Beyond the Hood

Pip & Lil Originals

We first came across Pip and Lil originals a year or so ago thanks to Harriet Inglis the founder of Space Masks. Harriet, a long term Fulham resident who has literally just decamped to Sauf East London, talked about this business/side hustle run by Sarah Reed and of course Urban Village LDN wanted to find out more. Sarah Mum to “real life Pip and Lil” lives in “Pengenham the bit between Penge and Beckenham” and makes reusable face wipes out of what she calls “scrapbusting goodies”. Her bright and bold fabrics caught our eye and we loved the green aspect of Sarah’s business. We ordered a couple of reusable face wipe sets last year as we thought they’d make a great gift. On arrival we loved the quality look and feel of them and the fact that these little squares were doing something mighty for the planet.

Sarah started sewing after having her eldest daughter Pip and told Urban Village LDN that her “first "win" was a make-up bag I made for my Sister's birthday. I thought it wasn't half bad, I've lost count of how many make-up bags I've made since. The reason I make so many bits and bobs is because I don't like wasting fabric, if I can find a way to use a scrap I do. I buy bright and bold fabrics that I love and sew them into reusable face wipes, zipper pouches, unpaper towels, wet bags, scrunchies, second chance cutlery sets, eye masks, catnip mice, hair bands and a few other things in-between. Early in 2018 I stumbled across the softest towelling I have EVER felt and had a lightbulb moment and my face wipes were born”.

Sarah’s reusable face wipes are machine washable up to 40 degrees, backed in such pretty fabrics (100% cotton - the towelling is a bamboo, polyester & cotton blend) and themed into sets: Floral, Japanese, African Wax, Geometric, Neon, Koi and there is also a mixed kids set currently featuring Dalmatians, Penguins and Pandas; great to get kids into the habit of a good facial cleansing routine. Us grown ups can use them with a cleanser to remove make-up, apply toner or wash off face masks then they can be popped into the washing machine and used again. Sarah’s “Posh Flannels” are £5 each and the reusable wipes are £9 for a bundle of 7 which arrive tied with a cotton ribbon and a Pip & Lil tag.

Find out more on Sarah’s website or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pipandliloriginal/ and to use Sarah’s hashtag #treadalittlelighter with a purchase that makes a difference. Sarah also has a Fundraising pack of 6 reusable wipes with 25% of the pack price (£2 per pack) going directly to two charities: Living Well Bromley which helps with social isolation, addiction, mental health, debt and homelessness and the Stephen Lawrence Day Organisation, a Foundation which “exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK”. Sarah says her Feel Good Wipes “are my way of giving back and are always limited edition. I buy in small amounts of fabric specifically for those sets and once they are gone, they are gone. Both of the charities I support do great work and are local to me”.