Should you ask Instagram influencer Ambar Driscoll about her group, “Bamby Collective,” she’ll make it clear that whereas the group does have a number of the makings of a small enterprise – they’ve launched a signature product, their model revolves round a central tenet, and their following consists of many who love their mission – it’s actually about making a protected house for younger ladies in all places.
In truth, in Bamby Collective’s first ever Instagram put up, the caption reads: We’re a web based neighborhood & protected house for ladies + younger ladies to speak brazenly, search recommendation, be motivated, study self-care and be uplifted
Ambar began the Collective in 2019 not as a result of she had a spark for an progressive product or has a ton of enterprise savvy, however as a result of she benefited from on-line areas previously. Particularly, Ambar had used a health app that, together with offering customers with workout routines and exercises, additionally included a communal side the place women might join and assist one another. However, to entry this house, people needed to pay a subscription payment. This bought Ambar pondering of learn how to recreate an analogous house for others.
“I simply needed to have an accessible neighborhood for any younger lady from anyplace, with any background, to have the ability to be part of and have that neighborhood side without spending a dime,” she mentioned.
However earlier than the thought for the group got here collectively, Ambar was already recognized by tons of of hundreds of followers. Although she initially was thrust into the general public highlight due to her relationship with YouTuber Casper Lee, Ambar shortly made her personal title for herself on social media. Specifically, customers resonated along with her openness about physique positivity.
Ugne Jurgelenaite, a 24-year-old Bamby Collective member based mostly in London, initially got here throughout Ambar by way of Caspar’s content material, however mentioned she finally adopted Ambar due to her physique positivity posts. Ugne was capable of relate to Amber’s content material because it was one of many first instances she noticed this explicit message being unfold by somebody who wasn’t essentially plus sized. One put up specifically, the place Ambar uncovered how her abdomen seems to be naturally with out flexing, caught Ugne’s eye.
“Instagram was – and nonetheless is – such a spot the place you suppose all of those folks have these superb our bodies,” she mentioned. “However it’s like wow, [Ambar’s] not afraid to point out that.”
Speaking brazenly about her physique wasn’t at all times simple for Ambar. For years, she had struggled with disordered consuming and even had an consuming dysfunction. However ultimately, she discovered consolation in different Instagrammers who had been posting content material revolving round physique positivity which in flip helped the influencer heal and develop a extra optimistic self worth. She then realized she may very well be sharing related content material to her 269,000 followers.
“I believed, nicely, if that is the content material I am having fun with and if I’ve bought form of a giant following, and but, none of my content material is displaying my vulnerabilities then I simply did not need to be a type of individuals who [their followers] evaluate themselves to with out seeing the true susceptible sides past that.”
And whereas Ambar was already serving to women like Ugne by way of her private account, the itch to construct one thing larger that will transcend herself and develop right into a community of like-minded younger ladies fueled her to launch Bamby Collective.
It began with a Fb Group
Ugne’s first enterprise into Bamby Collective, like most members, was by way of the personal Fb group. Although she had been following a number of different Fb teams – together with one for ladies new to London – she was stunned at how energetic and engaged Bamby Collective’s members had been. On any given day, you can discover posts asking for relationship recommendation, on physique positivity, and transferring suggestions. However it doesn’t matter what the dialog revolves round, Ugne mentioned members are at all times form and useful to at least one one other.
This supportive and open surroundings was precisely what Ambar had envisioned early on. However even she was shocked by how shortly members had been capable of join with one another regardless of by no means having met.
“It is fairly touching seeing women share their susceptible sides on Bamby,” she mentioned. “So many are fast to supply assist, assist, or simply be somebody to speak to. So it is superb seeing the impression Bamby has had on members’ psychological well being simply by way of the assist of different women.”
Although Bamby Collective initially launched in late 2019, it carefully coincided with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic — one thing that seems like divine timing for Ambar. At a second when many individuals had been coping with lockdowns, restricted social gatherings, and simply feeling remoted typically, having a web based house like Bamby grew to become a terrific outlet for individuals who had been careworn by the pandemic.
Whereas a ton of Bamby Collective members occur to be based mostly in or round London, the place Ambar herself resides, this on-line neighborhood consists of younger ladies from everywhere in the world, permitting individuals to bond and join with folks they usually wouldn’t have an opportunity to fulfill. For Ugne, scrolling by way of her Fb feed and seeing the varied posts from the group has been a optimistic addition to her social media routine.
“Ladies will not be afraid to only put up there and everybody may be very supportive,” Ugne mentioned. “Nobody’s ever gonna choose you. It’s a pleasant, protected house.”
