Interview with Jessica Bragdon, co-founder of Koala Eco
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and your journey?
Koala Eco began as a deeply personal response to a gap Paul and I couldn’t fill in our own home. We wanted products that worked, but that also aligned with our values around health and nature. Our younger son was born with neuroblastoma. He is now a healthy 13-year-old, but that experience shaped the type of products we set out to create. That initial need grew into what Koala Eco is today: a purpose-led brand that aims to make daily rituals safer, more beautiful, and more connected to the natural world.
I have a masters in organizational psychology. I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of human behaviour, wellbeing, and the environments that shape us. That perspective informs how we build the company, how we think about culture, and how we encourage people—both inside and outside Koala Eco—to bring more nature into their lives. For me, nature isn’t a marketing theme; it’s a lived philosophy supported by research in ecopsychology, which shows that our emotional and physical health flourishes when we feel connected to the natural world.
A Shared Ethos: How did your shared values with Christy Dawn shape this collaboration?
Koala Eco and Christy Dawn are in different industries, but the foundations of our brands are remarkably similar. Both companies are guided by an ethos of regeneration—whether that’s through plant-based formulations and responsible packaging, or through regenerative agriculture and ethical fashion. In both cases, the work is about repairing a relationship: with the earth, with supply chains, and with the communities who use what we make.
The collaboration flowed easily because we didn’t need to manufacture common ground. Christy and Aras’s commitment to working in harmony with living systems, and our belief that products should enhance wellbeing without harm, were the philosophy for the Laundry Wash. It’s a product that cares for clothes, but also honours the ecosystems that made those clothes possible. In that way, the collaboration becomes less about commerce and more about a shared invitation to live in a closer relationship with nature. We are both fortunate to have talented and kind teams that work well together.
Creative Process: What inspired the scent, ingredients, and experience of this Laundry Wash?
The creative process was about more than just choosing ingredients that could clean effectively; it was about designing a sensory experience that worked on multiple levels. We drew inspiration from ecopsychology, which studies the relationship between human wellbeing and the natural world, and from research into how scent can evoke memory and emotion more powerfully than visual stimuli.
The oils chosen—eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, lemon, frankincense, and ginger root—are cleansing, grounding, and uplifting. These botanicals don’t just clean fabrics; they engage our senses in ways that help us feel calmer and more connected. There’s compelling science around aromatic compounds released by eucalyptus leaves, for example, which are shown to reduce anxiety when inhaled.
At the same time, scent is also deeply synesthetic: it conjures colour, texture, and memory. In this Laundry Wash, the sharp green of peppermint and eucalyptus might feel like walking through a forest, while the lemon brings a burst of bright yellow sunlight. Lavender suggests a muted mauve, frankincense a soft ivory, and ginger root a warm terracotta. These associations are not just poetic; they are grounded in the way the brain links olfaction to memory and perception. We wanted to create something that could awaken that spectrum of experience each time you washed the laundry.
What felt most natural about bringing your two brands together?
What felt most natural was that both brands were already speaking the same language. We didn’t need to align our philosophies; they were aligned from the outset. Both Christy Dawn and Koala Eco are trying to show that “business as usual” can be different—that you can build something that is commercially viable while also giving back, protecting, and regenerating.
When we first began conversations, there was an immediate recognition that this was not just a product partnership, but a shared gesture. We were both asking: how can everyday actions—like dressing or doing the laundry—become opportunities to honour the natural world, rather than diminish it?
Everyday Rituals: How does this product transform laundry into something more mindful?
Laundry is a repetitive task, but we wanted to shift it into the realm of ritual—something sensory, restorative, and connected to nature. When you open the bottle, you’re not just adding soap to a machine; you’re engaging in an experience that combines effectiveness with emotional resonance.
The colours of scent become part of that ritual. The greens from eucalyptus and peppermint, the lemon’s golden light, lavender’s frosted mauve, the earthy warmth of ginger and frankincense—they all blend into an atmosphere that is simultaneously cleansing and mood-enhancing. These sensory associations are important because the sense of smell has a unique neurological pathway: it connects directly to the brain’s limbic system, which governs memory and emotion. That’s why a familiar scent can transport you instantly to another place or time.
