Lotty Bunbury, who has lived on the private island of Mustique for over 30 years, has developed her brand: Pink House, into a household name synonymous with lowkey luxury.

WHEREVER meets the long term entrepreneur expat who seems to have the work/ life balance down to a T.

How is life on Mustique?

Busy! Despite its size (only three miles long and half a mile wide!) there’s never a dull moment. Between the community of locals and regular visitors and the events; from Tuesday Night Cocktails at the Cotton House, Wednesday night Jump-Up at Basil’s Bar, Sunday’s Sunset Jazz and the myriad of island picnics and parties, there’s more than enough to keep one busy. And then there are the island hikes, swims, tennis, riding and diving to try and fit in between, not forgetting the super new gym and spa!

Once you’re on the island there is a total open-door policy. Everyone is invited to the island events so visitors very quickly fall into the island rhythm, and make lifelong friends.

On top of the regular island life, while Michael is in the clinic or on house calls, I am busy designing the new collections at home, popping in on Yuoca and Patchace at the Pink House, keeping on top of what needs to be ordered for Flor, who runs our local Atelier in St. Vincent, and finally keeping in touch with the wonderful Pink House team back in our Semley Showroom.

Is it “home” now?

Absolutely. My husband Michael and I moved out to Mustique in 1993 when he took up the post of (the only!) island doctor. We were newly married and were excited to be exploring and travelling the world together, initially only intending to stay for the year. Over 30 years later, and having raised four children here, Mustique definitely feels like home. It has been idyllic raising our family here. Although the island is now busy throughout the year, 30 years ago no one visited during the summer months, so we had a Robinson Crusoe island lifestyle. Our four children are now all grown up and have moved away, but they continue to visit as often as possible, which is wonderful, and of course they quite like having a Caribbean escape too!

Best bits and challenges of living and working on an island?

In the early days communication with the rest of the world was dismal, so we relied on the close community for company. The electricity was always cutting out, but candlelight only enhanced the romance of the island. The food was pretty dismal too in those days, so a group of us bought a farm on the neighbouring island of St. Vincent where there is regular rainfall and rich volcanic soil, and our weekly deliveries of organic fruit and vegetable remain a highlight of our island life.

What are the challenges of running your own business?

I would love to spend all my time sketching and developing designs, as well as coming up with ideas of how to best use each design, but I am inevitably involved with top level decision making – for example finding new manufacturers or new wholesale customers. However, I have been able to pass a great deal of the minutiae on to the team in the UK, which does allow me more time walking around the island with my trusty sketchbook in hand.

Any favourite memories over the years?

Our children could swim before they could walk; climbing coconut trees was second nature and adventuring through the bushes to find tarantula nests and scorpions was a great pastime! Neither of these are poisonous here, by the way, so life was pretty stress-free as a parent and we could let them run free.

Any key turning points in your life?

Moving to Mustique was quite a turning point in itself. Originally, my career was going to be in stained glass. I had studied at Chelsea Art School as a stained glass artist, but I thought I’d put it on hold while we spent a year in the Caribbean, so I brought silk and silk paints with me as a new hobby. I soon started painting silk sarongs, hand hemming them and selling them at island craft events. My first customers and most loyal supporters have always been members of the Mustique community. It was with the help and support of some of the inspirational creatives and business people I’ve met here that I was able to turn this hobby into a business. I set up a website, and as demand began to exceed supply, I started getting my designs printed and manufactured on a slightly larger scale.

The next turning point was in 2008, when the little gingerbread style boutique on Mustique became available, and we called it Pink House. By this point I already had quite an established collection of silks, linen kaftans and resort wear for women, so I added a line of linen printed shirts and swimming trunks for men and children under the ‘Pink House’label.
My latest project is launching a collection of furnishing fabrics, which I am incredibly excited about, and have been lucky enough to get started with commissions from Mustique’s Cotton House Hotel and a number of villas on the island.

 

“We like to think of ourselves as part of the island furniture.”

 

Lessons learned?

Enjoy what you do, even the tough aspects, as these make the successes so much more rewarding. Dare to go with your gut feeling if you feel strongly enough about something as it’s so much better to accept defeat and learn from your mistakes than regretting you didn’t even try. And, of course, the sense of achievement is all the greater when something does work against the odds!

Words of wisdom?

My children tease me endlessly for this, but I often say “This is the life!” We’re incredibly lucky to live on such a beautiful island, but if one isn’t careful one can get used to it (yes, even Mustique!), and fail to appreciate it fully. I always try to remember that we really do live the most wonderful life, made up of all the most important ingredients – family, friends and beautiful nature.

Any advice to those wanting to follow in your designer footsteps?

Keep true to yourself but remember to stay open to suggestions. Particularly from those who have already achieved success – or are happy to share the ups and downs of their journey that might inform your next move.

What’s your version of downtime?

Downtime for my husband Michael is tricky on Mustique as he is always on-call, so to really relax we have to get off-island. Our farm in St. Vincent is very special to us. Here we can escape to a world of nature. Our little cabin in the hills of St. Vincent has no electricity, is surrounded by jungle, and there are no other houses in sight. The night sky always seems huge and the noise of insects is intense but somehow one sleeps like a baby. We eat from the land, get up with the sun, take long walks through the rainforest and relax during the midday heat, sleeping, drawing or reading in the shade of the little wooden cottage.

In another life I would have been…

I actually feel very lucky with where I am and the life I have had. There are so many things I would have liked to be better at; playing the piano, ballet, painting, spending more time with my mother, my family and friends… the list is endless, but in reality one can’t fit everything in! I have been lucky enough to have the time to design which really does bring me great joy.

Favourite emoji?
Definitely 😊.