Our Story
By Kes is a small handmade studio founded in 2022 in the Western Cape, inspired by slow living, a Malamute Shepherd and the beauty of the Namaqualand wildflower season.
Each product is handcrafted in small batches using natural, plant-based ingredients and thoughtfully balanced fragrances. We believe in creating fewer, better things - products that are kind to your skin, beautiful to use and made with care from start to finish.
Why By Kes?
Named after my beloved companion, Kes was gentle, grounding, and quietly present. Our soaps are made to offer you the same, using our natural ingredients. Raw shea butter. Coconut oil. Kaolin clay. Distilled water. No synthetic dyes, no sulphates, no harsh chemicals.
Our studio sits in the Namaqualand region, where the landscape is rugged and the wildflower season arrives once a year as a reminder that beauty does not need to be loud to be unforgettable. That is the spirit in every bar. A little rustic. A little refined.
Photo: Namaqualand wildflower landscape - where rugged beauty meets quiet wonder.
Meet Nelize
Each product is mixed, poured and wrapped by hand from my small studio in Namaqualand - no machines, no mass production, just slow intentional work.
I'm passionate about creating products that are gentle on skin, beautiful to use and made with integrity. If you have questions about ingredients, scents or anything else, I'm always happy to chat.
To discuss stocking By Kes, contact me directly via Phone or Email. The wholesale catalogue is available on request.
Thank you for supporting small-batch, handmade and local.
Nelize
Nelize & Kes (Malamute Shepherd) . September 2011 - October 2024
WHERE TO FIND US
By Kes is currently stocked at:
Organic Living – Constantia Village
Catwalk Kollektif – Darling
Garden Route Flowers – George
