Wilder friends - Esperanza De La Fuente, fashion stylist, art director and founder of one of the coolest and most informative publication ... Wholetalk.
Please share a little about yourself, where you live, and your working journey so far.
After studying fashion design in Madrid, I moved to London to gain experience in the fashion industry and improve my English. Those first few years as an assistant were incredibly exciting—working with magazines and fashion brands, travelling for shoots—but they were also challenging, hard work and very little money. Fast forward 15 years, and I now live in Hackney with my husband and our 4-year-old son, Lucas—who will soon be a big brother! I’m expecting a baby in May. I work as a fashion stylist and art director, and I also produce Wholetalk Magazine, a biannual independent publication focused on wellbeing, positivity, and connection.
How do you manage to juggle home life, being a mama, with organising the styling of shoots, your nutritional work and producing Wholetalk?
I believe it all comes down to pre-production and organisation. I am a freelancer so my days don’t follow a weekly pattern. Since becoming a mum, my productive window has shrunk significantly, so I have to be very intentional with my time. I rely on careful planning, scheduling everything, and keeping up with my calendar. I write everything down and leave little to chance! and even so, I often feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up!
What inspired you to start Wholetalk?
In my late twenties, I became fascinated by nutrition and well-being. I read, researched, and experimented—driven by my own struggles with digestive issues, which forced me to pay closer attention to what I was putting into my body and how to heal. After having my son, Lucas, my interest deepened even more. I decided to study it properly, eventually graduating in holistic nutrition and health coaching. Wholetalk started as a graduation project—something I poured so much effort into that I knew I had to bring it to life. I was so excited by everything I had learned that I felt compelled to share it, and a magazine felt like the perfect way to do it given my visual background. It was the fusion of both of my worlds. I wanted people to know that no matter where they are or what they do, they can improve their health and well-being. It all comes down to replacing ‘bad’ habits with positive, lasting changes.
How do you decide on the overall topic or content for each edition of Wholetalk. You have had the seasons, The Earth issue and the last, Longevity.
I started with the seasons because so much of our well-being depends on aligning with the world around us. We live in a highly unnatural environment, often disconnected from nature, so this felt like the perfect foundation. Tuning into each season—adjusting how we eat and move accordingly—is essential, not just for our own health but for the health of the planet. We should embrace the fruits and vegetables that nature provides at any given time and cook in harmony with the seasons. In summer, we naturally crave raw fruits and salads, while in winter, we seek out warm, nourishing meals that are easier to digest. Just as the colder months encourage us to slow down and rest, the warmer months bring out our energy and social nature. The themes for each issue come to me quite naturally, shaped by what’s happening in the world, what feels relevant, and what I believe is valuable to share with others.
Why would you say craft is important to you?
As a visual and creative person, the practice of creating something it just simply makes me happy. I find it quite fulfilling.
Please share your two favourite herbs whether culinary or holistic?
I love adding fresh herbs to meals. Coriander, basil, dill, thyme, rosemary… would be hard to pick one! And I love lavender for home/body products.
Do you have any rituals that you feel support your overall wellbeing?
I have a few small rituals that have become part of my daily routine. In the morning, I start with oil pulling as soon as I wake up, followed by a glass of water with electrolytes. Before showering, I dry brush, and after, I hydrate my skin with almond oil. Lately, I’ve also been incorporating a face LED mask into my nighttime routine—ideally for 10 minutes before bed. I aim to do it daily, but if not, as often as possible throughout the week.
What does daily self care personally mean to you?
Eating well and being able to move daily. Those two are definitely my pillars for feeling good on a daily basis.
@wholetalk_ @espedelafuente @esperanzadelafuente_