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I am Ikram Benzila, born and raised in Fes, Morocco, I have been living in London, United Kingdom for just over three years now. I am 29 years young, and a mother of 3, 2 beautiful girls and my business Pure Argan Co. Master graduate in Finance and Management Accounting and also Founder of Pure Argan Co.
Our brand USP is simple, sourcing the finest quality Argan Oil from a female co-operative in Morocco's Agadir region and retailing it at an affordable price point. The oil is cold-pressed and currently the only Fairtrade certified, Vegan and Cruelty-Free Argan oil on the market
Each week, What Matters Most interviews a revolutionary leader from the business and activism world about what is most important to them in their life and work. We are deeply inspired by these people and we hope our readers will be too!
When were you happiest in your life? What do you put that happiness down to?
Being with my two beautiful daughters and ever so supportive husband. Family is very important to me, the warmth and love felt when being together is invaluable.
Ultimately happiness for me is found in the little things, just being able to wake up every morning and a deep healthy breath is a blessing.
What's the one thing you wish you knew 20 years ago? If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
That anything worth having in life is worth working hard for and sacrificing is part of the journey, persevere, focus and most of all have faith you will get there.
What matters the most to you in your work and why?
Ensuring our products are sourced from reputable suppliers who look after the wellbeing of their staff. As a Moroccan national I am well aware of the exploitation in all female run Argan cooperatives across Morocco and it saddens me this still occurs in the twentieth century. When I set up the company I wanted to ensure we only worked alongside suppliers where this was not a practice. This gives me the ultimate peace of mind knowing that I am part of something which is making a difference.
I am also a daughter of a single mother with no siblings, I spent majority of childhood being bought up by my grandparents as my mother would work long tiresome hours in order to pay for my upbringing and education, therefore empowering women is also an important factor and one we also stand very closely by. Women have an equal right in the work place and ultimately exploitation of labour should have no place in any business.
The Story of Pure Argan Co.
Pure Argan Co was launched in 2016 by our Moroccan born female founder Ikram Benzila with the simple goal of providing the finest quality organic Argan oil in a way that is both fair and sustainable to the all-female cooperative who help produce this precious resource. Since then we have been featured in Refinery29 along with Luxury By London and also won the Beauty Shortlist Editor's Choice Award 2018.
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