Kira Lillie: Pioneering a New Era of Holistic Luxury with INCORP world
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Introducing Kira Lillie, the visionary founder of INCORP world, an avant-garde brand that represents a unique amalgamation of fashion, art, and holistic wellness. Born into a world where the communal ethos and healing arts were the norm, Kira's upbringing in Santa Cruz, California, laid the foundational stones for her future endeavors. Her early fascination with fashion and luxury, coupled with a deep-rooted connection to communal living and alternative healing, shaped her into a multifaceted entrepreneur and creative force.
Kira's journey is a testament to her adaptability and creative spirit. From organizing photoshoots in her youth to venturing into fashion photography in Italy, she has consistently sought ways to express her unique vision. The establishment of VK Lillie, a collaborative jewelry venture with her mother, further showcased her entrepreneurial flair, blending artistic expression with business acumen. This experience not only provided financial stability but also expanded her network and deepened her immersion in the art world.
INCORP, Kira's brainchild, is the culmination of her life's experiences and influences. The brand seamlessly integrates her upbringing's communal and healing aspects with the glamorous realms of art, fashion, and luxury. At its core, INCORP is an interdisciplinary collaboration that explores the body and mind through innovative products and immersive experiences. From its unique aromatherapy line to the distinctive design of its fragrance bottles, INCORP stands as a testament to Kira's vision of harmonizing the external and internal worlds.
Join us as we delve into the world of INCORP, exploring Kira Lillie's journey from a creative youngster in Santa Cruz to the founder of a brand that redefines the boundaries of beauty, wellness, and artistic expression. Through INCORP, Kira not only embodies her life's mission but also offers a window into a world where beauty, healing, and art converge in an exquisite symphony.
• Kira, can you share the story behind the inception of INCORP world and how your personal journey led to its creation?”
This is a lifelong story, as everything I am, do, and live is INCORP.
I was raised in Santa Cruz, California, a renowned hippie epicenter, by alternative thinkers and healers. Growing up in an ever-changing environment, my parents envisioned a 'community' way of life, renting rooms to like-minded individuals. We shared communal living spaces, meals, and our lives with 'strangers.' Many people came in and out of my life, shaping me into the person I am today.
Retrospectively I can see how this is a key element of INCORP, finding, connecting and working with an array of people. Fascination for extreme contrast, I was enchanted by the fashion and luxury world from an early age and I discovered my voice and perspective through photography. Growing up, I would organize ‘photoshoots’ with my friends and develop images in my darkroom I built with my father. Naturally this lead me into the world of fashion photography and at the age of 18 I went to follow this dream to Florence, Italy, and later to Milan and Paris.
In a cut throat industry, being a young woman proved difficult and I needed other ways to support myself. This pushed me to launch VK Lillie, a collaboration between my mother and me, modernizing the jewelry I learned growing up. Thanks to my experiences in the fashion industry, I had insights and support, which proved instrumental in the success of VK Lillie.
VK Lillie provided me with financial stability, leading me to move from Milan to Paris, then to New York, Berlin, and Los Angeles. During this time, my network continued to expand, and VK Lillie gradually transitioned more deeply into the art world.
One of VK Lillie's culminating presentations took the form of a dinner—an immersive performance art piece. Leading a group of people through a fully immersive eating experience with VK Lillie chandelier sculpture centerpieces. The overwhelming energy and feeling from this dinner lead me to organizing various food performance art pieces all over the world. INCORP was a natural transition, bridging the communal and healing knowledge of my upbringing with the world of art, fashion and luxury. INCORP’s aromatherapy project is a perfect example of this; using my mothers knowledge of aromatherapy and bridging it with my vast community of creative people from all over the world.
• If you could describe the essence of INCORP in one sentence, what would it be?
INCORP, signifying 'IN BODY,' and acknowledging we are all 'INCORPORATED,' is an interdisciplinary, international collaboration focused on exploring the body and mind.
Photography: Torso
• INCORP is described as an interdisciplinary collaboration. How do you believe this approach shapes the identity and offerings of your brand?
