Who's The Boss: Charlotte Tsuei of Caelum Greene

Charlotte Tsuei founded her lifestyle shop Caelum Greene in hopes she can change the way consumers view sustainability. #legend speaks with the entrepreneur to find out more.

What inspired you to start Caelum Greene?

My increasingly self-aware and wellness-focused community. When I looked around, there were great options for healthy eating, pampering and travel, but not many when it came to shopping. I thought, why not create a business that brings together two of my greatest passions – fashion and wellness – while offering an option to shop better?

How did you come up with the name?

In Latin, caelum means heaven and sky, and “greene” is a personification of the colour, its associations with nature and wellness. The meaning is twofold. It represents a vision of a sustainable and mindful utopia and is the name of the person who lives with those values in mind.

How does the brand encourage people to live fashionably and healthily?

We try to walk the talk by balancing style and sustainability in all we do, from the store design to the curated mix of beautiful yet eco-friendlier products. Additionally, we take “healthy” one step further to include the community by giving back to charities and offering community events.

What is modern wellness?

The essence of modern wellness is a balance of the mind, body and spirit, resulting in holistic well-being. It is about finding health in the body, peace in the mind and love in the spirit.

How do you choose the brands that you work with and carry?

The four key aspects we often look at are style, quality, function and sustainability. The candle brands that we carry are a perfect example. All the brands that we work with are soy-based, blended with natural fragrances, sustainable and they’re hand-blended and hand-poured in small batches, for quality. They’re beautifully and uniquely packaged, for style.

This is the first time you’ve owned a business. What was the learning curve like?

Just like having a child. I don’t know that anyone is ever fully prepared for entrepreneurship. It’s a steep learning curve. It requires a whole lot of responsibility, grit, patience and unwavering passion. I’m taking it all in my stride.

Your business has grown greatly and it’s less than a year old. How do you keep up?

We’ve been blessed by the opportunities that have come our way and the people that have crossed our path. To keep up with everything that’s on the calendar, it’s most important to make sure that my team is happy and inspired. A positive team can conquer many things.

How do you improve as a leader?

By no means would I say that I am expert in management, but I do believe that the keys to leadership and harnessing positive morale are open communication, self-awareness, and setting an example by being positive and hard-working.

Are there any apps that you use to stay on track and organised?

Evernote, iCalendar and a good old Moleskin notebook.

How do you stay sane with all the craziness of running your own business?

I meditate and practice pranayama every morning as soon as I wake up. It gives me better focus and more ease throughout the day. I eat every three to four hours and stay hydrated to keep my energy level relatively constant. No matter how busy I am, I make the time to work out two or three times a week, and make sure that I have some down time in the evenings to unwind. Every now and then, a digital detox or a tropical getaway does wonders in recharging the batteries.

You’ve collaborated with Miss Runner. Why did you choose to work with them?

We liked that they are a local brand and took the initiative to go out and find a supplier that worked with 100 per cent organic cotton. Instead of activewear, we went with beach towels, as the eco-friendlier offerings are limited.

What’s your go-to workout outfit?

A white tee from Alo Yoga or Joah Brown over a Michi bra top, with some eco-friendly Daquini black leggings and APL sneakers. 

What would you be lost without?

My yoga mat.

What are you obsessed with right now?

Healthy unicorn-and-mermaid-inspired recipes at wellandgood.com

How do you spoil yourself?

Get away from gadgets and catch up on some reading, listen to music or just live in my head for a while.