Style Q&A: Local equestrian turns heartbreak into self-care brand
Vancouver-based Katherine Evans’ Tallu & Co. offers self-care and home products that are hand mixed in her home kitchen
Author of the article:
Aleesha Harris
Publishing date:
Jul 15, 2021 • 22 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Katherine Evans and her horse Preston. Tallu & Co.
When Vancouver-based equestrian Katherine Evans lost her beloved horse Preston, she was devastated. The horse’s sudden passing left her grappling with grief.
At the suggestion of a friend, she decided to turn her hobby of mixing essential oils into a business to help take her mind of the loss.
Tallu & Co. was the result. The brand offers self-care and home products that are hand mixed in Evans’ home kitchen. We caught up with founder Evans to learn more.
Q. For those who aren’t familiar, what is Tallu & Co.?
A. Tallu is a local, female-owned, Vancouver-based company offering unique, essential oil blends for your kitchen, home, self, horse, dog and kids.
Q. When and why did you start the brand?
A. I started Tallu & Co in February of this year. It was born in a barn, really, after my beautiful 10-year-old warmblood horse, Preston, died tragically. Out of the grieving came something so beautiful. I had been making blends for family and friends with the oils I loved, and they found their way into the barn. The stars aligned, and I was allowed to try a new horse. He was grey in colour. And grey horses get dirty! I made a body spray with lavender, peppermint and aloe, and it worked so well. A close friend turned and looked at me one day in the barn and said, “You should make this properly and sell it. People will go crazy about it.”
That was only the beginning. It started with the Dream Spray for horses and then grew into organic soaps, kitchen and bathroom counter sprays, a yoga line, meditation rollers and much more. Our product line is up to 20 items already.
Tallu & Co. Face Spray. Tallu & Co.
Q. Who is the target customer?
A. Our target customer is inclusive of everyone. The avid cook, designer, equestrian, pet/animal lover, mama, grandma, husband, wife, brother, sister and kids. Whether your love is for animals, your kitchen, your kids, your horse or yourself, we have something for everyone. The essential oils are pure, 100-per-cent organic and blended to enhance your life.
Q. What can you share about where the products are made?
A. They are all made in my kitchen. My home has been turned into a production plant. You can find me in my kitchen with my mum, sister and son Sam, blending oils and making soaps. My mum is the master at just about everything, of course.
Q. Is there a ‘hero’ product in the range? If so, which ones and what makes it so popular?
A. The Kitchen Spray and Kitchen Soap are heroes for the Home line. People go crazy over them. Something about an organic product that is raw, pure and handmade. Our Dream Spray is our top seller for the horse.
With COVID, our hands have been washed more and more. Having a natural and chemical-free soap and spray is just that much more important today. The Dream Spray for horses has been so incredibly popular, mostly because the horses love it. They immediately start to lick your hands when you are using them. It is also super moisturizing and great for their coat.
Q. What is the price range for the products?
A. Our pricing ranges from $18-38.
Q. And, lastly, where can people check them out?
A. Online at Tallu.ca & also at Tbird Clothing Co. at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.