The creative founder of a gourmet plant-based snack range says that “recycling, reusing and regifting are at the forefront” of life, as she creates eco-friendly recipes and has a passion for sustainable fashion.
Hortense Julienne, 46, Cameroon-born French citizen, relocated to south London more than 20 years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
Over the years, Hortense has built an exceptional knowledge for sustainability methods, as she has worked in the voluntary sector and gives a third life to items found in charity shops.
Miss Nang Treats, Hortense’s snack range based in Croydon, uses compostable imitation plastic packaging made with wood pulp.
Hortense says her passion for charity shopping is not “something new” as she has “bus hopped” for years, travelling to new destinations to find novelty garments that can be transformed – with one of her favourite locations being Wimbledon.
Hortense said: “I've always tried to look up look for quality stuff, you know, stuff that is durable.
“I still have some clothes that I came from France with – I usually buy clothes that suit me rather than what’s in fashion.
“So, I look for pieces that I can hold on to for the longest period.
“The cost of life really pushed me to charity shops – so I’ve always looked for good, quality clothes that I can buy at a low cost, sometimes being less than ten pounds.
Hortense says the maximum she has ever spent in a charity shop was £24, which was for a warm winters coat.
She added: “The coat was full length, so it kept me warm – I wore it for around five years and just changed the buttons when needed.
“I’ve always hated shopping, but when I spot a good charity shop, I usually go inside, feel the fabric, and see the details of the garment.
“I find the beauty in the details and look for original items that you wouldn’t usually get for cheap.”
The business owner has a few favourite locations to charity shop, including Wimbledon and Knightsbridge.
She explained: “I love to thrift in Wimbledon, as there are three amazing charity shops in the area, two opposite TK MAXX and one by Waitrose.
“I love to charity shop in Knightsbridge as there is a French quarter in South Kensington.
“The best place to look at buildings and find new areas to explore is on the top deck of a bus - I love to hop on a bus and go for a promenade, finding the best charity shops around.
“I usually take a long way around on a bus because it is my ‘quiet place’ and if I see any charity shops on my journey, I’ll hop off and get back on."
Hortense delves deep into the design behind the clothes she finds, looking at the cuts and textures of each piece of fabric.
She says she “loves” thrifting for jackets, scarfs, bags, and coats but rarely buys items that are close to skin.
Hortense says people are “rebelling” against fast fashion because they can see how damaged the garments get after one or two washes.
She explained: “A few years ago, people would look down on you if you thrifted – but sustainability is now in fashion.
“People are learning that clothes that are quickly made, won’t last long.
“People are understanding the quality and treasures in charity shops.
“You not only find old clothes in charity shops, but you can also find garments that have never been worn – with the price tag still attached.”
Hortense is an advocate supporter for sustainability in general, as she owns her own snack business – specifically making nuts and seeds.
Her business was born out of the decision to become “health conscious”, as she battled with cancer in the past.
She said: “I use vegetables to dye my products – reusing vegetables in different types of ways.
“I press vegetables and transform them into nuts and sets – on my website you can see a pink cashew that is made with pure beetroot juice that I press myself.
“So, you would press the beetroot juice, use the flesh that is left over from the beetroot, dry and dehydrate the flesh and then you will have beetroot flakes.”
“I always love to teach my customers sustainable ways of using their food – there is often so many ways you can cook.
Hortense explained that she created a cookbook for foodbank users, which had methods of teaching people to create recipes from what they received in their foodbank parcels.
She added: “I wrote one of the first collections for recipes around seven years ago.
“At the time I was working for a Christian radio and my role was to help a trust instal Food Banks in different boroughs of London.
“It was all about creating A la carte dinners from the food you receive in the parcels.”
Hortense says being sustainable is down to “working with what you already have” and finding innovative ways to reuse bits and pieces.
“We all have to live on this planet together.
“People who don't know how to reuse what they already have, are going to have a real challenge to be creative - but I've already been on that journey, so I use that as an opportunity to help other people to be creative with me.
“Like, if you buy a bag of potatoes, you can eat it all week, but you don't have to eat it the same way.
“You can puree it, you can have a soup, you can have chips, you can roast it - you know there are so many very different ways and have different meals from just potato.
“It’s all about being creative with what we already have.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here