Marle Women is created to celebrate our philosophy of designing pieces for women of all ages and stages of their lives. We hope each interview inspires you, the same way in which these women do to us. 

Here, we speak with local naturopath and herbalist, Tori Abrahams-Townsend, about her journey into the world of wellness, her refined style and the sacred daily rituals she turns to each day. Tori talks us through her slow mornings, the misconceptions of the wellness world and her holistic approach to addressing the underlying causes of health challenges.  

Can you share a little bit about yourself (background, upbringing, career, etc)? What aspects have contributed to the woman you are today?

I am a Naturopath and Herbalist, recently returned from working in Sydney and I am practicing back in my beautiful hometown Mount Maunganui.

In my practice, I work holistically and address the underlying and often hidden causes of health challenges. I draw upon a combination of herbal medicine, nutritional, and lifestyle interventions that support my clients on a  journey towards sustained health.

At the end of high school, I had a definitive drive to explore the world of wellness after facing some health challenges and genuinely feeling confused with all the conflicting health information available. After fully immersing myself in some ridiculous diets and still feeling far from optimum in my mind and body I knew that I had more to learn and decided to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine. The experience completely flipped my perspective of what wellness is and I am consistently mind blown by the power of nutrition, herbal medicine, and lifestyle choices.

How would you describe your personal style? Has it always been this way or has it evolved over the years? How?

It has definitely taken some twists and turns back in my late teens including a very 70s girl phase! It honestly shocks me to think about the wild prints and bell sleeves I would wear. These days my style is minimal and classic, I don’t stray far from a good black dress, or jeans and a well-tailored white shirt and I pair almost every outfit with my leather Ann Demeulemeester boots.

Have you always been confident in your style, or is it something one learns with age?  Over the last few years.

As I've matured I have become more aware that how you dress influences how you express and carry yourself and in turn influences your interactions in life. I think that's cool to think about.  Over the years my sense of style comes more naturally and is now more refined and versatile, I think that's been influenced over the years living in Auckland and Sydney.

"Over the years my sense of style comes more naturally and is now more refined and versatile, I think that's been influenced over the years living in Auckland and Sydney"

 

What do you love most about wearing Marle? How does it make you feel?

I love that Marle pieces are classic and can be worn to almost any occasion, I  wear my Marle pieces to a day of consultations then switch up my footwear for the evening. I like how effortless it is to wear.

What is your take on a personal ritual?  Do you have any rituals when getting dressed each morning?

I try to do little rituals throughout the day that give a little sweetness, at the moment that is getting out for a run, taking time at the beach, making herbal infusions and lighting some palo santo in the mornings and evenings.

When it comes to the morning I like taking it slow when I can, it sets the tone for the day. I don’t like the stress of rushing,  I usually put some tunes on and brew a stovetop chai with Ashwagandha and oat milk to sip on whilst I get ready for the day ahead. I tend not to overthink what I am going to wear as I feel best when I keep my outfit simple.

What do you wish people were more aware of? Is there something you wish was discussed more openly?

I feel as though there is still a misconception around wellness being about strict rules and following diet trends. Wellness to me is not all or nothing and is a lot more tangible and unique for each person. What I am passionate about is helping people develop their self-awareness and to let that guide how to take care of themselves physically and mentally no matter what that may look like.

What is a piece of personal wisdom that you carry with you?

Trust that your body has an innate ability to heal, don’t fight it, support it.

 

Quick fire questions

Most treasured accessory? My Sophie Buhai earrings, I wear them practically everyday. Texture or colour? Texture! I mostly wear black, white and denim so I love different fabrics. Spring/ Summer or Autumn/Winter? Definitely Summer! My mood, skin, hair - everything is just better with a bit more daily sunshine and ocean swims. I also find it easier to effortlessly dress for.  Listening to? I spend a few days a week writing up treatment plans and love sitting in the sun and listening to Reverberation radio mixes, The Velvet Underground, Okay Kaya, Lou Reed, Ariel Pink… I could keep going. Reading? ‘Play it as it lays’ by Joan Didion. I adore her writing style and this book explores a woman's life in the grimness and glamour of 1960s Hollywood. Good vibe and nice to mix it up from the Naturopathic textbooks. Cooking? Lots of seasonal organic vegetables. Currently I am loving roasted cauliflower salads with rocket and sprouts. Favourite Recipe? I have been making almond and orange cake on repeat. Seems to be a hit to bring to dinner parties. The key to making it so good is using organic ingredients. It's refined sugar and gluten free but you can't tell…

 

Tori wears the Nell Top and Tommy Skirt