Rachel and Charlie Landon, Co-Founders of Wilder Botanics
To time with London Craft Week, we are thrilled to introduce our new ‘Maker Muse’ series, in partnership with Hole & Corner - a publication celebrating and promoting creativity, craftsmanship, heritage and authenticity. Wilder Botanics was inspired by former model and Maker Muse Rachel Landon’s 20 years of clinical practice as a naturopath and herbalist. As a model, Rachel worked and travelled long hours and the pressure to always look her best and keep a pleasant attitude meant that maintaining a healthy alignment with her inner and outer self was often challenging. Rachel embarked on fully learning about natural medicine, eventually becoming a qualified Naturopath Iridologist and Master Herbalist with honours-while raising her family. Since 2018 she has run Wilder Botanics with her partner Charlie and a small team from a studio in west London.
Tell us about your background and your work?
I’m originally from Manchester where I grew up. Most of my family are still there. When I left school I visited Dublin in the summer to see a girlfriend, taking some time out to figure out which direction I was going to head in and I was asked to model in a Katharine Hamnett show and that’s where I started my career in fashion. I moved to London, continuing to work as a model, with several years in New York and Paris along the way. I started looking at my wellbeing whilst living in New York, looking at courses, and reading up on many different modalities .. inspired, I decided it was time to move back to London and study full time to become a naturopath and herbalist.
What has been the proudest moment in your career to date?
There's a few moments. I've formed some incredible relationships within my clinical practice, it’s been a real honour. We learn so much from our clients. Being asked to write Super Herbs by publisher Piatkus was quite surreal, I never thought I could or would write a book but I’m so glad I was pushed to do it. And definitely starting Wilder and opening our store on Broadway Market, which has been an incredible journey.
Why is Craft important to you?
Wilder uses centuries old naturopathic methods of extraction and preservation which takes knowledge, time and patience. This process of preparation by hand is a craft that allows the herbal ingredients to remain vital and potent. Knowing the origin of all the ingredients also makes the whole process from growing to formula more energetic and invested in responsible consumerism.
How do you style your Marfa Stance and why do you like the brand?
My go to clothing is usually trousers, shirts or one of Charlie’s jumpers and my Marfa Stance jacket goes with it all, it’s the relaxed shape and length and the colour way is bold but neutral. I’m loving how no hood gives it more of a dressed up sophisticated vibe whereas the hood allows it to be more relaxed and everyday. I’m loving Marfa’s philosophy of enhancing rather than replacing, her pieces are for life, to be changed with the option to add new colours and textures, upgraded rather than discarded for new.
How would you describe your ‘Hole & Corner’
‘Hole-and-Corner: adj, a secret place or a life lived away from the mainstream’
My Hole & Corner would be foraging in scrubland or woodland preferable in a place I’ll visit again, and on my own so I can make notes on where the best herbs are… seasonal wild garlic, lime blossom, rose hips.
Charlie's would be wild camping, most probably by a river with his blow up Kayak, and Tippi our dog.
Photographer: Sam Walton
About Hole and Corner
Hole & Corner was launched in Dorset in 2013 as a publication celebrating and promoting creativity, craftsmanship, heritage and authenticity.
The name is inspired by an old English phrase:‘Hole-and-Corner: adj, a secret place or a life lived away from the mainstream’It is about people who spend more time doing than talking, for whom content is more important than style; whose work is their life. It’s about telling stories of dedication.
Hole & Corner magazine is published biannually, dedicated to stories of craft, beauty, passion and skill. It is distributed internationally, with stockists including Do You Read Me?! in Berlin, Athenaeum Niewscentrum in Amsterdam and 300 Barnes & Noble stores in the US.
The online site offers regular news, recommendations and interviews with those who embody the Hole & Corner lifestyle – and offers the opportunity to buy products from our featured makers or join them at live events where you can see their unique skills up close and even try your hand at workshops and learn from the best.
In 2023, Hole & Corner is celebrating its 10th birthday, and what a lot there is to celebrate.