Rising star: Leigh Hawson
We asked, they answered. Get to know Colourful Living, a Proudly South African women’s active and leisurewear brand.
Read more to get to know the brand better:
- Tell us more about yourself…
Just your typical Unicorn. 😉 Born and bred in Cape Town, married, no kiddies. 45 years experienced. I’ve been blessed with a very supportive loving family. I have a zest for life and that’s mostly due to my belief in limitless potential.
Being in water is my happy place. I love learning especially when it comes to energy, manifestation and the creative spirit.
Most importantly, I believe in Ubuntu. We all have the ability to love, to show kindness and respect, to manifest the life we dream of. If we consistently connected to this energy, we could all play a role in healing our world.
- Why did you decide to start your own business?
Purpose. I’ve always felt as though there was something more for me and it finally materialised when I found Acrylic pouring. One moment I was searching for something to hang on my walls and the next moment I was painting up a storm in my garage. It literally came out of nowhere.
It was such a profound experience that sparked so many ideas and insights that I really couldn’t keep them to myself lol. I had to find a way, that was relatable, to share my new learnings of upliftment, magic, and energy.
- When and how did your business start?
This is another miracle. Early last year, I had an opportunity to sell my leggings through GymNerd. At the same time I met Zoe Brown who wanted to collaborate with me. She’s used 2 of my designs for her sports bra’s. After a few months, I took the leap and launched my own Website. So, I’ve now been swimming solo for 3 months.
- What services or products do you offer?
I sell art-inspired Yoga leggings. The artwork on my leggings all originates from my Acrylic pouring paintings.
- How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
There aren’t too many Acrylic artists using their artwork as designs for leggings, HOWEVER, the Athleisure wear industry is incredibly competitive. This is why it’s so important that my purpose and message is clear.
My brand is built around my heart. I classify myself as a heart-centred solopreneur. My intention is to uplift my customers by leveraging directly off colour. All colours have both healing and uplifting connotations. Colour can influence both mood and behaviour. If we feel differently, we behave differently. We need to shift our perspective in order to introduce change in ourselves and our environment.
Each legging design has her own personality, her own story and purpose. And even if there only a slim chance of someone feeling more inspired more connected more colourful, then I’ve achieved my goals.
My brand is not about ME it’s about US.
- How does your business look different now vs. when you first started?
It’s still in its infancy, so, not a lot has changed over the last 4 months. But I have expanded. I’m now also selling digital prints of my artwork AND I’m prototyping a brand-new product…so we shall see. 😊
- What strategies did you first use to market your business?
I was blessed when I first started. As mentioned, I collaborated with GymNerd and Zoe Brown. That gave me some street cred which you really need when launching a brand.
A brand is forever evolving. It’s a living entity. You need to ensure that you’re keeping very close to it as people change, the environment changes so you need to keep testing, exploring and more than anything, keep moving.
- What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
You’re flying solo and THAT can be lonely and exhausting. You’re the CEO, Marketing strategist, Finance manager, Product designer and developer, Social media manager, Videographer, Stock manager etc etc. And when you haven’t had any experience in ANY of the above – it’s more than daunting.
I sometimes find myself bawling my eyes out! Questioning EVERYTHING, but then I pull myself together, sit quietly at my desk and focus on the end goal.
- What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?
You get to build something from scratch! That’s empowering! You get to set the tone, purpose, and vision.
You get to decide what you stand for. You get to decide who you work with. You are able to create something that completely aligns with who YOU are. That’s what I was missing in my life. Working towards your own dream enriches your life.
- What qualities do you think every entrepreneur should possess?
Well, how long do you have lol. PATIENCE is a big one. Faith, trust – trusting yourself and the process. Grit and resilience and a whack load of determination with a side-order of believing in your capabilities. Even when you don’t know what the heck you’re doing, have a laugh, have a cry maybe even a glass of wine and keep moving, even if it’s just one tiny thing you do in that day, it’s a step forward.
CELEBRATE EVERYTHING. Like EVERYTHING. You get a sign-up, celebrate. You get a good review, celebrate. You make a sale, celebrate. You figure out how to sharpen an image, celebrate. Whatever wins you have, celebrate them. Why? Well, because good energy attracts more good energy.
- What have been some of your biggest learning experiences in running a business?
You start building a business you need to be prepared to start a personal development journey too.
In my opinion, the 2 go hand in hand, and here’s why.
We all find ourselves being triggered, at some point, for various reasons. When you’re building something from scratch, you feel vulnerable and therefore numerous situations and thoughts can trigger you. “What happens if I don’t make sales?” “What makes me think I can do this?” “Am I really any good at what I’m doing?” IMPOSTER SYNDROME. Blergh. It’s terrible, but it’s real, and you need to make peace with it. You need to accept it for what it is and let it go.
My suggestion is you find yourself a coach. I work with a Mindfulness coach and it’s so unbelievably helpful.
- What do you wish you could have done differently?
Honestly, not much. I could say I wish I had the knowledge that I needed upfront. I’ve wasted a lot of resources – my time, energy and money but that’s part of the learning curve. I don’t know what I don’t know. It’s as simple as that. This is yet ANOTHER thing I’ve needed to make peace with lol.
- What do you look for when outsourcing or hiring?
First and foremost, I need to know that the people I do business with are ethical. I need to ensure that they take care of their employees. I need to determine, to the best of my ability, that my vendors have integrity, that they are fair and respectful.
Quality is critical to the success of my business. I stress test my apparel for weeks, so I need to consistently engage with my vendors. They all have patience of saints lol.
It’s so important that as you’re building your empire, you’re creating solid relationships with those around you. If I can’t have open and honest conversations with you, then we probably shouldn’t be doing business together.
- What will you never compromise on with your business?
