Beauty Roots
The entrepreneur chats with Bustle.
And growing up in the Caribbean country, she had no shortage of inspiration.
Im inspired by the women of Jamaica in particular, she tells me.
Their strength, determination, and gracefulness.
She adds that shes also inspired by the landscape, beaches, and the way of life.
It’s a simpler way of living, she says.
And because I was raised that way, that is how I approach my life.
Designing a shower cap may seem like an easy task, but Mason lists off all of the variables.
It requires a fabric that is waterproof yet breathable, mold-resistant, and capable of fitting multiple head sizes.
Using her knowledge of different fabrics, shes been able to create unique blends of vegan satin and micro-cotton.
Below, Mason dives deeper into childhood beauty traditions, textiles, and more.
How does your childhood in Jamaica inspire you and the work you do every day?
Growing up in Jamaica, what beauty rituals were passed down to you?
I hadaloe verain the back of my yard.
There were lots of things like that I remember from childhood.
How did you come up with the idea of creating Grace & Company?
I was a model for 15 years and did everything from runways to commercial work.
As a model, your hair gets truly,trulydestroyed.
Youre always getting your hair done and there’s a lot of heat damage.
A lot of models wear extensions for this reason because you’re always trying to preserve your natural hair.
I was a designer at an architecture firm and as a working mom, it wasstillan issue.
How do I really care for the health of my hair and prevent damage?
After having children, my hair broke off even more.
There’s significant hair loss, and that’s something that a lot of women don’t talk about.
What sets Grace & Company apart from other brands?
A lot of time is spent in product development.
We really think about the person using the product also.
Themicro-cotton collection, which launched last year, is something that [did not exist] in the market.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onJune 28, 2023
