About

Seaside Squirrel is run by Lauren, a craft-maker based on the Seven Heads Peninsula in West Cork. She produces earth-friendly garments that are designed for durability, herbal skincare made from plants grown and ingredients produced locally, and accessories made from natural or recycled materials.

A catalyst for change

Seaside Squirrel’s vision is to enable a shift from a culture of consumption to a circular economy mindset. Rooted in sustainability, all the products are made using a holistic approach, and the sourcing of materials is always carefully considered.

Having trained as a permaculture designer and a horticulturist, Lauren’s deep respect for nature and the environment shines through in all her creations. She grows and nurtures a little herb garden to ensure that the ingredients she uses for her skincare products are of the best possible quality. The plants are cultivated using organic methods, and the little tins are made in small batches and prepared using time-honoured methods: the herbs are harvested by hand, dried in baskets, and left to infuse in oils at a sunny windowsill. The infusions are then combined with beeswax to create a completely natural and rich mixture that hydrates and beautifies the skin.

Quality over quantity

Lauren prides herself in designing high quality products. In her pursuit for sustainability, she chooses to support the local economy and Irish retailers in all the processes of her venture. All the products are created and packaged with sustainability in mind: organic cotton and bamboo fabrics are used for the sewn garments, cotton yarn for the crochet accessories, natural fibres and recycled papers for the packaging and stationery - materials that are gentle on the environment and will decompose easily.

'One man’s trash is another man’s treasure'

Lauren also seeks to find materials considered to be at their end-of-life cycle: remnants of the fashion industry, textiles recycled from plastic bottles and yarn found in thrift stores are used for one-of-a-kind articles, unused packaging is reused for shipping… even ocean waste is repurposed by Lauren, who combines her love for needlecraft with driftwood, seashell or glass found on her local beach to create truly unique and quirky home décor and jewellery pieces.

Thank you for supporting small Irish businesses!

When you purchase from Seaside Squirrel, you are not only supporting a small Irish business. You are supporting all of the small Irish businesses that have provided the materials that make the Seaside Squirrel products come together. 

 

About Lauren

I was born in France and have been living in Ireland since 2000. I live in Lislevane with my partner Mick, our dog Pincho, and Kimmy the cat. We also have five hens who give us plenty of eggs and cuddles.

I’m a qualified horticulturist with a particular interest in sustainable, organic practices. Studying and working in the horticulture sector has enabled me to deepen my knowledge in the native flora of Ireland, and to learn about its many benefits. 

My purpose in life is to make the world a better place, to improve the state of the environment and have a positive impact on people’s lives. Because I feel deep respect and connection with nature, I started this venture as I am concerned about the way the world and its environment are changing. I began my journey by educating myself on sustainable development, the greening of the economy and by organising and attending demonstrations demanding action on climate change.

In a quest to find positive solutions to the environmental problem, I went on to study permaculture design in 2015. In doing so, I realised the interconnectedness of everything in nature and started applying this thinking in my daily life. I began making herbal ointments because I wanted to use products that are kind to nature on my skin. Creating is second nature to me, so I started experimenting with other mediums in every parts of my life, like using my crochet and jewellery skills to make pieces from repurposed materials.

During the 2020 summer lockdown, I began sewing face masks because I could predict that the disposable ones would inevitably end up in the ocean and in landfill. Since then I have continued to expand my product range to enable people to switch to sustainable alternatives in their daily lives.