Hi, I’m the founder of Ritual and Relic.
Right now, as I write this, I’m travelling in South America. It’s a far cry from the life I was living just a few months ago, working full time 9-5 in London! This trip has given me a much needed chance to reset, reconnect and remind myself of what’s important.
My professional background is in Marketing, which I studied at university before going on to complete an MA in Human Rights and Culture in London. While the MA experience wasn't what I'd hoped for, my time there was largely shaped by Covid, it fundamentally changed my worldview. It taught me the importance of cultural relevance and made me question how much of our global perspective is filtered through a Eurocentric, Westernised lens. That lesson has stayed with me and is now a core part of how I see the world.
For the last 3.5 years, I had a great job with amazing colleagues (shout out Latoyah!). But I reached a point where I knew I needed a new challenge, even if I had no idea what that challenge should be. To give myself the time and headspace to figure it out, I made a choice. I left.
I think it’s important to add here my appreciation and gratitude to be able to do this. And also to add that it is a result of months of savings and sacrifice. To afford this period of exploration, I left London (luckily I could work largely remotely), and I moved back home with my mum and grandma for eight months, saving every penny I could.
That time at home was a mixed bag. Working remotely, while having its perks, had quietly taken a toll on my mental health. There were days I’d barely speak to anyone, and over time, I felt my confidence dip and my anxiety rise. I started to lose touch with who I was! But it wasn't all bad. The extra free time I had, I filled with lots of time outdoors and learning new skills. I got really into music, arts and crafts, and I started selling vintage clothes on Depop, partly to declutter (I’m a hoarder!), partly to boost my savings, but mostly because I just really enjoyed doing it. It felt authentic and grounding.
This brings me to now. Being on the road and meeting new people every day, has been the antidote I needed. My confidence is returning, and I’ve had the headspace to think about what I truly want. It’s something I should have done while I was still working, but honestly, the routine of London life made that really hard. Now, I’ve reframed the question. It’s not just about ‘what job should I do next?’ It’s about ‘what’s important to me?’ and ‘how can I create something authentic that connects what I care about with a way to support myself?’
That’s where Ritual and Relic was born.
Ritual and Relic is the answer to all these threads of my life. It’s brings together my marketing knowledge, my interest in culture and community, my love for unique, handcrafted and vintage items, and my personal need for genuine connection. In a world that feels increasingly isolating and difficult to navigate, I want to create an online space that does the opposite (and one day it will be a tangible place just wait!)
Ritual and Relic will be an online community and marketplace dedicated to supporting independent makers and sellers. It’s a place for the people who put their hearts into their work and for those who seek out objects with a story. It’s about building connections, not just transactions, and fostering a community that values creativity, authenticity, and the beautiful relics and rituals that make up a life.
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