Silvan An inspiring success story

We present you the Croatian company Silvan which produces handmade natural cosmetics, packaged in plantable packaging...

From the very beginning, the idea of producing Silvan soap had a strong foundation in the philosophy of providing the end user with quality and natural product, but also creating an interesting experience for each individual user, by introducing it to a story ­ on the one hand, nostalgic, inspired by the lives of people who lived under this same sky several thousand years before us (inspiration in the cultural heritage of Croatia) and on the other hand the one that paves the way for a better and greener future for everyone (packaging that can be planted).

The packaging that turns into flowers is the finishing touch to the whole Silvan cosmetics story. Namely, the name of the brand comes from Silvan ­ the divine protector of wild nature. Under its name, an untouched nature enters your home ­ the soaps are packed in a biodegradable paper in which the seeds of meadow flowers are woven. It is only necessary to "plant" the cover...

All products are handmade from natural ingredients such as saponified or essential oils and additives such as ground coffee, sea salt, or activated carbon. They do not contain synthetic fragrances, col­ ors, or alcohol, which could dry the skin. The products are made in small batches to ensure that they are always fresh and preserved in a natural way.

We talked about the company and its products with Jelena Bikić, owner of the Silvan brand.

NMC: How did it all start, what inspired you? And what was the initial idea?

The idea of making soaps was born in a very unusual way ­ almost cinematic... My boyfriend and I were watching the series The Apprentice (the British version of Lord Sugar) in which the contestants were given the task to create their own cosmetic product and to sell it. We were fascinated by the idea and couldn't stop thinking about it. We started Silvan out of curiosity.

The process of making soaps really intrigued us and soon making soaps and mastering this skill became our hobby. As we liked the whole process, we soon spent every moment of our free time thinking about new recipes for soaps, and how to achieve different colors in a natural way. We also started making different macerates. We went so deep that at one point we also made our own silicone molds for soap. We learned a lot during that first year and realized that we liked making soap so much that we decided to create our own business out of that hobby. Seven years later, I can say that we are still very pleased with it.

NMC: What has brought this idea to the realization?

When we decided to turn soapmaking into a "real" business, we had to research what criteria needed to be met to run such business. There were several requirements, and the most important ones were that I had to have a suitable education in the field and I had to have a suitable place for production. For the next year and a half, I devoted myself to acquiring the necessary qualifications and adapting the space where the production will take place. Acquiring new knowledge pushed me into a world diametrically opposed to my acquired humanistic education. But the story behind our brand was created precisely as a result of my unique educational background ­ a master's degree in art history combined with the necessary retraining to run my own business for the production of natural cosmetics, which had more to do with chemistry. The end result is handmade, natural cosmetics, packed in a story inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Croatia.

NMC: What are you producing today and where and how do you market your products?

We currently offer four soaps and two gift boxes:

• Black & Pure, 60 g, activated charcoal and tea tree soap for facial cleansing;

• Sea Nymph, 80 g, sea salt and tangerine soap, for exfoliation when showering;

• Daydream, 60 g, soap based on five different vegetable oils and lavender, for hands and body;

• Coffee to GrOw, 60 g, coffee and orange soap, for shower peeling;

• All You Need is Soap, 105 g, gift box with 3 soaps for comprehensive skin care (for face, hands and body);

• Illyria's gift, 260 g, hand­woven basket with a wo­ oden bottom containing four Silvan soaps: Black & Pure, Daydream, Coffee to GrOw, Sea Nymph.

On the domestic market, we place our products on the shelves of the leading chain of drugstores in Croatia ­ dm drogerie markt, in the natural cosmetics department. We also cooperate with numerous concept stores and souvenir shops that are always happy to sell quality Croatian products.

Since last year, we have also been present on the Italian market.

A special part of our offer consists of two products that can be branded with the partner's logo:

• All You Need is Soap, gift box, 105 g (3x35 g)

• Daydream, soap, 20 g.

In this way, we cooperate with a wide range of organizations and companies, as well as with the organizers of various events such as conferences and other business gatherings, for which we personalize the packaging. Silvan products have proven to be an excellent promotional material ­ completely ecological and sustainable, for all business entities that want to further emphasize their innovation on the market and their commitment to environmental protection. We also cooperated with hotels, private accommodations, tourist associations, and other institutions whose goal is to promote cultural heritage and the desire to preserve nature. In such projects, in addition to the ecological aspect, we also emphasize cultural heritage as a key point in promoting sustainable tourism and community revitalization.

Our vision is to expand the production line and include new products in the future.

NMC: Are you satisfied with what was achieved?

Given that we started from scratch, without a large capital (almost none), only with a crazy idea and the willingness to "roll up" our sleeves ­ I would say that today we can be very satisfied. We are also grateful to all of our partners and clients for recognizing the quality of our work, and we are happy to have the opportunity of bringing a useful item into their lives. An item that has added value and into which a lot of effort has been invested.

NMC: What are you most proud of?

Ever since we've been doing this business, many things that we couldn't even imagine at the very beginning have happened ­ publication in Vogue magazine, cooperation with dm­dorgerie markt, inclusion in the Infobip Startup Tribe program and expansion to the Italian market are some of them. We are grateful for all the opportunities we had and still have today.

SILVAN

Jelena Bikić Miljci

31, 22 322 Kljake,

Croatia info@silvan.hr

T. +385 97 7587339 https://www.silvan.hr/