Haeckels is a natural skincare and wild fragrance brand based in Margate. All their products come from love: of natural ingredients, design and quality. Haeckels handcraft each product in their seafront laboratory in Margate. Everything is completely cruelty-free.

Founded in 2012 by volunteer beach warden and coastal enthusiast Dom Bridges. Disillusioned by the production ethos of many larger skin care companies Dom wanted to create simple hand crafted products. He wants to showcase the surrounding coast’s natural ingredients and promote Margate’s heritage of healthy coastal living. When Haeckels was just starting out, Dom would collect seaweed and local botanicals along the Margate coast. He’d bring them bring back to his family kitchen to experiment with recipes.

Dom’s wife Jo soon said it was time to get a proper lab and turn a passion into a business as every saucepan in the kitchen was starting to smell like a skin care product. Taking his wife’s advice he acquired the lab on Cliff Terrace in 2013. There, more product formulas were developed to complete the range. The company has now grown; taking on members of staff whilst still playing an active part in the local community. They organise beach cleans as well as taking part in marine conservation surveys.

As Haeckels develops over the coming years the heart of the company will always remain the same. It concentrates on craft first in the hope that the products themselves will remind and educate customers of the natural wealth of Margate’s coastline.