About Us

MW Soapworks

MW Soapworks is a plant-based skincare business rooted in environmental and social justice. We prioritize sourcing our ingredients locally when possible to reduce our environmental impact and partner with suppliers with company ethics that match our own. Our overarching goal is to create low-waste skincare and self-care products for a healthy you, healthy communities, and a healthy planet.

While MW Soapworks was founded in 2013, we finally opened a retail location in downtown Bellingham in August of 2021! In our store we feature products from independent makers with a focus on sustainable living, artisan gifts, and social good. As much as possible, we try to partner with suppliers and makers from marginalized communities. Come visit us at 1310 Commercial Street in beautiful downtown Bellingham, Washington! We're open Tuesdays through Saturdays 12 - 6 pm.

We are proudly queer-owned and woman-owned!

Andrea Lawson

She/They

Owner and Founder

Andrea grew up in rural Custer, Washington exploring the natural world and discovering the power of plants. She attended the College of the Environment at Western Washington University, graduating with a degree in Environmental Education and a minor in Spanish. Andrea loves traveling and visited many countries before settling back in the Pacific Northwest, making her permanent home in Bellingham, Washington. In 2013, Andrea started MW Soapworks to create skin care that she could trust to be safe for her own body while also eliminating toxins that would be washed down the drain straight into our precious waterways. With a strong background of environmentalism and social activism, Andrea is proud to have created a business that emphasizes the health of communities and of the environment. She is also a volunteer board member with the Mount Vernon Farmers Market. When not making soap and our other great skin care products, Andrea enjoys reading, getting out for an easy forest stroll, and snuggling with her mischievous orange kitty Gial.

 

Teddy Rivard

He/Him

Market and Fulfillment Director

Teddy is so glad to be joining the MW Soapworks team! After helping out at the Mount Vernon Saturday Farmer’s Market in 2020 (and aiding with pandemic-related speed bumps) he was thrilled to accept an offer to continue working with Andrea moving into 2021. Teddy grew up in Woodinville, Washington and graduated from Western Washington University in 2019 with a bachelors in Computer Science. Aside from his academic pursuits, he has been a juggler for 10 years, a musician for 20, and a maker of bad puns his entire life. He loves to find the silliness in the world around him and thrives off of the laughter of both close friends and strangers he’s just met. As Market Director, his will likely be the friendly face that greets you at our booth at markets. Teddy can’t wait to meet you at our next event. Come say hi!

 

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us and for supporting our small business!