By weaving this understanding into the product, we hoped to make laundry not just about cleaning fabrics, but about creating a small moment of reconnection—an opportunity to pause, breathe, and engage with the healing and restorative power of nature.
What bit of wisdom or advice would you impart to someone just starting their founder journey?
Be prepared for an evolution you can’t predict. When Paul and I started Koala Eco, we had no idea the scale it would reach, and in some ways I’m glad—we didn’t know every challenge ahead. Entrepreneurship demands stamina, but also humility. My advice would be: anchor yourself in purpose, because that’s what will sustain you when obstacles inevitably appear.
From a psychological perspective, resilience is not just about toughness; it’s about adaptability and staying connected to meaning. If you can keep circling back to your “why,” you’ll have the strength to weather setbacks. And surround yourself with people who share your vision. The company is our team. Business can feel lonely, but collective belief in a purpose is incredibly stabilising.
Have you identified any parallels between motherhood and running a business?
For me, the parallel is less about family anecdotes and more about the qualities both roles demand. Both require you to live with uncertainty, to make decisions without perfect information, and to accept that you won’t always get it right. Both teach you humility and resilience.
Parenting has sharpened my awareness of —the idea that the choices we make now ripple forward into the future. That sensibility runs through Koala Eco: we’re not just building a company, we’re trying to model a way of living that respects ecosystems and human wellbeing. It’s a long game, and it requires patience, adaptability, and the ability to step back and see the bigger picture.
What's the best part about running your business with your husband?
Working with Paul has shown me that shared purpose is powerful. We don’t always agree—far from it—but our values are aligned, and that alignment gives us a north star. Our different strengths mean that we can challenge and support each other in equal measure.
Running a business together has been intense, but it has also made our partnership more multidimensional. We’re not only raising a family together, we’re also building a company that reflects our values.
What are some of your favorite self-care rituals?
I’ve come to see self-care less as indulgence and more as maintenance of clarity and perspective. For me, that often means immersion in nature: the ocean, the stillness of a garden, or simply noticing the scent of plants and trees. These are not luxuries—they are ways of recalibrating.
Psychology research shows that repeated rituals, even very small ones, can restore calm and focus. These practices remind me that wellbeing is not a destination, but something cultivated in daily, intentional acts.
Interview with Christy Dawn
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and your journey
I’m Christy, co-founder of Christy Dawn, mama to two wild boys, and someone who’s always been curious about how we can live in reciprocity with the Earth. When we started our brand, it was all about using deadstock fabric—giving new life to what would have otherwise been wasted. But pretty quickly, we realized we wanted a more intimate relationship with the entire process: from the seed in the soil, to the fabric, to the dress, to the person wearing it. That same realization mirrored my own life. Little did I know that starting a regenerative company would also ask me to start living a more regenerative life myself. Regeneration, to me, is really just a fancy word for healing. As I’ve watched soil come back to life on our farm in India, I’ve also had to look at the soil of my own being: the places that were depleted, the parts that wanted to be nourished and restored. And what I’ve found is that healing and beauty are inseparable—because without beauty, life feels flat. Weaving awe and wonder back into the world is at the core of what we do at Christy Dawn. Beauty is what keeps us connected, inspired, and alive. I love that we get to make clothing in beautiful ways: clothing that carries the story of the Earth, that reminds us of the miracle it is just to be here.
A Shared Ethos: Both Koala Eco and Christy Dawn are built on a deep respect for nature. How did your shared values and philosophies around sustainability and conscious living shape this collaboration?
At Christy Dawn, we often say that reciprocity with nature is at the center of everything we do—giving back to the Earth in the same way she gives to us. Koala Eco approaches the home with that same reverence, creating products that turn everyday moments into opportunities for connection with the natural world. That’s what made this collaboration feel so organic: neither of us are interested in sustainability as a buzzword, but as a lived practice. We both believe that the way we wash our clothes, the way we grow our food, the way we move through our homes—all of it can either take from the Earth or give back to her. With this laundry wash, we wanted to create something that could transform an ordinary ritual into one rooted in care, healing, and beauty—for ourselves, our families, and the planet.