Quality, customer service and experience, transparency and most importantly any of my values. I believe that the foundation of my business needs to be aligned to who I am – Colourful. Caring, kind, compassionate, honest, light-hearted, playful, and fun-loving.
The idea of Capitalism makes me cringe. I’m attempting to build a collaborative business built of the premise that there IS enough to go around but only IF we allow the resources flow freely. To me, that means, receiving and giving back. It’s a cycle, just like the cycle in nature. Maybe that’s a bit naïve, but the world needs to change and that change has to start with us, every single individual needs to make that choice.
With that in mind – I’m finding that it’s taking longer to build my Colourful empire as I’m not pushing my product down people’s throats. My intention is to make Colourful Living a lifestyle. A way of being.
- How did you raise funding or financially prepare for your business?
A loan and my day job. 😊 I build my business by torch-light (literally) in the evenings and over weekends and if I’m really lucky, and I have a lunch hour – I squeeze some Colourful Living work in.
- How do you plan financially for your business’s future?
I’m very mindful of my cash-flow. I need to ensure that I have the cash available to build my business What I do now impacts what happens in the future.
I actually have new leggings to launch but if I rush, I’ll be putting myself in a precarious position which I don’t need. Stress is not conducive to creativity.
- How do you define success and how long did it take you to find it?
Bouncing out of bed in the morning knowing that what I’m doing is contributing to an uplifted, more compassionate, and kind world. Yes, I have big dreams and huge intentions.
When I get feedback on how comfy, bright, and colourful my leggings are and that my customers so enjoy wearing them – I feel my heart smile. That’s what keeps me going, and let’s be honest, I’m just getting started.
In my opinion, if you ever feel that you’ve reached an end goal, you’re not doing it right. A business is energy that’s constantly shifting and growing so it’s essential that you keep that energy operating at a high frequency and you do that by moving forward with gratitude.
Don’t get me wrong here. My dream is to move away from my day job and scale my business. Build a Colourful team, take on more vendors, extend my offerings and really feel that I’m improving the state of our economy. Uplifting lives, empowering people and having loads of fun doing it. You gotta have fun!
- What are you working on now?
As much as I would love to share that info, I can’t. I’m currently in the testing phase. 😊
- Where do you see your business in five years? Ten?
My intention is to diversify. Radically.
You can apply a design to anything i.e., home and garden decor, beauty products, shoes, and clothing (including Haute Couture). Limitless potential on where my business can go.
I would love to eventually hire other artists who can assist in expanding my design catalogue.
Perfect scenario – I have stores, all over the globe, selling beautiful pieces of functional art. Uplifting, fun, colourful pieces that elicit a sense of well-being. Now that’s magic!
- How have you grown personally from becoming an entrepreneur?
As an Entrepreneur you never know what’s around the corner. You may think that things are humming beautifully but 2 minutes later your manufacturer calls you because you have a tear going straight through your entire fabric roll.
Then you get a notification that your emailers aren’t reaching your subscribers. At the same time that’s all happening, you figure out that there’s a problem with your hosting provider and Facebook has mistakenly blocked one of your Ads…I’ve literally experienced this.
Resilience, grit, determination and above all TRUST. Trust that everything will work out for the best. Trust that the universe wants you to succeed. Trust in your own abilities.
My personal development journey is never-ending. I come close to thinking – I’ve mastered THIS and then…TikTok is telling me I’m using copyrighted music when all I ever use is royalty free music. Ahhhh. Lol.
I’ve got to have my own back and I have to believe the decisions I make are the right ones…even if later they tank.
For a time, it’s totally not okay, BUT I have to pick myself up and move, even if, at first, I’m crawling.
- What inspires and motivates you?
The news. SA news, International news – doesn’t matter where you live there’s toxicity, fear, and pain EVERYWHERE.
That motivates me. “Get out of bed Leigh and make the world a better place!! No pressure.” Let’s make people feel better about themselves. Bring some light, magic, and love into their lives.
- How do you deal with fear and doubt?
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that fear is on this journey with me. There’s no point in fighting, as what you resist, persists.
So, I have an agreement with fear. She’s more than welcome on this new adventure but the rules are, she can’t drive the car or play with the radio or moan about aircon. She’s just there for the ride.
Ultimately, fear is exists to protect us and we need to respect that. However – if we let her drive the car we’ll never get to experience what we’re truly intended for. We are ALL worthy of living exceptional lives. WINNING!
- What are some of your daily habits and routines?
I’m an early bird. Rise and shine around 5:30. Then it’s meditation time. After that I hop into the shower, get dressed, gobble up my vitamins and get my coffee on.
I generally analyse my data, from the previous day as soon as I get to my desk. Then it’s day job time! I work in the FinTech industry. I’m the Head of Customer Experience. 😊
After work, I focus on Colourful Living. Content strategy, product design and marketing and all the other bits I need to address.
Then it’s supper and hubby time! An hour of Netflix and off to bed I go. Read a couple of pages of something soothing, deep breaths and let the melatonin do its thing.
I’m not doing as much exercise as I should. Yeesh. I’m trying to rectify this. Need to get back into my Yoga routine and go Surfing.
- What advice would you give to someone just starting their own business?
In other words, what advice would I give myself lol. Be kind to yourself. Be patient. Always put yourself BEFORE your business. When you’re not in a good space, that’ll reflect in everything you do.
Laugh! Laughter lightens the load. Building something from scratch is intense and you’ve got to find a way to see those challenging moments as lessons, and if you can, find the funny side. I literally face-palm myself weekly and that makes me laugh!
Purpose…wow…without my purpose I would’ve thrown in the towel. On those really horrid days when my sense of humour has taken a holiday, I take a step back and think of the bigger picture, my vision and intention.
- What is your life’s motto?
If you can be anything, be kind.
