Dandydill Way founder Tania Rodney spoke to Smallish magazine about starting the brand and her previous life as a make up artist.
Smallish Asks | Tania Rodney
People, Smallish today11th June 2018
Celebrity make-up artist and the Founder of children’s skin and hair range, Dandydill Way, reveals what makes her tick
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE DANDYDILL WAY?
I travelled for 25 years as a make-up artist, always trying products from whatever country I was in. So once my daughter, Billie, was born, I was on the lookout for the best infant products, too. I found lovely things for her as a baby, but there was nothing I wanted to use once she got a little older. The packaging of children’s products never appealed, the formulations weren’t great and they smelt too sweet or citrusy. I wanted to take exceptional care of my little girl and I believed that if I devoted my energy to it, I could create the finest children’s range in the world.
TELL US A STAND-OUT MOMENT FROM YOUR CAREER AS A MAKE-UP ARTIST
Back then, it was normal for me to find myself chatting with David Bowie in the back of his limo, or hanging out with Eminem backstage at the Brits. He’s not exactly a ‘celebrity’ but he’s utterly outside my orbit, so when I met Mikhail Gorbachev I was somewhat starstruck!
WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR CAREER TO DATE?
The day I received the first batch of Dandydill Way products. Opening the carton and seeing that five years of blood, sweat and tears had been worth it will be a hard moment to beat.
DESCRIBE YOUR SUMMER STYLE
Covered! I love the warmth of the sun but not the after-effects, so I’m usually under a huge hat, wearing fake tan, cut-off denims, a white vest and ‘interesting’ sandals, running around with my daughter.
A DAY TO YOURSELF... WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’ll walk across London – I can walk all day, meandering into shops, galleries, cafes and enjoying the freedom of not having a schedule.
WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT?
Currently it’s La Banque by Marc Roche (I’m learning French), The Magus by John Fowles (one of my favourite writers), and Coal Black Mornings by Brett Anderson (one of my favourite people).
YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?
Internet dating and running. I’m not really supposed to enjoy either but I do!
STAYCATION OR VACATION?
A vacation by car as I don’t like flying, plus that way we can take our dog. We’d meander down to the Costa Brava, visiting friends in France, Italy and Switzerland along the way.
dandydillway.com