Creative Process: Can you tell us about the creative journey of developing this Laundry Wash together—what inspired the scent, the ingredients, and the overall experience you wanted to create?
I wanted to make something that felt truly special—something that could cleanse on every level, both physically and energetically. Laundry can be such an intimate ritual, and it can also be joyful. It really depends on the intention you bring to these everyday acts of care. When we make our clothing, especially pieces that are block-printed or naturally dyed, it feels like we’re infusing the garment with the energetics of that plant or flower. This Laundry Wash carries that same spirit. By using eucalyptus and peppermint—plants that are naturally antifungal and antibacterial, and symbolically tied to purification and renewal—we’ve infused the wash itself with their energy. The hope is that when you cleanse your garments in it, those energetics carry through: so that when you wear your clothing, you feel that freshness and renewal woven into your day.
What felt most natural about bringing your two brands together? Was there a particular moment when you knew this collaboration was the right fit?
I’ve been using Koala Eco in my own home for a long time, so the collaboration felt really natural. At its core, I think Christy Dawn is a wellness brand—we’re making clothing, yes, but it’s clothing that’s grown regeneratively, from the soil up, in a way that’s actually better for your skin and your health. Partnering with Koala Eco is so exciting because they share that same philosophy: wellness isn’t just about what you put in your body, it’s about how you care for your home, your environment, and even something as simple as your laundry. It felt like such an aligned way to bring our worlds together.
Everyday Rituals: Laundry is such a familiar part of daily life. How do you each see this product transforming a simple household task into something more mindful and connected to nature?
Laundry is one of those things that never goes away- it’s always waiting for me, usually in a giant pile! So if I’m going to spend that much of my life doing it, I want it to feel good. This wash does that. The eucalyptus and peppermint make the whole room smell like a forest instead of… dirty socks (boys am I right?). It turns something repetitive into a reset, a moment to breathe, to remember that caring for my clothes is also caring for myself, my family, and the Earth. Plus, there’s something sweet about folding clean clothes and knowing they were washed in a way that’s gentle on the planet. It makes the never-ending pile feel a little more like a gift than a burden. lol
What bit of wisdom or advice would you impart to someone just starting their founder journey?
One thing I’ve learned is that it helps to really love what you’re creating, not just how it looks, but how it’s made. I love wearing the pieces we design, and I love knowing they’re created with care for the Earth and the people who bring them to life. That kind of authenticity comes through, and people can feel it. In the beginning, it’s okay to be scrappy and to ask for help- community makes such a difference. A mentor once told me to treat my business like a baby: love it, feed it, nurture it, and it will grow. That advice has always stayed with me, because like children, businesses grow best when they’re tended with patience, presence, and love.
Have you identified any parallels between motherhood and running a business?
So many! Both are constant reminders that you’re not fully in control, and that’s actually the gift. With motherhood, you’re invited to show up every day, even when you’re tired, to keep learning, to keep softening, and to love through it all. Running a business feels the same- you birth something into the world, you nurture it, and then it starts to have a spirit of its own. Neither your kids nor your business unfold exactly the way you imagined, and yet they teach you, stretch you, and grow you in ways you couldn’t have planned.
What's the best part about running your business with your husband?
The best part is that we get to dream together. Christy Dawn isn’t just a business for us- it’s our life. We’re raising kids, growing food, making clothes, and imagining a more beautiful world side by side. There’s something really special about aligning our love with our purpose. Of course, it’s not always seamless (there are definitely moments when a “business meeting” happens while we’re making dinner or wrangling kids), but I wouldn’t trade it. The lines between work, family, and life are blurred in the best possible way.
What are some of your favorite self-care rituals?
For me, self-care is about slowing down and reconnecting. I love time in the sauna or a long salt bath- they feel like a reset for my body and mind. Nature walks, especially barefoot, bring me back to the Earth in such a simple way. Cooking is another ritual I love, a way of nourishing myself and my family. I also sip on herbal teas throughout the day; even when life feels busy, that simple act helps me stay connected to the Earth. And then there are the practices that connect me to something greater- chanting, meditating, and reading books/transmissions from sages and saints. Those are the moments that remind me self-care isn’t just physical, it’s spiritual too.
