A conversation with Beckielou Brown and Bridget Plant
Years ago, a chance encounter in London led me to Beckielou Brown, and from the moment we connected, her gentle and luminous energy was instantly felt. Pure, genuine and kind, Beckielou is a rare soul. Her bohemian upbringing and distinct way of being, untethered from the predictable and conventional, have forever been a source of inspiration.
When she unveiled her brand of genderless perfumes, Altra, several months back, the joy of seeing her work of many years finally revealed to the world was boundless. Co-founded alongside lifelong friend Bridget Plant, Altra is a visionary statement of the future.
Beckielou Brown and Bridget Plant
Conceived as distinct collections of genderless scents, Altra is an ode to friendship, to transparency, and to a deep-rooted reverence for Nature. While the brand strives to minimise its environmental impact, it honestly and openly accepts that “as an organisation that manufactures consumer products, it's impossible to be truly sustainable.” Instead, Altra seeks to be responsible - an approach that in itself speaks volumes of its founders and their commitment to their values.
In this way, Altra is more than just about perfume. It is the assertion that another - a better way is possible when we make choices that are guided by honesty. Acknowledging that sustainability and consumption are contradictory concepts is the first step in shaping a way of doing business that is not driven by the bottom line alone.
Altra uncovers a new take on naturals, using pure plant ingredients to evoke an otherworldly feel while remaining committed to its ‘no synthetics’ vision. In reflection of its futuristic creativity, Beckielou and Bridget have worked with digital artist George Jasper Stone to create immersive environments for each scent.
Since launching, Altra has attracted the attention of like-minded retailers across the world, with the likes of Just One Eye in Los Angeles and Universal Providers in London stocking the brand. Inspired, we posed Beckielou and Bridget ten questions drawn from the Proust Questionnaire - a questionnaire that has its origins in a parlour game that had been popularised by French essayist Marcel Proust, designed to reveal the player’s true nature.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Bridget Plant (BP): A still mind, my favourite people, sunshine.
Beckielou Brown (BB): A house full of friends, family, beautiful food, music and laughter.
What is your current state of mind?
(BP): Constant questioning, a whirlwind of activity.
(BB): Truly grateful. This year I got to launch my perfume brand Altra, with my best friend Bridget. Nearly 5 years of dreaming, brainstorming, scent creation, experimentation, creative growth and a LOT of hard work and tough lessons, each one of which I'm extremely grateful for. It feels great to be starting this new chapter with something tangible to share with people. It's not that things are any less hectic, but the joy of seeing how far we've come has energized me for the path ahead.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, who or what would she/he/it be and why?
(BP): Something still and all-seeing - an Oak tree perhaps?
(BB): A dog, endless enthusiasm and optimism is the energy I want to come back with!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
(BP): To be a calmer version of myself.
(BB): My habit of constantly buying books and only reading the first 30 pages. I have stacks of books all with a page turned in the same place.
What is your greatest regret?
(BP): No regrets
(BB): Not being more present.
What is your most treasured possession?
(BP): The amulets I wear around my neck.
(BB): My freedom.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
(BP): Kindness, strength and the ability to be decisive under pressure.
(BB): Generosity of spirit.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
(BP): Warmth, razor-like wit and the ability to laugh at oneself.
(BB): The same, for all humans.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
(BP): My children, my family.
(BB): Attracting amazing people into my life.
What is your motto?
(BP): To go above and beyond (our family’s motto).
(BB): Everything is unfolding exactly as it should - trust in the process.