Welcome to the eighth edition of our Saya Woman series, where we sit down with extraordinary women who share their experiences, insights and advice to life, business and everything in between. We hope their stories inspire you as much as they inspire us.
For our Saya Woman Series #8, we had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Pippa Stone, the founder of Palm Noosa. Established in 2018, Palm Noosa embodies Pippa’s desire to pay homage to the quintessential Australian lifestyle of beach and urban living by creating pieces with contemporary femininity and carefree aesthetics.
In celebration of International Women's Day, we chatted about all things Women’s Day together, like what International Women’s means to her, the inspiration behind Palm Noosa, and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Pippa, can you share a bit about yourself and what inspired you to create Palm Noosa?
I am originally from Darwin in the Top End, so after 12 years in Brisbane, Noosa felt like a natural place for me to settle. I love the climate, the slow pace of life, and that it’s just as normal to pop down to the beach barefoot in your togs, as it is to get dressed up for a long lunch with your friends.
At the beginning, Palm Noosa was a very pure extension of that – I wanted to create a wardrobe that perfectly complemented the beach to bar lifestyle. Then very naturally as time has gone on, we’ve evolved to include event wear and a more elevated approach to day wear, which has been such a fun evolution and is a big part of Palm’s offering now.
What is the mission behind Palm Noosa?
Palm’s mission is to create covetable pieces that make women feel great. What we wear has the power to transform, to create confidence and to inject celebration into special moments. I count myself so lucky that it’s my job to create beautiful clothing that’s going to make women feel great about themselves.
As a female business owner, what does International Women's Day mean to you and how do you celebrate this within your business?
International Women’s Day for me is a reminder to really take pause. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but it’s so important to make time to stop and celebrate our achievements – as women more broadly, and on a more personal level as a business run primarily by women. I’m so lucky to be surrounded both in my personal and professional worlds by women who are passionate, clever and curious – and always ready to rally and support.
For aspiring female entrepreneurs, what advice would you offer based on your own experiences with Palm Noosa?
You only regret the chances you didn’t take! So my advice would be to back yourself and just give it a go. Know why you’re doing what you’re doing and practice being able to articulate your vision, it’ll be key to getting you where you want to go.