Asides from networking by way of the Fb group, Bamby Collective members are additionally invited to on-line gatherings, together with month-to-month Zoom e-book golf equipment and Netflix events the place the women might watch a film collectively just about and chat by way of the feedback.
However as soon as Covid restrictions eased, Ambar was eager to create in individual alternatives for members to fulfill and develop deeper relationships with each other. The group has had a number of conferences together with an ax throwing occasion, pet yoga, and a galentines artwork occasion.
Oftentimes, Bamby members arrive to occasions solo, with the hopes of connecting with others there. Exhibiting as much as occasions by themselves is only one instance of the methods Bamby Members are capable of categorical their vulnerabilities.
“The occasions are superb. Many of the women come on their very own, which I believe is sort of a courageous factor to do,” mentioned Ambar. “I really feel like in our tradition, assembly up with a stranger thus far is so normalized, but it surely’s not [normalized] to fulfill as much as make associates.”
Initially, Ugne held herself again from going to a Bamby meet up for this very motive – she had nobody to go along with. However after connecting with some women through the Fb group, she ventured to her first in individual occasion: pet yoga.
She even attended Bamby Collective’s first ever in a single day retreat this July. Ugne had such a good time hanging out with different Bamby members that she and a bunch of ladies she met from the retreat at the moment are planning to have their very own private getaway. As somebody who lately moved, this neighborhood has offered Ugne with alternatives to fulfill new folks.
“I moved to London 9 months in the past. So in addition to folks at work, or my flatmates, I did not know many individuals and now I undoubtedly have a wider community by way of going to those [Bamby] occasions. I’ve gained a couple of new acquaintances and associates.”
And whereas assembly different members has been a spotlight for Ugne, having the ability to join with Ambar has additionally been a optimistic expertise for her particularly due to how relatable she says the influencer is.
“The primary time [meeting Ambar] was sort of intimidating. However she’s tremendous pleasant to everybody and makes everybody really feel very welcomed. She’s very right down to earth and never intimidating in any respect.”
Bamby Collective’s optimistic affirmation jewellery
According to Bamby Collective’s mission to offer an encouraging sisterhood for younger ladies, Ambar launched a jewellery assortment of optimistic affirmation bracelets. Clients might buy the fragile bracelets in both model – “I’m sufficient,” and “I’m sturdy.” Creating these merchandise was one thing Ambar had been pondering of doing even earlier than she began the collective as these phrases had been mantras for her rising up.
“My mother is an artwork therapist and she or he’s at all times been actually large on gratitude,” Ambar mentioned. “And she or he’s at all times used optimistic affirmations. So ‘I am sturdy’ and ‘I am sufficient’ actually come from her and the impression that had on me, and seeing the ability that phrases can have.”
Implementing these affirmations into her each day routine has allowed Ambar to reverse adverse thought patterns and helped her reside a extra balanced, wholesome life. Whereas she was excited to launch these merchandise so her followers may benefit from these affirmations, she was additionally cautious. The influencer mentioned she by no means desires to make Bamby Collective members really feel like she is making an attempt to revenue off of them.
Because of this it was additionally vital for Bamby Collective to donate 5 p.c of proceeds from the jewellery assortment to Imkaan – a UK group with the mission of addressing violence in opposition to Black and minority ethnic women and girls.
On this means, Ambar is considerate and deliberate in every part she shares along with her followers – together with her love for train. Just lately, the influencer has participated in a number of marathons and has included long-distance operating into her each day routine. Nonetheless, she is cautious to not ship the incorrect message about understanding and has made it clear that she workout routines for her psychological well being and to not acquire a slimmer physique.
“I believe [exercise] is such a life hack,” she mentioned. “If I am feeling like sh*t, after which I’m going for a run – I really feel 10 instances higher afterwards.”
The Way forward for Bamby Collective
Presently, most Bamby Collective occasions are centralized to London, however Ambar was capable of host one occasion in Cape City, South Africa as she has a ton of followers there due to her boyfriend Caspar’s South African heritage.
Internet hosting extra gatherings exterior of London is a aim for Amber as she would love for Bamby Collective to develop. She envisions that someday the group might even have a number of areas all through the world – Bamby Collective hubs in large cities. And whereas Ambar plans to be carefully concerned in these potential areas, she can be snug with, ultimately, permitting them to be run by native Bamby leaders.
On this means, Ambar desires the main target to be on the people who make up the collective, and never on her. A sentiment that Ugne can already relate to.
“It is good to fulfill Ambar however the neighborhood is not about, ‘let’s meet Ambar,’” she mentioned. “It is about, ‘Let’s get collectively as a neighborhood of sturdy ladies.”
