Founded by Dom Bridges, Haeckels is a natural skincare and wild fragrance company that sources seaweed from the coast of Margate, a town in southeast England, to create beautiful, sustainable and natural products.
“Seaweed hydrates; it’s rich with valuable vitamins, minerals and amino acids; it’s anti-bacterial, skin rebuilding and anti-inflammatory; it’s all-natural, and all around us,” said Haeckels.
With the aim to create handcrafted products made from the surrounding coast’s natural ingredients, Bridges began the humble origin of Haeckels in 2012 by collecting seaweed and local botanicals and bringing them back to his kitchen to experiment. A year after, Bridges acquired a lab where product formulas were developed.
Creating soap as Haeckels’ first product, offering expanded to include cream, eye contour, hair conditioner, perfume, candles and more.
“You have to begin somewhere and soap was a good place to start — the range grew very organically from there. Everything was made with function and from a real need for a solution to a particular problem,” said Bridges.
Since its founding, Haeckels has grown considerably yet retains a connection with the local community by organizing beach cleans and taking part in marine conservation surveys. Most importantly, the emphasis on sustainability has been unchanged.
“Sustainability has always been part of Haeckels’ philosophy and, as we’ve developed as a brand, it has only become more and more entwined with what we do; as we branch out into new territories, we strive to implement the same care we have in our home town of Margate, and raise the same awareness about the fragility and value of the ocean,” said Haeckels.
“We are at a pivotal point in history where it’s make or break for our planet. We need to be doing better for our species’ and our planet’s future,” added Bridges.
“I am definitely driven by watching the mistakes made by other brands and wanting to do better. Many create without purpose or function; their focus is on profit through the sale of products with enticing, non-recyclable packaging and poor, ineffective formulations. This has to stop.”
As for the future, Haeckels aims to expand abroad.
“We want Haeckels in seaside locations all over the world, building jobs and futures for communities, creating unique products using indigenous resources and showcasing the brilliance of our planet and the ocean without harming it.”
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