Āe Botanicals: Northland wahine aims to boost local economy with launch of vegan skincare brand

Grace Falwasser, the Founder of Āe Botanicals, is ready to take on the world with her uniquely crafted vegan skincare products. In partnership with the brand creator and her business mentor and Co-founder, Suzanne Hall MNZM, Grace is preparing for an international debut that’s rooted in indigenous wisdom and sustainability.

At 40 years old, Grace Falwasser – a wahine Māori – combines her deep passion for sustainable beauty with her father’s indigenous knowledge to create skincare solutions that are as healing as they are eco-friendly. Āe Botanicals offers a diverse range of vegan body care products, targeting everything from hydration to anti-aging and detoxification. With their first products launching in September, Grace is excited and admittedly a bit nervous about sharing her “bottle of love” with the world.

Every aspect of Āe Botanicals embodies Grace’s dedication to sustainability and excellence. The brand proudly carries the Fernmark, a prestigious symbol of trust and authenticity for products made in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Additionally, Āe Botanicals produced in their Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, ensure that their products meet the highest industry standards in every step of the process.

Incredibly, within just a few months of launching, Āe Botanicals products will be displayed internationally. Grace and Suzanne will be part of a NZ delegation, now moved to February 2025 to present to 100 buyers at Paris Fashion Week and 200 buyers at London Fashion Week. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel super anxious,” Grace says. “There’s so much happening at once, but every step is a learning experience.”

Grace’s entrepreneur journey began by creating holistic herbal community groups and making oil blends in her garage.

Putting her herbalist knowledge to use, with the help of YouTube, she created a few formulations that steered her in a direction of skin care.

Grace knew she was creating something very special when her first oil blend helped heal her friend’s skin issues.

“I have a good friend who has really bad dermatitis, her hands were fiery red most of the time. She tried different medicines and products and funny enough, she tried it for the first time and her dermatitis has cleared up. Originally, I’ve never made it for that – it was actually a body lotion and the first ever product I developed.”

Motivated by a desire to help others, this gave Grace the strength to carry on and with Suzanne to formulate and co-design, she developed Āe Botanicals into a business. “I wanted to share wellbeing, beauty and confidence in a different way, and for me it comes as love in a bottle.”

The power of mentorship

For Grace, this whirlwind journey wouldn’t have been possible without the experience and guidance of her mentor, Suzanne Hall MNZM. As a first-time entrepreneur, Grace has been absorbing invaluable lessons in strategy from Suzanne, who has more than 40 years’ of experience in the natural skincare industry.

Suzanne is no stranger to success. In 1987, she founded Living Nature, a natural skincare brand that was a world first to create skincare from New Zealand’s native plants and manuka honey. Her products, renowned for their healing properties, have been exported to 14 countries and have won numerous international awards. Suzanne’s journey inspired Grace to believe in herself and that she could do the same.

“Suzanne has been an incredible mentor,” Grace shares. “Without her, I wouldn’t have the deep understanding of the business side, the precision in formulations, or the beautiful packaging design that truly reflects our brand.”

Suzanne, who now mentors a dozen entrepreneurs, believes that the key to success lies in asking for help when you need it. “A mistake many new business owners make is pretending they know it all,” she explains. “When you’re vulnerable enough to say, ‘I don’t know how to do this, can you help?’ you open the door to receiving advice and support from experienced people who are eager to assist. If you hide that vulnerability, you miss out on so many wonderful treasures.”

Grace has embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly. She feels empowered by the support of her mentor and values the collaborative effort that’s gone into building Āe Botanicals. “It makes all the difference not to ride the business wave alone,” she says. “Reach out for help when you need it, and don’t be a know-it-all because, honestly, none of us know it all.”

Despite being new to the business world, Grace approaches every challenge with confidence. Her passion for natural skincare radiates through her work, and she draws inspiration from the confidence her products bring to others. “Confidence is something I draw from within,” she says. “I allow it to flow naturally, and I want everyone who uses our products to feel that same sense of empowerment and joy.”

Brand rooted in sustainability

Many brands claim to be sustainable, but few truly commit to sustainable practices. Āe Botanicals is one of the rare exceptions that genuinely walks the talk, ensuring its packaging is both recyclable and refillable. In addition, as many ingredients as possible are sourced locally, significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

The packaging, designed by Grace and Suzanne, draws inspiration from the green hues of heart chakra and pounamu. Grace says that pounamu represents a deep connection to the land and the ancestors, embodying Āe Botanicals’ philosophy of nurturing both people and the planet. This respect for Māori culture is also reflected in the brand’s use of Te Reo Māori for all the names in its skincare range, with each name thoughtfully chosen to represent the essence and purpose of the product. These names, such as “Aroha” (love) and “Manaaki” (care), celebrate indigenous language while enhancing the meaning behind each skincare item.

The brand’s dedication to sustainability continues in the packaging choices: “Our bottles are designed to be reusable, while the products are also available in eco-friendly refills made from sustainable sugar cane,” says Grace. Priced at $10 less than the glass bottles, these refill bottles provide an accessible, cost-effective option for customers who wish to reduce their environmental footprint without compromising on quality.

Āe Botanicals’ vegan skincare products are a unique blend of wild-harvested herbs and natural ingredients.

By working hand-in-hand with local whānau they not only produce high-quality materials but also actively contribute to the well-being and economic development of local Northland communities.

“Sustainability and regenerative practices are increasingly becoming priorities for consumers globally, especially when it comes to supporting indigenous brands. This is more than just a sales pitch; it’s a value proposition that resonates with people who care about the planet,” Suzanne explains. “Our practices reflect that, and it’s a strong sales benefit.”

With over 80 different plant species thriving on their land, including calendula, kawakawa, and liquorice, Suzanne has taken it a step further by planting over 4,000 black mamaku spores. These ferns, which are integral to New Zealand’s botanical heritage, take a full year to grow just 10 millimetres. It’s a long-term investment in both the environment and the economy of Northland’s Māori population.

The crops are planted and growing in Kaikohe, at the Ngawha Innovation & Enterprise Park, which is the home of Suzanne’s natural product cluster with her GMP-certified laboratories and latest equipment producing skincare, rongoā and health products.

“This project is about more than just growing crops,” Suzanne says. “It’s about fostering economic growth in Northland by cultivating plants that we currently import. Organically grown crops from New Zealand, particularly from Northland, hold a premium value compared to those harvested abroad.”

Suzanne says that it’s this regenerative approach that truly sets Āe Botanicals apart.

As Āe Botanicals continues to flourish, they are bringing local micro-businesses along with them. Suzanne and Grace are dedicated to helping local families and entrepreneurs succeed. Their mission is to create a collective success story, where the benefits of their efforts extend beyond their own brand and into the community.

“We’re bringing Northland to the world through our supplies and ingredients,” Suzanne adds.

“By supporting small, local businesses, we’re choosing to uplift our communities rather than contribute to the profits of global corporations. It’s a philosophy we believe in deeply.”

As Āe Botanicals prepares to enter the global market, Grace and Suzanne remain committed to their mission of spreading goodness around the world – one beautifully crafted, sustainable product at a time.