Od dziecięcego hobby do firmy kosmetycznej

Taylor Battistella developed an interest in silkworms while still in school, keeping them in shoeboxes in his bedroom and feeding them mulberry leaves he gathered from the wild. His unusual hobby captivated him as he diligently cared for the silkworms, feeding them up to five times daily and watching them grow significantly. The 26-year-old Melbourne native, who struggled with acne and sensitive skin during his teenage years, had ambitions to start his own business. Seeing the rapid reproduction of the silkworms sparked the idea for a side business that eventually led to a skincare venture. Taylor says, "I launched my first business at twelve, selling silkworms to consumers and schools nationwide. The economics were clear. Initially, 100 silkworm eggs cost about $25, and each could lay 500 eggs. Assuming half were female, that meant I could produce 25,000 eggs in a month. Selling 500 packs of 50 eggs each translated into $10,000 of stock. Over time, the business grew to include silkworm food, books, posters, and educational materials." Despite the demands of his growing business, Taylor managed to balance work and school, maintaining good grades and even leading his local football club. Although some found his passion for caterpillars odd, Taylor remained focused on his goals. In April of the previous year, he introduced Seresilk, a skincare line nearly a decade after starting his silkworm production. The skincare products, including creams, serums, exfoliators, and moisturisers, incorporate silk from Taylor's worms, benefiting from the unique protein structure of fibroin, which helps skin retain moisture. Taylor explains, "Struggling with acne as a teen and learning about silk's therapeutic properties made it clear that I should offer a cruelty-free Australian silk skincare line. This was an opportunity to add value to what would otherwise be waste. Our process is cruelty-free because we don’t need to kill the silkworms. Instead, we let them emerge naturally from their cocoons, continuing their lifecycle, while the leftover silk is hydrolyzed and included in our dermatologically tested skincare formulations." Featuring: Taylor Battistella When: 17 Apr 2024 Credit: Taylor Battistella/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**