In this exclusive extract from Pippa Hallas' debut book Bold Moves, Kit Willow discusses what it was like to lose her namesake label and start again. She launched sustainable brand KitX in 2015.
That fear, your fear, don’t let it stop you from your actions and acting on your beliefs.
You have got to be crazy and a little bit mad when making bold decisions; it takes serious amounts of passion and inner strength. When you believe, and believe strongly, you lose the fear and then the passion begins to drive you forward.
I have never sat down and tried to work myself out, but I know I made decisions and was prepared to own them every step of the way. When I look back at my 23-year-old self I wonder ‘why lingerie?’
I had no experience and it’s the hardest category to develop, so for me that was bold. Stepping up and saying yes to doing a show in London on a shoestring budget with absolutely no money and not even shoes—cue: I had to beg, borrow and steal from my friends in London—was also bold.
Leaping at the opportunities that were presented to me although not knowing how I was going to deliver is where I found my growth. I had an ignorance that, with time, grew into confidence.
When I started Willow I was very young, and I had a lot of incredible people around me on the journey. But then, towards the end, I went into partnership with new business partners and our values were misaligned. I lost my innocence through that experience.
The values of the people around you, on every level—from suppliers to business partners, to friends—are important. Being able to align yourself with people with like- minded values is front and foremost and the best way to build a business, build a tribe and live your life.
After losing Willow, there was a huge shift for me, and it really forced me to be confident in my own skin and believe in what I was saying. I had to really learn to stand up and become assertive. Like I said earlier, once you have the belief you lose the fear and the only way becomes forward.
In my later years, after splitting with my husband and starting KitX, I had to make very hard and tough decisions, but I had to trust the journey and everything that I had worked for thus far—and when that all-too-familiar feeling of overwhelm creeps in I remind myself ‘this will pass’.
There’s a quote I love and I remind myself of it often: ‘sometimes when I’m waiting for the whenever, I just wait and the whenever comes to me’. For me this rings true to how I practise life.
I allow myself to let go and trust good karma, and of course work hard. Finding the balance can feel like a constant battle, but I like to think it’s a part of our journey.
There are always so many people to be thankful for, backing you and allowing you to be free and creative—to me they’re angels.
The more I learn about the planet, climate change and the impact we are having on it, the more I want to share. I have spent time with leading scientist Tim Flannery from Climate Council.
He has talked me through climate change, backed by scientific information. It’s mind blowing but I am hoping that I will be able to share it using a wider audience and creating a positive change.
The fire burning in my belly revolves around our planet and I have shifted my focus to new opportunities and materials coupled with strong design, hoping to make an impact the best way I know how.
To keep myself grounded I make sure I connect myself with the earth every day and I do yoga once a week. My children also keep me level. Spending time with them indulging in their conversations is my sanctuary and as long as they’re healthy and happy then the rest will work. It’s funny how much children just put your whole life into perspective.
When it all feels too much? I re-draw my thoughts and think about great things I have read; for instance, artist Georgia O’Keeffe once remarked ‘Every day ... Every day ... Fear stricken every single day’ and you know what? She doesn’t let it stop her from doing what she does. As the age-old saying goes, diamonds are only formed in the harshest of conditions.
BOLD MOVES is available at Dymocks, Booktopia, David Jones, Ella Baché salons nationwide and online from April 1.