We were thrilled to connect with Anabelle Co-Martinent, a self-made pioneer of the modern health food scene in Kuala Lumpur. From launching a humble cold-pressed juice business out of her home, she’s grown La Juiceria into a popular chain of cafes that make healthy foods accessible to the everyday customer. Now, she’s furthering the concept of modern wellness with a trailblazing biohacking club.
Anabelle stuns in our Low-back Jumpsuit.
1. Hi Anabelle! Tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in Manila, Philippines and relocated to Kuala Lumpur in 2006 - we really love it here.
I’ve worked at many tech companies such as Hewlett Packard, Nokia, and Microsoft in Malaysia. Eventually, I decided to leave the corporate world and in 2013, I started my first business, La Juiceria from my home. This small juice business has since evolved into restaurants like Superfoods and Super Saigon.
After 10 years of running La Juiceria, I decided to take a step back as I wanted to pursue something more aligned with my current interest: longevity. That’s when I connected with Yap, who was about to launch a biohacking club. I joined her efforts in putting everything together, and ĀMANÏ officially opened in December 2024.
2. What drew you to your latest venture, Amani Biohacking Club?
First and foremost, the founder, Yap Yann Fang, is an old friend of mine. Secondly, personal longevity comes into play as I turned 49 this year. As I approach that big 5-0, I find myself reflecting on my time here on Earth and how to live a quality life as I age. Wellness has always been a passion of mine, and now I want to hone in on continued mobility, function, and mental sharpness.
Amani is a 30,000 square feet biohacking centre that provides cutting-wedge wellness facilties and treaments to a thriving community of performance-focused business leaders, the first of its kind in Malaysia.
3. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as an entrepreneur?
First - don't do it for the money because nothing guarantees you will actually become profitable. Working for someone else is easier in some ways, because you focus on your job Monday to Friday, and don’t have to think about making money 24/7!
As an entrepreneur, be prepared for uncertainty. It's like jumping out of a plane and trying to assemble your parachute as you fall. No entrepreneur has everything figured out. Everyone is finding their way, developing their style, navigating through the economic landscape, and learning to understand the evolving needs and wants of consumers.
4. How does fashion and style fit into balancing a busy professional schedule with your personal life?
Investing in personal style is very important to me - dressing up and looking good is part of my personal branding; looking good can shape first impressions.
But beyond that, it’s also about how you feel. When you look good, you feel confident, happy, and ready to tackle anything that comes your way! Your clothes play a crucial role in setting your mood and style, so it's important to choose the appropriate outfits for different meetings, moments, and occasions.
Here are some tips: I love a black jumpsuit because it is so versatile. You can wear it all day at work and then simply add some heels at night, transforming it into a stylish evening look.
I also think that having good coats in your wardrobe is essential, as they can be worn to work or layered over casual outfits on weekends. The transition from morning to night is quite easy nowadays, as people are becoming more flexible with their fashion choices. Personally, I love wearing sneakers or flat shoes because they’re just more practical for women.
Tove & Libra Low-back Jumpsuit in upcycled black viscose
5. Do you feel attitudes toward mindfulness and sustainability in Asia generally, and Malaysia specifically, are changing?
I do notice that the younger generation is becoming more aware and engaged in trying these new things. As they explore, it influences the older generation to consider these practices as well. I believe sustainability is becoming increasingly important — not just because companies want to, but because they have to. In Malaysia, we see sustainability gaining traction, with people becoming more conscious of their purchases and more diligent about recycling, for example.
I think it's fantastic that there's so much education, sharing, and information out there, with content like The ESG Show and The Shift by Frieda Liu addressing sustainability goals. Hopefully, the more of these resources we have available, the more conscious people will become about their choices.
Stay tuned for more interviews from our Tove & Libra community! Looking for sustainable fashion in Hong Kong or Singapore? We ship locally or worldwide.
