Gwen Whiting, Founder of The Fill Club

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? 

I was an apparel designer by background, but spent my formative years at Ralph Lauren in home design. Then in 2004, I launched The Laundress, the first sustainable laundry and home-cleaning brand to offer a luxurious alternative to traditional grocery-store products, which was acquired by Unilever 16 years later in 2019.

Twenty years after launching The Laundress, and after a 5-year break filled with lots of travel, I stepped back into the laundry room with the launch of The Fill Club, reinventing the category once again by placing wellness at the brand’s heart-center. Launched in 2024, my collection of aromatherapy-infused laundry, home cleaning, and fabric care solutions is sold exclusively on our website to members of our private cleaning club.

In my personal life, I am a self-proclaimed wellness, travel, adrenaline, and newspaper junkie (print only). Cultural exploration and adventure are not only my passions and a source of curation and cultivation for my creative output—they are my superpowers. In addition to The Fill, I am a product/brand developer and consultant, mentor, advisor, board member, philanthropist, wellness expert, semi-professional traveler, and writer (I recently launched my Substack, “The Laundry List“)! I live in Bridgehampton, New York City, and London with my husband, James.

As the original laundress, can you give us some tips on doing laundry when you’re on the road for a while? How do you go about it—do you use the hotel service? Wash things in the sink?

I used to travel with my Laundress travel kit (which sadly no longer exists, like everything else I made for the brand), but I have made a little laundry kit from my new cleaning brand, The Fill. I use a small clear plastic pouch with bottles and sprayers from Muji that contain:

• The Fill Detergent Day or Delicates (depending on the trip for hand washing in the sink)
• The Freshener Night – Ground and Restore Aromatherapy for freshening clothes, airplane seats, and as a bed/pillow spray.
• The Wrinkles, my magical clothing wrinkle release spray
• And of course, The Laundry Bar, to handwash or spot-treat stains on the go. 

My kit always includes my hanging clips for safe and easy hang drying. A must for beach/bathing suit holidays.

I desperately avoid hotel laundering, not only because it costs a fortune, but often the scent drives me insane. I cannot handle mass brands or industrial standard laundry fragrance; it throws me over the edge. However, I am a sucker for any laundry returned in a beautiful basket, like I’ve had at The Kulm in St. Moritz, Luang Prabang Amantaka, or in Bhutan Amankora.

You have an amazing Dopp kit full of foreign pharmacy finds – can you walk us through what’s in there?

Oh goodness, I did an entire Substack Live on this. Let’s start with: I will try anything foreign! I seem to have a theme of buying pain products. I stock up in London with the Nurofen Meltlets tablets. In Italy, I will stock up on migraine tablets and metformin for my husband, and my rosacea cream they sell for $20 over the counter! Anything exciting or interesting, I’ll try!

I have bought these Spray de Ricqles breath sprays for years, you find them usually near the check out counters in the small independent French pharmacies. Not sweet and a serious kick of minty fresh.

I just picked this Isdin Raparador Labial up in Lisbon this month. I am into the moisturizing balm with just enough tint to make it “a thing.”

On my last visit I got this Mesoprotech Facial Sun Mist, which is amazing because we need to use sunscreen but I hate having heavy greasy sunscreen on my face. It’s NOT cheap…

I have to buy Korres, and while I avoid sunburn at all cost, this yogurt-based Korres After Sun Cooling Gel is always refreshing. I also buy this hair sunscreen there for my mom, too: Red Vine Hair Sun Protection.

Anything foreign-RX… I’m IN! I am psychologically convinced anything is better than the US, or better than what is available through the US healthcare scheme. I love being able to go to the counter, share my problem and get a qualified solution on the spot… and usually feel better (and with a few fun items also in my basket too).

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, medical professional, or in any way telling anyone to take any medications not prescribed by a professional. I am only sharing my personal experiences

Pounding head: I am annoyingly often afflicted with headaches that stem from my neck and up the side of my face/head all day, so I find myself often picking up headache pills everywhere. I used Veganin from the UK that I hoarded from Boots for a long time. This has the trifecta of caffeine, codeine and paracetamol. They sell similar versions of this in other countries, I was recommended to try momentact in Italy by a fellow sufferer. I also like these disc drops from Nurofen “meltems” that melt in your mouth – I feel like they act faster.

 Run down, colds, and crappy feelings: I am often in Europe sometime in January through March, which makes it easy to feel a bit run down, so I also have a collection of cold/flu remedies. I love how you can get a dual pack of these Day & Night Nurse tablets in one so you don’t have to waste anything, like half the package… you just get your course to take back to full health. Actified is a French version I like as well for head, nose, congestion, and general crappy feelings. I also like this fizzy dissolving tablet Aspirna with Aspirin and Vitamin C together… I also like the insta-relief feeling while drinking it.

Lastly, teeth! My mom, Peg, was a dental hygienist for over 50 years… so I have lots of opinions here. It would be remiss of me not to share the toothpaste I have religiously used for decades now. US toothpaste is SO sweet, it grosses me out. I am so used to the Elgydium not being sweet and just pure minty fresh toothpaste. Even better when you can get the 2-pack special!

While I love this little flex-back tube, the BIO formula doesn’t give me the wow of freshness that my OG one does. Lastly, I really don’t think this is the best toothbrush, but the fun color gives me some joy.

Do you take any particular supplements before or during travel?

I always travel with my day/night vitamin regimen Dr. Gabrielle Francis puts together for me for my adrenal support, immune system and overall vitality.   

I went off sleeping pills and anti-anxiety pills a very long time ago and trained myself to lean in and work with time zones, and I have a very measured sleeping in-flight protocol. A microdose can be handy sometimes, too. 

