By Nila Do Simon
These days, Karolina Kurkova is looking to the future. The mom of two boys and former Victoria Secret model has turned her focus to enhancing the next generation of lives by co-founding Gryph & IvyRose, a high-end wellness line that’s every bit as glamorous and authentic as the model herself. Born in the Czech Republic to a culture known for being in touch with nature, Kurkova says, “If I was sick, we would drink teas from herbs found in our garden.” This South Florida-based mom honed in on these homegrown, all-natural ideals when creating Gryph & IvyRose two years ago with Rachel Finger (a mom of three and former beauty industry consultant) and Orion Nevel (herbalist and a dad of two). Gryph & IvyRose is primarily centered on children’s health—offering elixirs, probiotics and bath products—and incorporates natural, organic and fair-trade ingredients (think aloe vera, cacao and turmeric) with Eastern and Western health philosophies. “We’re not going to just throw in ingredients that are hot and trendy,” Kurkova says. “We specifically put together a symphony that’s harmonious while strategically creating a performance that benefits families.” Now a little past its infancy, Gryph & IvyRose is hitting more milestones. Along with a recent collaboration with forward-thinking hair care brand R+Co, the company recently launched a children’s book called The Lost Elephant, written and illustrated by its medical guide, Dr. Stephen Cowan, a board-certified pediatrician. “Gryph & IvyRose is a culmination of our personal experiences as parents,” Finger says. “For me, it was about how can we take all this stuff that works clinically and get it out there to the parents. And, I feel it’s working.”
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019-2020 Issue.
