful and exciting inline with its quirky title. I have always loved Matisse paintings and we used his work to inspire the bold graphic shapes on the bottles. They are representative of the tags used to label the ingredients we collected to develop the formulations.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in establishing HOTEL, MIKE?

As a small brand you have big, grand visions but not always the means to support these dreams. I have been held back by suppliers having high costs and MOQs. It goes back to my previous point, you have to do the best you can with what you have in front of you at the time. Prioritize your non-negotiables and be adaptable with the rest.

Has there been a highlight in your journey so far? If so – what was this?

It has to be the day HOTEL, MIKE launched. The journey there was full of highs and lows, but I couldn’t believe my vision had become a reality (with the help of many others along the way)! Experiencing customers getting excited about the products that were once only ideas is a feeling I will never forget. 

What does the production processes look like when creating the best bath and body products for the environment? 

Biotechnology: In very simple terms is a process used to produce lab-made ingredients that serve as a sustainable alternative for natural ingredients. The planet’s resources are finite, biotechnology allows us to recreate powerful nature-identical alternatives in a lab without negatively impacting our planet and oceans.

Fermentation: A process in which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert carbohydrates, such as sugar or starches, into smaller compounds, such as alcohols or acids. Fermentation is a way of being able to obtain large quantities of the same molecules we usually harvest from plants without destroying ecosystems. 

Upcycling: Recreates value from non-commercially used ingredients or byproducts from industry.

Cold pressing: A greener production method whereby cosmetics products can be emulsified at room temperature without the need to heat ingredients.

We’ve noticed all of your products are made in England – was this important to you when building your brand? If so – why? 

Having the HOTEL, MIKE products made in the UK has allowed me to be very involved in the production process, whilst also supporting local suppliers and reducing our carbon footprint.

Are there any other sustainable aspects of you’d like to talk about?

At HOTEL, MIKE we know there is always more we can do to have a positive impact on our planet, meaning we are constantly evolving. We are trying where we can at the moment though and there are sustainable parts of our identity that are worth mentioning:

–  The products have been produced in a factory that uses 100% renewable electricity.

–  The bottles are made from aluminum, which is an infinitely recyclable material.

–  You can combine the HOTEL, MIKE oil with the HOTEL, MIKE salts to make a scrub, with the idea being you buy less.

What does the future hold for ? Could you share some goals? 

It is still early days, however, we envisage becoming the destination for other exciting products beyond bath and body. Think candles, incense and home fragrance…let’s see!

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