Twenty years ago this July, husband and wife team Mark and Kira Walton set out with a vision to transform a centuries old Irish tradition into a globally recognised luxury brand.
Today, as VOYA celebrates its 20th anniversary, the County Sligo based luxury brand stands as one of Ireland's most remarkable international business success stories, exporting the power of hand harvested Irish seaweed to luxury consumers in more than 50 countries worldwide and partnering with some of the most prestigious names in global travel, hospitality and wellness.
What began on Ireland's rugged Atlantic coastline has evolved into a globally respected luxury beauty and wellness brand, with VOYA now selected as the spa partner of choice for hundreds of luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Today, guests can experience VOYA treatments in some of the world's most iconic ultra-luxe properties, including The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Ritz Carlton Naples, Four Seasons Hotel London, Waldorf Astoria Seychelles and Ashford Castle here at home, among many others.
The brand's most notable global partnership sees VOYA provide luxury wellness amenities for Emirates, the world's largest international airline, across First Class and Business Class cabins, as well as Emirates lounges around the world, a simply extraordinary achievement for an Irish owned luxury brand competing on the global stage.
Reflecting on the big birthday milestone, VOYA Co-Founder and Managing Director Mark Walton said:
"The global beauty industry is one of the most competitive markets in the world. It's dominated by multinational conglomerates with enormous resources, global distribution networks and marketing budgets that smaller independent brands can only dream of. For a family owned business from the west of Ireland to not only survive but thrive in that environment is something we're incredibly proud of.
"When we started VOYA twenty years ago, we never imagined that one day our products would be enjoyed by Emirates passengers travelling around the world or featured in some of the most luxurious hotels and spas on the planet. The reality is that none of this would have been possible without the incredible loyalty of our customers. Particularly those here in Ireland, who of course started us off. Kira and I still read all of our customer reviews. We still celebrate every success and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us along the journey."
At the heart of VOYA's success is a uniquely Irish ingredient that the company has spent two decades championing on the global stage, wild, hand harvested seaweed sourced from Ireland's Atlantic coastline.
Long before seaweed became one of the beauty industry's most talked about ingredients, VOYA was investing heavily in scientific research to understand and unlock its full potential. Through ongoing partnerships with leading Irish researchers and biotechnology experts, the company has helped position Irish seaweed as one of the world's most exciting natural skincare ingredients.
Independent scientific studies have demonstrated remarkable results. Research has shown that VOYA seaweed extracts can increase the skin's antioxidant protection by up to 724%, while specific species used by the brand have been shown to stimulate collagen production by more than 200%. Additional studies have demonstrated improvements in skin hydration, elasticity and barrier protection, helping validate what generations of coastal communities have known for centuries about the restorative powers of seaweed.
Rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and bioactive compounds found nowhere else in nature, seaweed remains the cornerstone of every VOYA formulation and continues to drive the company's innovation pipeline.
Kira Guckian Walton, VOYA Co-Founder, adds:
"And this is really only the beginning of our scientific understanding of the remarkable benefits seaweed can offer both our skin and overall wellbeing. Our latest research project, now more than three years in development, represents the most comprehensive study of its kind that we have ever undertaken and is helping us uncover new insights into the extraordinary potential of this natural ingredient. It will surpass any seaweed research ever undertaken globally.
What excites me most is how much there is still to learn. Every new discovery reinforces our belief that seaweed is one of nature's most powerful resources, and we're only beginning to fully understand what this incredible superplant is capable of."
The inspiration for the brand came from the Walton family's deep connection to traditional Irish seaweed bathing, a practice with roots stretching back generations along Ireland's west coast. Recognising both the wellness benefits and untapped commercial potential of this natural resource, Mark and Kira established VOYA in Sligo in 2006 with a mission to bring the therapeutic benefits of Irish seaweed to a global audience.
While Mark focused on strategy, commercial growth and international expansion, Kira led the creative vision, helping shape the luxurious aesthetic, sensory experience and distinctive brand identity that has become synonymous with VOYA around the world.
Looking back on two decades in business, Mark added:
"Reaching twenty years is genuinely a pinch me moment. When I think about the highs, the challenges, the opportunities and the incredible people we've met along the way, it's hard to put into words. What makes me most proud isn't just where VOYA is today, but the team that helped build it. We have extraordinary people throughout the business and every success belongs to them as much as it does to Kira and me.
"I also feel incredibly fortunate to have built this company alongside my wife. Kira has always been the creative heartbeat of VOYA. She has an extraordinary eye for luxury, design and customer experience. We approach challenges differently, we think differently, and I genuinely believe that's one of the reasons VOYA has been able to grow the way it has."
VOYA Co-Founder and Creative Director Kira Guckian Walton said:
"People often ask what it's like building a business with your husband for twenty years. The honest answer is that there have definitely been moments when family dinners have become board meetings and not every conversation has ended in agreement!" she laughed.
"But in reality, I feel incredibly lucky. Mark and I have always complemented each other. We're very different people with very different strengths, and that's been one of VOYA's greatest assets. We are each other's biggest supporters, biggest challengers and biggest believers. Neither of us could have built this brand alone.
"When we look at what VOYA has become, we're enormously proud, but we're even more excited about what's still to come. Twenty years feels less like a finish line and more like the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
That next chapter is already underway.
Just weeks ago, VOYA launched their new Resurge Hair & Scalp Elixir, a next generation scalp serum designed to restore, strengthen and enhance hair health from the root. Combining VOYA's signature hand harvested seaweed with advanced plant cell technology, rosemary oil, argan oil and innovative scalp health actives, the product reflects the brand's ongoing commitment to combining cutting edge scientific innovation with nature led, organic wellness. Consumer trials reported dramatic improvements in scalp health, hair strength and overall hair appearance within just 28 days.
As VOYA celebrates twenty years in business, the company says its ambitions have never been greater.
While Mark and Kira remain tight-lipped about several significant international developments currently in progress, they confirm that major global announcements are on the horizon, alongside continued investment in product innovation, sustainability and scientific research.
Twenty years after launching from the west coast of Ireland, VOYA's mission remains unchanged: to share the extraordinary power of ‘superplant’ Irish seaweed with the world.
And according to its founders, the best is yet to come.
