As interviewed by Iris & Wool

Who is Jessica Bragdon?

I’m mother to two boys, Emerson and Arthur, partner of Paul Davidson, sister to twin Dee and brother Colin, daughter, entrepreneur and co-founder (with Paul) of Koala Eco, a company making non-toxic, cruelty-free plant-based products for a clean home, body and mind, using pure essential oils from Australian native botanicals.

What led you to launch Koala Eco?

Paul and I have both been nature-lovers since childhood, keen to live as healthily as possible without harming the planet. When we got together and set up home, we wanted to use natural remedies and solutions for housecleaning and laundry. Once we’d started our family, this desire for safe and natural household products intensified, especially when as a five-week-old baby Arthur was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. It wasn’t down to anything other than bad luck, but I don’t think anything can prepare you for hearing your child has cancer. Thankfully, due to fantastic treatment from the doctors and nurses, Arthur fully recovered, but our resolve to live as healthily and as close to nature as possible really intensified.

We wanted to use only non-toxic products. Since we couldn’t find what we wanted on supermarket shelves, we thought, why don't we start a company to make our own?

Koala Eco is an enormously successful brand. What do you believe is the foundation of your success?

We’ve put a lot of hard work into making sure our products are fully researched and tested so they’re the best they can be. Everything is vegan, biodegradable grey-water safe, and nothing is tested on animals. Our products don’t contain any synthetic fragrance, dyes, phosphates, SLS, masking agents, and everything is certified allergy safe. We don't bring anything to market until we are completely satisfied and then we put a lot of effort into explaining the physical and mental health benefits of using products like ours, which not only banish 99.99% of germs but also release the therapeutic properties of essential oils: like mandarin, the ‘happy’ oil, or soothing rosalina, or refreshing peppermint.

What’s been the most challenging time in your business journey?

I always think of what Nelson Mandela said—‘courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it’—and he would have known! Running a business is essentially dealing with challenge after challenge. Koala Eco operates out of two countries: Australia is the HQ, and we now make and market products in the United States as well, plus we are stocked in many more places across the world. So juggling all of those demands, plus parenting our sons means we are busy 24/7 and have to remember to maintain balance. What I will say is that nothing was harder than the time of Arthur’s illness, so everything since then—which includes setting up and running the business—has seemed more manageable by comparison.

What’s been the most inspiring?

Definitely the relationships we have made in our business journey, from the incredible team we have, the local retailers who believed in our products from the get-go and agreed to stock them, to building up an international community of customers who love and champion our products. The other thing that’s been so precious to us is the partnerships we’ve made in supporting causes close to our heart and to Koala Eco’s purpose of bringing more nature into people’s everyday lives. Initiatives like The Ocean Society’s Critter Scholars Program, and the People and Parks Foundation’s #NaturePact program. For every product sold we also give a donation to One Percent for the Planet, and that goes towards supporting environmental and conservation initiatives all over the world.

What’s your go-to-look for a working day?

It’s pretty casual. I love fashion that is eco-friendly and fair trade: clothing that feels beautiful from an ethics perspective as well as an aesthetic one. I’m drawn to timeless classic sophisticated cuts: the opposite of mass-produced and trendy. I love clothes in natural fabrics that feel really good and are easy to move in, separates that have clean lines and can be versatile enough for me to do a quick change into running gear. I find pieces from Iris & Wool are perfect for both office and leisure!

If you could give one piece of advice to business owners out there, what would it be?

Simply: if you want it to work you need to be all in. No compromises, no short-cuts! So be sure this is really what you want.

What’s the dream for the future for Koala Eco & Jessica Bragdon?

More fabulous products in the Koala Eco range, and the chance to spread our More Nature, Feel Better message further. This particularly applies to the work I’d like to see us do in the mental health field, supporting initiatives that encourage people to deepen their connection with nature for the sake of their wellbeing. I hold a Master’s in Social psychology, so I’m really keen for us to expand this aspect of our work.

Quick fire questions:

What are you currently reading?

Let my people go surfing by the founder of One Percent for the Planet Yvon Chouinard; psychology books like The emotional lives of teenagers: raising connected, capable and compassionate adolescents by Lisa Damour, Dare to Lead by Brene Brown; and The New York Times, every day!

What are you binging on TV?

Fleabag. Searing, heartbreaking, witty, emotionally intelligent, I love it.

What Podcasts are in your ears?

How I built this by Guy Raz and Work Life by Adam Grant.

Favourite flowers?

Queen Anne’s Lace. It reminds me of my New England childhood.

Favourite scent?

Rosalina and Peppermint are two essential oils we use frequently in our products. Rosalina, also known as bush lavender, is soothing and sensual.

Favourite fashion brands?

Yves St Laurent, sustainable brands like Iris & Wool, Art Club by Heidi Middleton, Alemais.

First Fashion Moment?

Wearing a beret to school when I was in kindergarten and refusing to wear a dress!

Fave piece from our AW24 collection?

The Nerida Sweater is classic and beautiful. It makes me want to take a winter holiday. I love warm and soft Merino wool and the half-zip details that can be left undone.