Tell us about your enterprise, Touche Beauty, and how it all began.

Mirium Mukami displaying some of her products [Courtesy] Tell us about your enterprise, Touche Beauty, and how it all began. At Touche Beauty, we create luxurious skincare and grooming products using natural, sustainably sourced ingredients-many of which are harvested in collaboration with smallholder farmers. Our brand is deeply rooted in the circular economy: we upcycle waste materials like coconut shells, potato sacks, and pineapple extracts into high-performance beauty products and eco-friendly packaging. From our vibrant children's line Peek-a-boo Baby by Touche to our men's grooming range and skincare essentials, everything we do promotes wellness, sustainability, and African excellence. We understand you make these value-added products from natural waste such as overripe fruits and coconut shells. How did this idea come about? The idea of using coconut shells and other organic waste to make beauty products came from a mix of personal experience and an eye-opening conversation at home. I had been making cosmetic products for years, but the cost of natural oils and ingredients kept rising. It didn't make sense-these were items grown locally, yet priced out of reach for small producers like myself. Meanwhile, my husband, who has worked at Marikiti Market for over 10 years, would come home frustrated about the sheer volume of wasted food. He'd say, "We throw away so much-fruits, vegetables, even coconut shells-because by morning it's all considered unsellable." That stuck with me. One day, I decided to visit Marikiti myself. It was a turning point. I saw farmers and vendors all grappling with overproduction, loss, and waste. Ironically, the same fruits they discarded-pineapples, coconuts, avocados-were the very ingredients I'd been struggling to afford. That's when the idea struck: what if we could rescue this 'waste' and transform it into high-quality beauty and wellness products? Today, at Touche Beauty, we do exactly that. Coconut shells are turned into packaging or ground into powder for exfoliating body scrubs. The oil goes into our skincare. We use overripe pineapples to make organic body wash, and extract nourishing oils from discarded avocados. Even potato sacks are repurposed to package our soaps. What was once waste is now a beautiful, functional product-creating value, reducing loss, and supporting local communities. Our range includes body butters, body mists, scrubs, massage oils, aftershaves, baby creams, beauty soaps, scented candles, and much more-for men, women, and children of all ages. Where exactly do you source the raw materials? I source the overripe fruits used for oils from farmers and vendors at Marikiti Market and from mama mbogas around Githurai area. What does it take for a woman to build a business empire, especially in your line of work? Building a business empire as a woman-particularly in beauty and manufacturing-requires resilience, passion, and a deep sense of purpose. I've faced many challenges: juggling family responsibilities, perfecting complex formulations, sourcing perishables from Marikiti before they rot, and constantly seeking funding to grow the business. But with consistency, creativity, and belief in my vision, I've managed to turn those challenges into stepping stones. How has your business journey been so far? It's been a journey full of both inspiring highs and difficult lows. There are amazing moments when Kenyans embrace our products wholeheartedly, and equally tough times-especially when it comes to raising funds and scaling the business. I've even had to temporarily close the company at times due to financial constraints. What support do you think government and stakeholders should offer entrepreneurs committed to the circular economy? The government can support us by creating linkages and educating farmers and vendors on value addition and the circular economy. We need access to machinery and mobile platforms that allow us to process these fruits into oils directly at farms, reducing post-harvest losses. SMEs like mine need financial support. Many of us face shutdowns not because of lack of innovation, but lack of capital. Your parting shot? Believe in your ideas. Start with what you have. Stay rooted in your purpose. The journey may be difficult, but every small step builds something greater-especially when passion meets persistence.

Beauty in the bin: Turning food waste into wellness

Tell us about your enterprise, Touche Beauty, and how it all began.

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Beauty in the bin: Turning food waste into wellness

Tell us about your enterprise, Touche Beauty, and how it all began.

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