Since the launch of Kalani, we’ve wanted to offer you candles. But we’re experts in textiles, not candles. So we decided to work together on a concept that was in line with our values, that made sense and that, above and beyond that, was a wonderful encounter. We discovered Victoria’s work at a Christmas sales event, and it was clear that our worlds were destined to meet.

We wanted to offer new candles, while maintaining our values of sustainability, local and craftsmanship. That’s how the Kalani X Terrae collab came about.
And as we like to take you behind the scenes of our collaborations, here’s a presentation by Victoria, founder of Terrae.

Interview:

1. Victoria, can you tell us a bit more about yourself? What inspired you to set up your own business?

As the daughter of an entrepreneur, I’ve always been captivated by the fact that you can create things and, above all, have the freedom to do what you want to do.

I owe my taste for entrepreneurship in part to my father. He really gave me the desire to do the same. What’s more, as early as my secondary grade education I realised that I loved economics and everything that revolved around the subject. At the end of my studies in Business Management and Entrepreneurship at ICHEC, I already wanted to launch my own project, but I told myself that I needed to learn about the world of business before taking the plunge.

So I worked for almost 3 years as a project manager at IPM for La Libre and La DH. Once my big projects were finished, it was time to take the plunge and set up my own business. It had to make sense to me, be Belgian, offer a product that I wanted to have at home and be as responsible as possible. That’s how Terrae was born.

2. Why did you choose candles? There are so many brands out there, so how did you come up with the idea?

At the start of the project, I wanted to offer a Belgian product, made by craftsmen in the field of decoration. I’m a big fan of candles and I quickly realised that although there was an incredible range on the market, there was still something to be done. We don’t really realise it, but the products used to make candles are often a disaster for our planet and our health. So, after a lot of thought and research, we decided to make our own concrete containers so that we didn’t have to import them. We also opted for soya vegetable wax, which is certainly more difficult to work with, but so much more responsible than the paraffin wax that you find everywhere and which comes from oil. Secondly, when it comes to perfumes, we generally don’t know where they come from and their composition isn’t ideal for our health. So I decided to opt for fragrances that are non-toxic. In other words, they don’t contain CMRs (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic) or phthalates (harmful to fertility). We’re often asked why we shouldn’t use essential oils, and the reason is that, unfortunately, they are often toxic when burnt.

Finally, people often talked to me about wanting to reuse candle containers because we no longer know what to do with them at home. So it was important for me to stand out on the market by offering wax refills so we could reuse our Terrae containers over and over again.

3. What are Terrae’s founding values?

Terrae aims to be responsible, high-quality, craft-based, simple and optimistic!

4. What attracted you to Kalani’s values?

I love Kalani! The values we share make perfect sense. We’re talking about products that are luxurious, stylish and comfortable, but at the same time responsible, affordable and ethical.

5. What do you like about working with us?

This is a totally Belgian collaboration that aims to offer quality products while doing good for people and the planet.
The candles make every moment more qualitative and warmer. The Kalani bed linen makes every night more pleasant. Two products that feel good and bring a little softness.
And Bruno and I have already shared a few sales events together, such as the Belgian Christmas markets. We get on well, we fight for the same causes, and we wanted to work towards the same goals. So we’ve got a lot in common, which makes working together all the more enjoyable!

So now you know a little more about this simple encounter. Beautiful projects that take on a new meaning by joining forces. That’s what we like to share at Kalani! We opted for the candles with the sweet scent of Cotton Flower, but there are other scents on the Terrae website, which we invite you to discover here.