Meet the co-founders Vaughan and Unwin
We are Stephanie Vaughan and Sarah Unwin, co-founders of Vaughan and Unwin, a British brand of tote and travel bags made from 100% Organic Turkish Cotton.
We are two frequent travellers who met while working in the film industry. We both love Turkey and its beautiful nature, and wanted to create travel bags that are a joy to use both when away and at home - and that reflect Turkey’s nature.
Our vision is to create beautiful yet minimalistic organic cotton bags for travel and everyday life, evolved from our personal experiences: an upbringing on an organic farm (Sarah’s) and a personal connection to Turkey (Stephanie's).
What was your experience prior to launching Vaughan & Unwin?
We had minimal business experience but we wanted to have something of our own, that we really believed in. We make a great team at work, in the movie industry, and we loved the idea of working creatively together outside of our full time jobs.
We had sustainability and high ethical standards already, so it was natural to have these standards as a business, and when we started the business we knew we wanted to give back to the country which allows us to make our exceptional bags, so we researched and chose TEMA Foundation (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats). We launched Vaughan & Unwin in London, in 2019.
What’s the ethos and mission behind Vaughan & Unwin?
Our mission is to create beautiful and functional pieces that are also sustainable and give back to the local community. We want to help protect the planet, which is why we partnered with TEMA Foundation as part of our ‘Buy One - Plant One’ promise. We donate a sapling on behalf of customers for each bag purchased, and have created a Hope Forest in Edirne, Turkey. We’re very proud of that.
When founding Vaughan & Unwin it was essential that we created 100% organic bags to ensure the land is respected for future generations, and both the workers and their communities are protected
We also want to protect the welfare of the workers and their communities, throughout every stage of production. We also fight against over consumption, encouraging conscious gift giving instead, whether you are treating yourself or a loved one.
There’s always a lightbulb moment before the beginning of a new venture. What was that moment for you?
Steph's boyfriend is Turkish and we both went to Istanbul for the Easter break. After a full day of exploring the Turkish culture, we were chatting over a meze dinner about how we wanted to bring a piece of Turkey home. Whilst packing to leave, the idea struck us!
What inspired you to launch your business and what is the end goal?
Our end goal is to encourage conscious consumption, protect the planet and communities, and showcase the beauty of Turkey’s nature through our capsule collection. We want our products to be loved, and practical for travel and everyday life, to be used endlessly. They are also sent in a recyclable box featuring a beautiful print of our cotton plant design.
How do you set yourself apart from other brands in your industry?
Our products are all hand designed and individually made. All our totes and travel bags are made of 100% Organic Cotton from Turkey, and we plant a sapling every time someone purchases one on our website. This combined with our sustainable packaging, we try to make everything as sustainable as possible! These are also beautiful items for travel or the home, so to think it also contributes to protecting the planet is a really nice bonus.
What plans do you have for the brand over the next two years?
We would like to expand our range and include further products such as washbags and large shopper bags. We will be sharing as soon as this gets developed! But it will keep in with our sustainable and ethical standards, and always give back.
Does your company help communities, and how?
Our bags are all GOTS (Organic certified), which protects the environment as well as the welfare of the workers and their communities throughout every stage of production. The Edirne forest is also growing. It was important to us to help with reforestation in the country that we owe so much to.
What advice would you give to consumers to place more pressure on their favourite brands to choose sustainability?
Our advice would be to be vocal in any way you can: whether with your wallet by choosing brands that match your values, calling out the brands that use greenwashing as marketing techniques, signing petitions… Every little counts.
It can be overwhelming to get started with sustainable living, but take it as going one step at a time. You can start with your purchasing choices, then look into ways you can communicate even more directly with brands. Social media is of course a great tool to make your feelings clear, or ask questions.
Why do you think now is the right time for the world to invest in sustainability and make ethical shopping the norm?
It is great that ethical shopping is becoming more the norm. and we think brands such as ours make it more accessible to the world to invest in sustainable products, whilst not compromising on aesthetics and high quality.
People are starting to realise the time for change is now, and by being transparent about what change we are contributing to, we can only encourage consumers to choose brands with strong sustainable and ethical values.
Finally, do you practice self-care as an entrepreneur, and how?
Life is a race, and we barely have time to keep a healthy routine, but we like the thought of having time to ourselves! That can manifest in popping in a hair mask or indulging in a weekend brunch, whatever feels right in the moment. Self care is important to be able to keep going!
