OUR STORY
THE COLLECTIVE HAS BEEN BORN OUT OF MY BELIEF THAT TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO RECONNECT WITH OTHERS, RECHARGE OUR BODIES AND RESTORE OUR FRAZZLED MINDS.
I spent six years building the science-led skincare brand Aurelia, which went on to win more than 165 awards and became one of the first beauty brands to launch on NET-A-PORTER. When I sold the business in 2019, the aftermath hit me hard. With three young children (one home-schooled) and a two-year house renovation underway, I found myself exhausted and depleted.
At my lowest ebb, I finally made the decision to invest in my own wellbeing - and booked myself onto a retreat.
That experience was life-changing. For the first time in years, I had space to breathe. I slept deeply, learnt from expert teachers, moved my body mindfully, tried YIN yoga for the first time and treated myself to restorative body and face therapies I had long neglected.
While on retreat, I connected with an inspiring group of like-minded women, each there for her own reasons. It was the founders and women in business I bonded with most. We shared the truths: the juggle of raising young children while working; the complexity of hiring or working for difficult people; the highs and lows of business; the pressure of fundraising and shareholder management; the courage required to get things right - and wrong; and, for me, eventually, the emotional weight of selling something you built from scratch. The conversations were honest, energising and unfiltered. New friendships began.
It wasn’t just my wellbeing that shifted - a seed was planted. I started to imagine how I could take what I had felt on that retreat, the deep rest, the reset, the connection - and shape it into something that also reflected my love of business and my desire to support other women with theirs.
Too often, we keep going without investing in ourselves. I wanted to create a place where women could invest in both their wellbeing and their careers: a space to rest, think, pause and plan, surrounded by thoughtful, ambitious women who understand the world you’re navigating.
And so, The Collective was born.
We now specialise in inspirational retreats that ground, grow and connect women in business, helping you rebalance your mind, revitalise your body and reignite your soul. Set in beautiful locations around the world, each retreat brings together a programme led by exceptional practitioners: from leading yoga teachers, massage therapists and facialists to specialists in sound healing, breathwork, intuitive guidance, energy healing, astrology, nervous system regulation, somatic work and meditation.
Retreat quality can so often be left to chance, but not here. I ensure every detail supports your experience: nourishing, delicious food; deeply comfortable beds; welcoming company; and interiors designed to inspire, complete with memories you’ll hold onto long after you return home.
Whether you come alone or with a friend, you will be looked after from the moment you arrive. Allow yourself to settle into a space where rest is valued, wellbeing is thoughtfully supported, and every detail has been created to help you exhale.
I so look forward to welcoming you on a retreat very soon.
Claire Vero x
"We all need time to rest, recharge, and step away from life's demands. Like many busy women, I put myself last - until I discovered retreats. A chance to switch off, move, rest, and connect with others. It's self-care at its best: time just for you. Come and try it - you won't be disappointed."
Claire Vero - Founder of The Collective
