“The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important one we will ever have in our lives”. All the work that goes into the self-awareness, wellbeing, empowerment and self-care promoted by the Materia project starts from this irrefutable realisation. We shouldn’t feel guilty about making time for ourselves and putting family and social commitments on hold, no matter how many expectations society tries to heap on to us. Materia exists to show that we can be a woman, mother, wife, sister, boss and still not betray the love and respect we have for ourself.
It is a process of love for oneself and we believe that this is the core of our work: raising awareness that taking care of oneself is not selfishness, but a form of empowerment.
There is definitely something good in having healthy living practices, because there is a certain energy that you undoubtedly feel when meeting the Blažević sisters. Very different from each other, when they talk about Materia they arrive with a clear and unequivocal convergence of intentions and feelings that describes the ability to make a synthesis by combining different characters, generations and life stories. Mother of six children (three of her own, three of her new companion) wife, older sister, years of career behind her in the world of business consulting, Maja; young, enterprising, free from family commitments and with a past in public relations, Zrinka. They are, if only perceived in this way, the living proof that there is no need to be equal to feel understood, welcomed and accepted. The secret is love and – now they will explain why – first of all, self-love.
@Materia: What is it?
Materia is a wellness brand that promotes well-being, longevity and self-love, aimed at anyone seeking functional products and good practices to support their own personal wellbeing. Born as a response to a personal need to seek products and pathways, capable of improving balance and quality of life, Materia today speaks to an increasingly broader audience. The objective of Materia is to promote a healthy lifestyle,
where self-awareness and the ability to take back the right to self-care are at the heart of everything. In addition to a line of branded products, Materia actively promotes opportunities to create a network between people who feel the need to find and maintain a new balance. Among the initiatives is a Book Club, an “Art of Life” podcast dedicated to well-being and a busy calendar of workshops and live events.
We want to promote sisterhood and women who support other women. The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important one we will ever have in our lives.
A project born as an antidote to the increasingly widespread sensation of being overwhelmed. How do you transform a personal crisis, first into a solution and then into a collective response?
“Yes – Maja is the first to speak, “it all started from a personal moment of crisis. At one point, with so many children and professional commitments, I felt as if I was losing myself. It was a crucial moment when I felt an inner call: I had to change things, put myself back in first place. This is how, step by step, as I rebuilt myself, the Materia project took shape. While searching for solutions for myself, I discovered matcha, meditation, regular workouts and I regained that inner strength that I felt I had lost. Taking care of myself has allowed me to take better care of the people I love. Sharing it with the world was a natural step. So, what started as a personal crisis turned into a solution, which improved my life and laid the foundation for helping so many other people.”
I felt as if I was losing myself. It was a crucial moment when I felt an inner call: I had to change things, put myself first.
So is the key step, to admit when you no longer feel good in a situation, without feeling guilty?
“Yes – this time Zrinka speaks – although sometimes it takes time to understand it and, above all, to find a solution. For example, I worked in a public relations agency. It was a very dynamic and interesting job, I threw myself into it body and soul, but after a few years I realised that what was coming out in that context was not the real me. At the same time I was seeing my sister engaged in a quest for greater spirituality and well-being.
So when she told me she wanted to start her own business, I gave her all the help and tips I could. But I didn’t jump head first into the adventure with her, I wasn’t ready to admit that it would be better to leave behind what I had. Fortunately, a few months later I woke up and now I feel very lucky and grateful to be able to work and experience all this together with her.”
I didn’t jump head first into the adventure with her, I wasn’t ready to admit that it would be better to leave behind what I had.
Women often feel compelled to put the needs of others before their own. How complex is it to tear down this cultural legacy and learn to put yourself first?
“With the Materia project, we really want to encourage women to take care of themselves, to invest in themselves, to take care of what they put into their body and to nourish themselves emotionally too. We think this is fundamental because, often, women put others first – children, husbands, work – forgetting about themselves. It is important to change this perspective and learn that, when we take care of ourselves, we feel better and are able to take care of others from a position of greater strength and well-being.
It is a matter of emancipation and priorities. The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important one in our lives, from the first day to the last. It is a process of self-love and we believe that this is the core of our work: raising awareness that taking care of oneself is not selfishness, but a form of empowerment.”
It is a matter of emancipation and priorities to increase the awareness that taking care of oneself is not selfishness, but a form of empowerment.
This is undoubtedly the time to talk about #sisterhood: a blood bond but, above all, a mindset. How important is it to have a support network?
The heart of our relationship is the great love we feel for each other. We know we’re always there for each other. We’re best friends. We feel very lucky and grateful to be able to work together and to be able to share so many life experiences. Sometimes it can be challenging, because we are in some ways very similar, but in others very different. And of course we have our quarrels. But we know we’re always there for each other and that’s something really beautiful. Of course, in our case there is also a blood bond, but feeling like sisters, striving to be sisters, can become a mindset, a lifestyle.
With our project we really want to promote sisterhood. We meet a lot of inspiring women, we do a lot of collaborations, events, workshops: it is amazing and important to see women who do fun, creative, interesting things, who enjoy life and at the same time work and take care of themselves and others. Having a network of relationships is fundamental, it makes you stronger, it opens up different points of view and therefore opportunities that you might not be able to see on your own.“
It is amazing and important to see women who do fun, creative, interesting things, who enjoy life and at the same time work and take care of themselves and others.
In conclusion, what is the most important message you are trying to spread with the @Materia project?
“We want to promote self-love and authenticity. We want to promote sisterhood, women who are there to support other women. We really want to inspire and encourage other women to take care of themselves, invest in themselves. Because the relationship we have with ourselves is the most important one we will ever have in our lives. It’s the basis of everything. Self-love is at the heart of everything and this is what we want to convey to women: put love for yourself first and from there you will be able to build an authentic and meaningful life. And this will allow you to take even better care of others.”
It’s the basis of everything: put love for yourself first and from there you will be able to build an authentic and meaningful life.