For an overnight: take vitamins, supplements, and hydration electrolytes, put on the eye mask, and sink into the sleep relaxation zone.

I always have electrolyte pouches, vitamin C powder, magnesium or a Berocca tablet (this is best for general hydration, vitamins, and battling jetlag weakness. Helps me power thru for success!).

What’s always in your carry-on? 

I never fly without my Lingua Franca eye mask embroidered “Louche” or my CBD cream from Thompson Alchemist, Laneige lip mask, (however, I also have been enjoying my newest Wildsmith Balm from my last stay at Heckfield Place).

Toothbrush, my french Elgydium Whitening Toothpaste, and my Decree hydrating face spray and facemask from my doctor Dr. A.J. Sturnham.

And compression socks – always!!! My favorite brand is Danish Endurance.

How do you organize your cosmetics in transit—do you decant, use minis, buy things on the ground, or just check a bag? 

Frankly, I am the WORST packer—despite living on the go 30% of my year!  I always check a bag, often multiple.I always have an extra bag with me to never leave behind a treasure (always my favorite finds are from the road), and I ship if I have to. 

I have some minis, but often my trips are generally too long for that. When I am going to Europe for a long time, I will rely on replenishing along the way. Luckily, my Decree facial regimen from Dr. AJ Sturnham is sold in smaller/lighter packaging and my husband and I share those products.

We both use the lightweight terrycloth cosmetic cases from The Monogram Shop in East Hampton.

We also gave up on our T.Anthony’s a long time ago when they quit repairing – from a stitch to a broken wheel. Instead, we found the most lightweight bags available, which are the highly uninteresting IT bags. We are always pushing the bag weight limit.

I am the complete opposite of a capsule wardrobe traveller! Instead, when I travel, I love to exercise my extraneous wardrobe collection (from years of collecting and laundering care). In my life now in New York I don’t dress like I used to, so when I travel I get to enjoy my pieces. 

I will forever be a Ralph Lauren girl, with my “Polo Barbie” dressing themes—English Countryside, Out of Africa, Alpine Chic, Madison Avenue, etc. 

 

How does your interest in beauty and wellness influence your travels?

I do a tremendous amount of wellness travel. I recently went on an annual girls’ hiking retreat week in Italy—we first did the program “La Dolce Vitality” at Le Sirenuse Hotel with the owners, the Sersale family, two years ago, and decided to go back. They do this incredible week together one time a year before they open the property back up for the season. Spending a week hiking everyday up the Path of the Gods along the Amalfi Coast and with good girlfriends is just so good for the heart and soul.

Last year we did our week retreat with The Ashram in Mallorca in June. We loved it. I would love to do the Camino trail or an Iceland trip next.

I’ve done a few quick breaks at The Ranch Hudson Valley since it opened instead of heading back to Malibu the last few years. I also did a quick weekend this December to the newish Sha in Mexico, which was a great refresh. Hated my time at the original Sha in Spain.

I try to go to Thailand to my favorite spot every two years: Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Thailand.

My husband and I often plan our trips that include some wellness or outdoor components—for instance, we just came back from the Middle East: Oman, Dubai and the Maldives. We did hikes and enjoyed all the diverse activities, classes, and spa at two different Six Senses hotels, Zighy Bay in Oman and Laamu in the Maldives.

We just bought a small apartment in London, in the just opened Six Senses Hotel centered on wellness, so it will be interesting to integrate living in a wellness hotel with our London stays going forward. I will have to report back, what that is like! 

I could go on and on here….perhaps for another column! 

Do you have any rituals you use while on a trip to reset and ground yourself in a new place?

I always hit the ground running! Except now I am a bit more generous with my time. I build in more transition time, choose my gentle time tables, give myself a cushion for downtime and regrouping when I can.

How do you manage sleep, jet lag, and staying energized while changing time zones?

I am very disciplined with that. After my first business trip to Japan many years ago and being a total mess, I will never do that again! I stick to the schedule I am going to, and force myself to sleep or at least rest, instead of read or zombie out to movies.

I was given a Timeshifter app trial from The Global Wellness Summit in Israel a few years ago, but I could never get it to work on my phone…so I have never tried it. 

This is when I miss being young and free, with a backpack, cigarettes and Diet Coke. 🙂

Do you have a workout or movement routine you stick to while traveling?

When I am travelling I always prefer to be outside, in the environment or trying different local things. I don’t want to spend my precious time in a hotel gym. In a city I will walk. In London and the UK, I love cold swimming, hiking when I can, the beautiful bathing rituals in Asia, and in Scandinavia and Europe any form of saunagus (a guided sauna ritual). My husband and I will always take a hotel yoga class when available, too.

I also love doing any local or interesting spa experience too. On my last trip in Oman, I enjoyed trying the local Damask Rose and Frankincense ritual treatments.

What are a few of your favorite wellness destinations (and why)?

Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand – overall immersive wellness experience, practitioners, and overall energy.

Any Hiking retreat with excellent food and good people, preferably with nice accommodations and a daily massage. (My backpacker days are over)

Nothing beats being outside, in nature, and pushing yourself and your VO2 max in beauty.

Countries, cities, areas that naturally integrate wellness into their daily lives. Two summers ago, we had the most magnificent 2 weeks enjoying Norway in August —hiking, fjording and sauna/swimming all around the country.  

Where are you dreaming of going next?

Well, after the Amalfi dream week…

In May, I went on a writer’s retreat in the Cotswolds.

June, a girls 50th birthday week in St. Tropez

July, Finland and Baltics tour with James

August, back to the Italian coast, trying Ischia this time.

For the future, I have already mapped out the Pearl Tour in Bahrain, a wellness resort I missed a few years ago in Qatar (Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som), and the Spice Route tour starting in Kazakhstan, maybe for next spring.