Collaboration is what carries us through our lives, from birth and upbringing to work and celebration. Hardly ever done alone, it requires a community of individuals to make things happen. INCORP acknowledges this, actively collaborating and creating with an ever growing community.
INCORP’s core is working with multifaceted humans to create intentional oriented projects and products focused on the body and mind. Ultimately sharing these creations with the world through fully immersive intentional moments.
• INCORP is designed to reconnect people with their senses and memories. How do you see smell influencing emotional wellness and personal journeys?
The concept behind the INCORP fragrance is to encourage individuals to take a moment for themselves— to 'GO IN’. Inhaling the oils creates a chemical shift in your brain, giving a transformative experience and is a great way to start the day.
Aromatherapy is an ancient form of healing by harnessing the power of plants to support both the body and mind. For INCORP’s first edition we worked with Sissel Tolaas to create a beneficial aromatherapy scent that is also engaging, dynamic and simply smells good! INCORP’s scents are designed to look good, smell good, and, most importantly, be good for you.
• Your collaboration with your mother, Vanessa Lillie, is quite unique. How has this mother-daughter dynamic enriched the vision and execution of INCORP?
There is something very powerful about the connection to one's mother. I feel deeply honored to work alongside my mother who has spent her whole life learning how to heal and support herself and through her journey has gained great understanding on how to heal and support others. She is one of the most loving and generous souls I’ve ever encountered.
My mother is my roots, the connection to the deep knowledge of supporting. Only with her & her knowledge do I feel comfortable doing this work, which I feel is my life’s mission, my calling. I see myself as a bridge connecting the world to my family's fountain of knowledge, specifically around the body and mind.
We are constant inspiration to each other, sharing, loving and giving. We are each other’s greatest muse.
• Working with smell researcher Sissel Tolaas must have been intriguing. Could you share some insights on how this collaboration influenced your fragrance line?
Sissel is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Constantly challenging perspectives and reasons. Working with Sissel was deeply insightful and profound, the perfect balance for this aromatherapy project. She crafted combinations that brought unexpected dynamism and balance. Her expertise in chemistry and scent is beyond imagination, all the while she continues to question and explore.
• The 'I, You, We' fragrance collection promotes a holistic approach to identity. What inspired this concept, and how do you hope it impacts users?
INCORP aims to simplify and celebrate the sharing of knowledge about the body and mind by presenting information in an artistic, playful, and straightforward way. Using names like 'I, YOU, and WE' demonstrates the very essence of its mission—acknowledging everyone as part of a collective whole. Simple, direct, and inclusive.
• INCORP stands at the intersection of art, fashion, and alternative medicine. What challenges and opportunities does this intersection present?
Our main challenge lies in the world's uncertainty on where to categorize INCORP. Positioned at the intersection of art, fashion, luxury, and alternative medicine, INCORP serves as a bridge, creating a unique category that transcends conventional boundaries. This simultaneously presents a great opportunity for us, as we are part of ALL these categories.
Photography: Torso
• You have engaged with a diverse array of artists and creators for INCORP. How do these collaborations shape the brand's narrative and products?
Each artist brings different perspectives, the more perspectives and collaborations INCORP has the more whole we can be. Learning and growing constantly.
• The design of INCORP’s products, especially the fragrance bottles, is quite distinctive. Can you talk about the symbolism and thought process behind their design?
The 33ml bottle, created by Samuel Reis, is known for his hand-blown glass technique, forming bottles by blowing glass into the core of a tree stump and creating an organic mold. INCORP meaning “in body”, choosing a bottle casted from the core of a tree felt in perfect alignment. The size of the bottle resembles roughly the size of a human heart. The top, created by Ugo Cacciatori, maps the upper rim of each bottle, with the overall look of a mushroom.
• How does INCORP's philosophy of integrating body and mind awareness manifest in your product designs and formulations?
Our manifesto poster, included with the scent, exemplifies our brand identity. On one side, there are seven simple pressure points that traverse the body, aiming to educate about our body and ways we can support ourselves and others. This knowledge is drawn from Vanessa's 22 years of teaching acupressure. On the reverse side there's a multi-artist collage celebrating the body, all bodies.
