Meet the Founders Behind Our 13th Birthday Giveaway

Mademoiselle Macaron is turning 13 this year,  and if there’s one thing we know about being thirteen, it’s that you’re never quite sure whether you’re still a kid or already a grown-up. One day you’re playing dress-up, the next you’re doing it for real.

So to celebrate, we teamed up with five brilliant female founders who know that feeling better than anyone: the “13 going on 30” moment where you look around at the business you’ve built and think, how did I end up here? We asked each of them what they’d tell their 13-year-old self, their most surreal grown-up-job moment, their sleepover snack then versus now, and, of course, their favourite macaron flavour. Here’s what they told us.

Hadera, Wick Guru

www.wickguru.com

Hadera handcrafts candles inspired by nostalgic bakery treats and comforting everyday moments, and her advice to her younger self is one every creative should hear: “Create more. Spend less time worrying about whether it’s good enough and more time making art, trying new things and enjoying the process.”

Her own “13 going on 30” moment came from seeing Wick Guru candles on the shelves of stores she’d shopped in for years. “There are still moments where I stop and think, ‘how did I end up here?’” she says — “until I remember this all started from something I genuinely loved creating.” Some things never change, either: her sleepover snack then and now is exactly the same — cookie dough and ice cream. Her macaron flavour of choice? Pistachio, every time.

Nixie, NxC London

www.nxclondon.com

Nixie built NxC London — elevated bags and 100% mulberry silk accessories with a rock-chick edge — around the things she loved as a teenager: bags, music, and a palette of grey and silver. Her message to her younger self: “Stop worrying so much about what other people think, be confident and believe in yourself. And hold on to the things you love — one day those passions will inspire something you create.”

Her most grown-up-job-that-doesn’t-feel-grown-up moment is a lovely one: packing up orders at her kitchen table and taking them to the post office, “still feeling that giddy, teenage rush of excitement with every order, instead of the cool composure of a grown-up founder.” Her sleepover snacks have barely moved on either — Quavers and Dairy Milk then, and, honestly, still Quavers now. 

Louise Hepworth, The Croft House

www.crofthouse.com

Louise founded The Croft House, a B Corp-certified Scottish knitwear brand, in 2012, designing sustainable Fair Isle and heritage-inspired pieces made from 100% wool and cashmere. Her advice to her 13-year-old self is refreshingly practical: “Expect the unexpected! Things don’t always go to plan, so when it happens, try to adapt and go with the flow.”

Her “13 going on 30” moment happens again and again: “Every time I see one of my knitwear pieces featured in a magazine — Vogue, Grazia, The Sunday Times Style, to name just a few — I still get such a thrill!” Her sleepover snack has had a glow-up over the years, from a bag of Woolworth’s pick-and-mix dancing to Madonna and Wham!, to a tub of luxury ice cream now. Fittingly, her favourite macaron flavour is our award-winning Coffee.

Bhavna Rishi, DesignerFriday

www.designerfriday.com

Bhavna founded DesignerFriday in London on the belief that how clothes are made matters as much as how they look — combining woman-centred fashion, flattering silhouettes and quilted bags with real respect for craft and community. Her words for her younger self are ones we could all use: “Don’t worry if you are stuck, just keep going no matter what — solutions will follow.”

Her favourite part of building the brand is a genuinely joyful one: “I get to design my own colours and prints and shapes for everything I want to wear, and share it with the world through DesignerFriday.” Her sleepover snack has swapped continents entirely — from Indian coffee (whisked coffee and sugar mixed with warm milk) to spicy, salty popcorn now. Her macaron flavour of choice: Banoffee.

Louise, Popcorn Kitchen

www.popcornkitchen.co.uk

Louise is a food technologist turned artisan popcorn maker, whose hand-finished popcorn gifts and treats are now loved by the likes of Selfridges, food halls and farm shops — all underpinned by B Corp credentials. Her advice to her younger self is simple and firm: “Believe in yourself — don’t listen to those ‘nay’ sayers.”

Her “13 going on 30” moment traces right back to her kitchen as a kid: “Back in the day I used to pop corn and burn the pan — and get told off by my mum! I always wished I could make popcorn without the drama, and now I can.” As for her sleepover snack then versus now? Some loyalties never waver —  “errrrr… popcorn.” Her favourite macaron flavour is Chocolate, always.

Join the celebration

Five founders, five very different businesses, and one thing in common: the confidence to turn what they loved at 13 into something they’ve built as adults. We’re celebrating all of them, and our own 13th birthday! Because you want to surround yourself with a gang of girls to celebrate! 

Gros bisous,
Rachel x