Yael Alkalay, the creative force behind Red Flower, built her exquisite brand on the tradition of rituals she unearthed while traveling the world, “places where purification is experienced with an almost-religious perfection, where every element combines to cleanse the body and mind,” says Yael. We caught up with her over a cup of oolong tea in New York.
SH You founded Red Flower in 1999 before healing and spa rituals became mainstream. What motivated you to create the brand?
YA I wanted to share the beauty, power and resonance of the incredible wanderings and knowledge of science and nature [I had experienced] in my own family. I also wanted to communicate an essential shift in attitude and values in the beauty industry, making red flower the first luxury beauty brand to address inner, emotional beauty. My desire stemmed from both my treasured experience in Japan – as the creative director of Shiseido International and in the countryside of Japan discovering the natural and healing art of caring for the body.
SH What’s the connection between your product and spa?
YA I have always been inspired by places that create a sense of health and wellness for the mind and body, so it was only natural that Red Flower be involved in spa. Red Flower is centered on ritual, and taking time to experience beauty, health and wellness in every moment. To me, this is as much about health and wellbeing and a way of living life as it is about beauty.
SH. What’s behind the making of a product?
YA My mother, a pharmacist, and my grandfathers, one a farmer, the other a dermatologist, instilled my interest in natural ingredients. I learned from an early age about the use of flowers, herbs and oils in everything from the preparation of violet liquors and rose jams, to tinctures that brighten the eyes and warm the lips – giving me a real comfort, respect and deep knowledge of working with botanical extracts. We use cold pressing, steam distillation, onsite extraction, seasonal sourcing, small batch production, chelating and bonding to enhance potency and absorption, hand harvesting and hand milling. Each Red Flower product is created with an eye toward an absolutely transformative moment and long-term progressive impact.
SH How do you source your ingredients? And where?
YA Red Flower partners with local community and family-run businesses in New York City. We also source from farmers who practice wild-crafting and certified organic farming. All partners are fair trade, chemical-free environments. And all red flower products are blended without parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances or dyes, and enhanced with essential oils for their invigorating scents and beneficial properties.
SH You’re so deeply rooted to New York. How does your passion for this stressful city translate to such heavenly concoctions?
YA From the grass that grows in between the cracks in the sidewalk, there has always been a seed of life for me, from the ground up, in New York. It’s a place where my energy, creativity and lust for life can thrive. The openness and possibility and the cycle of renewal that makes New York City a vibrant community makes it feel like home.