• Can you explain the concept behind the 'I, You, We' aromatherapy collection and its intended impact on memory and emotional well-being?”
Sissel is a pioneer in the connection between smell and memory. For this project, we focused on three main categories: Cleanse, Support, and Guide. Vanessa and Kira collaborated to categorize a selection of essential oils into these groups. We provided this list to Sissel and asked her to develop three different scents: "I" (darker and deep), "YOU" (bright and light), and "WE" (a mix of "I" and "YOU," the all-encompassing). Sissel incorporated at least one oil from each category of 'cleanse, support, and guide' to create this unique, balanced blend.
• How do INCORP products aim to influence and enhance an individual's energy and vibrational state?”
Aromatherapy is a synergy of plant essences designed to support both our bodies and minds. Each plant possesses its own frequency, working to align and enlighten us while also elevating our frequencies. When you inhale the oil and take a deep breath, you experience a distinct shift, providing support based on your specific needs.
• Could you describe the significance of the body map included with your scents and how it guides users in achieving self-healing and awareness?”
The body map, as mentioned earlier, serves as both an educational guide and a communal celebration of the body. We encourage people to use it whenever and however they feel inspired—whether in conjunction with the oil, massage tool, or independently.
The 33ml bottle includes an obsidian, opal, or tiger-eye stone tool for exploring acupressure points, while the 5ml bottle's tip, like a finger, serves as an acupressure tool. The obsidian, opal and tiger-eye stone tool can also be purchased independently and comes with the body map for reference.
Photography: Torso
• INCORP promotes a non-binary approach to beauty. Can you elaborate on this philosophy and its importance in today's society?”
All our products are for everyone, a fundamental principle of INCORP—promoting inclusivity. We believe that beauty and healing are non-binary.
• How do you believe aromatherapy can serve as a pathway to cleanse, support, and guide individuals on their personal wellness journeys?
Aromatherapy is a powerful tool and accessible tool. INCORP encourages people to empower themselves with this knowledge, using this limited edition art piece as a refill container.
• What sets INCORP's approach to aromatherapy apart from others in the market, especially in terms of innovation and user experience?
Combining aromatherapy with a multi-artist, numbered edition art piece while simultaneously offering healing benefits feels very exciting and unique. INCORP communicates through fully immersive "happenings," collaborating with local interdisciplinary artists centered around the common theme of body and mind. Our goal is to integrate and activate people in these experiences, helping them to feel more connected to their body, mind and the world around them.
• Can you discuss the significance of the tools that accompany INCORP's aromatherapy products, such as the hand-carved stone tool, and their role in enhancing the user experience?
The hand carved stone tool, designed by Marco Pancanessi, was specifically made to fit inside the 33ml bottle and used for applying the aromatherapy oil. The tool can also be used for massage, acupressure, gua sha face massage, and even as an elegant spoon for eating, perfect for caviar.
• Can you share insights into your personal wellness routine and how it reflects the principles of INCORP?”
My personal routine varies, changing and shifting day by day, depending on how much I travel and the new things I'm learning.
Currently, I wake up and drink warm water, followed by some kind of “flush” which can be lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with warm water and various add ons like turmeric, mineral salt, black pepper, olive oil. I think it’s extremely important to support your body daily - ‘preventive health care’ - taking care of yourself daily so you never get sick.
Followed by incorporating one of the three INCORP scents for a moment of aromatherapy, going into myself, a mini mediation, to start the day.
Exercise is key - in whichever way I can get it.
• What are your future plans for INCORP, and how do you envision its growth and evolution in the coming years?”
So many plans! Ideas and dreams are of great abundance. We have recently launched a daily supplement ‘mind’ chocolate in collaboration with Kira’s brother Kai Lillie and are now working on a concept around water, soon to be released. Currently we are looking for business minded people to help bring INCORP to its full potential & the ultimate plan of a physical space in nature where all these worlds and people can come together.
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PHOTO CREDITS: INCORP