Our Story

fierce bodies is a little company that believes in another way of doing business. we are a cottage industry that makes small, high quality batches of beauty products out of our home. we give you the transparency and input that we expect from all companies, large or small. we make products that are safe and healthy for people and the environment. they fit the needs of people with all body types. 

we want you to be involved in the process of making our products. weve got a great starter line that includes hair mud, deep moisture scalp oil, nourishing styling pomade, and silky smooth hair lotion. we need to raise $2300 to purchase supplies, print labels, and take care of the varying production costs involved with releasing these products. dont see the specific product that youre looking for? help us make our first line successful so we can produce the wide variety of products that are slated for future release. 

fierce was created from the need for environmentally safe beauty products. in 2007, billie (our founder) was diagnosed with a rare lung tumor condition. an after effect was her diminished capacity for handling the various beauty and cosmetic products that once filled her life. exposure to chemical compounds and strong fragrances gave her headaches and coughing fits that irritated her overall health. instead of abandoning beauty and cosmetic products altogether, she created recipes for products that would work for her. she has since adapted and perfected many of these recipes and wants to offer them to all people. 

fierce is an environmentally friendly company that wants you to know whats in our products and where the ingredients come from. we guide our company based on five core values.

ACCESSIBILITY:

were committed to making our products, services and workspace accessible to as many people as possible. that means making sure that our products are as natural and allergen-free as we can make them for those with sensitive skin and bodies. it also means making sure that our website meets the wc3 international accessibility standards. we use no chemical fragrances and try to limit using natural ingredients with strong smells that are common triggers for chemical sensitivities. our goal is to make natural products for a range of body and hair types and income levels.

SUSTAINABILITY:

we work with an eye on the long-haul: for ourselves, for you and for the earth. for you, that means using local and organic ingredients whenever possible, with no fillers or harsh preservatives to wear your body down. we use recyclable or reusable packaging, and were actively working towards becoming a zero-waste company. for us, that means educating ourselves and others about mcs accessibility in the workplace and having sustainable practices. sometimes sustainability means we have to take it easy in order to respect the needs of our bodies. we believe in the work we do to promote health and well-being, and we strive for this in every aspect of our company.

TRANSPARENCY:

we believe that intentionality and transparency throughout the process are as important as the final product that you take home. we move beyond the typical model of production that keeps you unaware to not only allow you access to full ingredient lists, ingredient origins, and important information about how we make the products; but also engage you in the process of developing our products. you should know and want what youre buying.

ENCOMPASSING ALL BODY TYPES:

our promise is to make products that are free of harsh chemicals and scents for people with chronic conditions such as multiple chemical sensitivity (mcs) and those that are close to us. many people with chemical disability and other conditions also have skin, hair, and body types that are not catered to by most companies. the limited products that are on the market for people of diverse body types (particularly folks of color) are often the ones that are harshest chemically and the least natural which leaves people with little choice, particularly around accessibility for others with mcs. we want to change that by giving you a range of natural, non-toxic alternatives to choose from.

COMMUNITY:

were not just interested in taking your money and moving on. what we are interested in is finding people, organizations and businesses that we can build positive, sustainable and successful relationships with. fierce has developed to address the needs of local communities of in seattle, wa and larger communities of folks with mcs and other sensitivities. we see this as a chance to expand and strengthen our networks.

The Impact

we have developed out of communities of people in Seattle, WA and networks of folks with environmental sensitivities and chronic illness. those of us in these communities know that there is a need for more natural, fragrance free products. everyone deserves a choice in what product they use, which company they support, how much they spend, especially people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) and our loved ones. right now, that choice is limited, and often more limiting if youre on a strict budget or you have a certain body need to attend to, like dandruff or fragrance free or kinky hair. weve been overwhelmed by the number of people who want to test our products, who are unhappy with what they currently use. right now were concentrating on filling in the gaps in the market and giving folks options.

i think that many of us want and need to see a business like this succeed: a small business with such big potential and skill and dreams, with such amazing community support and involvement, with values that we actively stick to every day, with beautiful healthy products. 

What We Need & What You Get

We need $2300 to launch our first line of products. That money is going to supplies and equipment. Printing custom labels alone will cost $700. The bottles, tins, and lids will cost $210. The supplies we need to make the products themselves will cost another $500. Equipment for sterilization (UV lamp!) and production (big pots!) will cost $240. The remaining $600 and change will go to licensing fees and our contingency fund (in case something goes wrong, which it is bound to). 

if we arent able to raise the whole $2300, well put whatever we have towards a fundraiser. were crafty folks, we know a lot of crafty folks. well call on the goodness of our friends hearts to donate their amazing art and services or to buy said goodies. if were still not able to reach our goal, well put the money we have into a revisioning fund. well revisit our goal and try to scale down to still make it happen. we wont spend your money on anything other than fierce!

And for helping us meet our goal, we have a nifty tier of fun stuff for you. 

$5 - high five and a sticker with cristy roads original artwork for fierce bodies

$10 - handmade zine with non-toxic tips and recipes

$25 - postcard pack of original artwork from fierce bodies

$50 - handmade product of your choice from our first line

$100 - handmade product of your choice from our first line, a handwritten acronym name poem by billie, and thanks on the website

$250 - handmade product from our first line in a fancy custom-labeled bottle, a handwritten acronym name poem by billie, and thanks on the website

$500 - personal consultation with billie and a brand new handmade product developed from the consult, and thanks on the website

$1000 - name one of our first products after you, and a big old thanks on the website

Other Ways You Can Help

dont have cash right now but still want to support? think about passing our indiegogo page along to others. get the word out to your networks! indiegogo makes it easy to tweet, email, and post this link on a blog or site. use the share buttons underneath our video!