Menu
Share this publication:
Kelly Bado is launching a family business specializing in natural beauty products. In addition to her career as a singer-songwriter, the Franco-Manitoban now has a new passion.
Sisters Raïssa, Carine and Kelly Bado (right) have launched their business Kecara
Kecara—a combination of Kelly, Carine, and Raïssa—is the name Kelly and her sisters have given to the new company. As she explains, “I’ve had this idea of having something that represents me for a long time. Of course, it started with music. After that, I wanted to work with my sisters. It was during a trip home that the idea came to me.”
Kecara offers hand and body creams (made from shea butter, natural coconut oil, and argan oil), lip balms (made from cocoa butter, beeswax, and coconut oil), and also essential oils.
In 2017, during a visit to Côte d’Ivoire, Kelly discovered a local, government-supported company. “It’s a peasant boutique that helps local producers bring their products closer to consumers. It gives them access to a sales area partway between a big-box store and a market. The idea came to me when I saw the boutique. Why not start my own fair-trade company geared to natural body products?”
With an appealing concept, Kelly invited her sisters to join the venture. Kecara was created, with support from CDEM. Kelly is the ideas person, Carine is in charge of planning and communications, and Raïssa is responsible for designing the brand.
Kecara works with a number of other certified fair-trade companies in Canada to ensure the quality and origin of its products. “It’s a great way to help local shea butter producers, and in an equitable way. It’s in line with my personal values of social justice, hope, and positivity.”
Kecara sells body products that offer many health benefits, while also encouraging the developing countries that produce the raw materials. Shea butter nourishes and hydrates the skin, for example. Argan oil restores the skin’s elasticity. Cocoa butter has restorative and anti-aging properties. “Self-care is very important, as is contributing to a just cause; the two go together. Today’s cosmetics industry exploits the market. It’s crucial that workers—most of whom are women—receive a fair wage.”
Kelly soon hopes to be able to obtain her supplies directly from her native country of Côte d’Ivoire. “For now, we’re working with several certified fair-trade partners. We can trace the product’s origin. It lends credibility to our products. In the long term, we’d like to be certified ourselves.”
Last week, the singer-songwriter presented her products for the first time at the African pavilion at Folklorama. The response was resoundingly positive. “Visitors were curious and very interested. They smelled and tested the products. The most successful item was the lip balm. The chocolate scent was a big hit!”
Kecara cosmetics are already available on line (1). It is also possible to offer them as corporate gifts. Prices vary from $5 to $15. Kecara products will also be on sale very soon at various retail outlets in Winnipeg (2).
(1) www.kecara.com
(2) For more information on the company, go to the Facebook page or write to infokecara@gmail.com.
Podcast
© 2025 , Conseil de développement des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba. All rights reserved.
Website : InnovaCom Marketing et Communication