OUR STORY
A GAP IN THE MARKET
AN MUA's FRUSTRATION
in 2021, Our founder, Natalie R Vella was getting increasingly frustrated with her kit at the time, causing her a lot of pain and draining her energy before she would even turn up to her clients (not ideal). She started looking for a kit solution that would make travelling with her kit easier whilst still being functional and stylish, but she couldn’t find one.
Being someone who has a keen eye for detail, nothing on the market appeased her specific requirements and aesthetic vision, but once Natalie has it in her mind that she wants something, she doesn't stop until it is hers, and in this case, if it meant making it herself, she was going to do it.
IYKO Professional started as a quest for a single makeup artist to make her dream kitbag, it wasn't until she actually started the process of making the bag that she realised this bag she designed would be something that other makeup artists will fall in love with too.
A KEEN EYE FOR DETAIL
TRY, TRY & TRY AGAIN...
When Natalie started the development process she realised that there weren't only one or two pain points to try an solve with current kit solutions, but a mountain of them. From collapsing lids, to products slipping and dislodging, the list was endless. The main pain points she wanted to focus on were the way the kit was transported and how the kit looked aesthetically.
Natalie found that most kits were just... a plain standard kit, nothing exciting, purely function, definitely not stylish. No one had hit the balance of being fully functional AND sleek & stylish. From changes in suppliers to starting the whole process over and over until she found exactly the materials, durability and style she desired, this was a challenge Natalie wasn't willing to give up on.
Three years and many prototype bags later, both stress tested and field tested, she is not only confident but proud of the product she's created.
A ROYAL BACKING
THE PRINCE'S TRUST
A year into the development process of IYKO Professional, Natalie happened to stumble across The Prince's Trust (Soon to be The King's Trust) which have proudly supported over 90,000 young adults to start up their brands in the UK, Natalie & IYKO Professional are proud to be one of them.
Natalie is incredibly honoured and proud to have the support of The Prince's Trust not only through the development stage, but mentorship for these crucial first years of the brand.