UNIK Muse: Courtney McIntosh, founder of The Inarra

 

This year’s International Women’s Day, we are honoured to feature Courtney MacIntosh, founder of The Inarra, a platform known for its calm, thoughtful approach to motherhood, style and modern womanhood.

Born in regional New South Wales and now based in Sydney, Courtney’s journey has been shaped by both grounded beginnings and a deep creative instinct. Through The Inarra, she has created a space that celebrates women in their full complexity — ambition and softness, style and substance, family and individuality.

Alongside building a meaningful platform for mothers, Courtney is also a mother of three, currently navigating the tender early weeks with her newborn daughter. Her perspective on motherhood, creativity and business is both deeply considered and refreshingly honest — grounded in the realities of everyday life while still holding space for inspiration and growth.

In this special UNIK Muse feature, we speak with Courtney about the story behind The Inarra, how motherhood has shaped the way she leads and creates, and the small rituals that help her stay grounded through this beautiful and busy season of life.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background, where you’re from, where you grew up, and where you live now?

I was born in Bathurst, NSW, and spent my early years there before my family moved to Wagga Wagga, where I started school. We later relocated to Sydney, which is where I finished school and where I’ve built my life and career. I have a very strong appreciation for the country. Those early years shaped me more than I realised at the time. There’s a groundedness, a down-to-earth nature, and a resilience that comes from growing up outside a major city. It’s something I’m deeply grateful for and something I carry with me in how I live and how I work. I now live in Sydney with my husband James and our three children. We recently moved into a new home that we’re slowly shaping into something reflective of this season of life. It’s full, it’s evolving, and it feels very aligned with where I am both personally and professionally.

How did The Inarra come to life? Was there a moment when you realised you wanted to build something of your own?

It really began when I fell pregnant with my first son, Johnny, who is now seven and a half. At the time, I was working in fashion magazine publications. Fashion has always been a huge part of my identity. I loved the way it made me feel. It was a form of self-expression, a creative outlet, and a source of confidence. When I fell pregnant, everything shifted. My body was changing in ways I had never experienced, and suddenly I had no idea where to turn for inspiration. There wasn’t a space online that spoke to women like me. Nothing that felt modern, inspiring, intelligent or community-driven. The content felt either overly clinical or overly polished. It didn’t reflect the complexity of motherhood.

I had this persistent feeling that mothers deserved something beautifully curated and thoughtful. A platform that didn’t reduce them to one dimension. I wanted to create something that celebrated ambition and softness, style and substance, family and individuality. It wasn’t an overnight decision. It was a quiet pull that grew stronger over time. Eventually, that internal nudge became impossible to ignore, so I built it.

You wear UNIKSPACE beautifully, is there a piece you find yourself coming back to again and again? Which pieces are your favourites, and why?

The Anya kimono and Cooper short set is my ultimate favourite. I wore it throughout pregnancy, and now postpartum and breastfeeding, it’s still on high rotation. That kind of longevity in a piece is rare. The linen is so breathable and comfortable, especially during pregnancy when your body temperature is constantly shifting. Now, as a breastfeeding mother, the ease of it is invaluable. What I love most is that it always looks refined and considered. Even on days when I’m running on very little sleep, I can throw it on and feel pulled together. I wear it with shorts in warmer weather or swap to the long pants for something a little more elevated. It’s one of those pieces that moves with you through seasons, both literally and in life.

You’re a mother as well as a founder. How has motherhood shaped the way you move through your days or make decisions, both personally and professionally?

Motherhood has made me far more decisive and far more intuitive.Time becomes precious. You learn to filter quickly. What matters? What doesn’t? Where is my energy best spent? Professionally, it’s made me build THE INARRA in a way that supports my life, not competes with it. I am deeply ambitious, but I am also deeply present with my children. The tension between those two things has actually created clarity rather than conflict. Motherhood has also softened me. I lead with more empathy now. I understand the seasons. I respect capacity. That shows up in how I collaborate and how I create.

What does taking care of yourself look like at the moment? Do you have any simple rituals or routines that help you feel grounded?

Right now, taking care of myself looks very simple. I have a newborn, so the rituals are small. A hot shower before everyone wakes up. Five quiet minutes with a coffee. A walk outside with the pram walking my big kids to school. Nourishing food or an extra hour of sleep. I’ve learned that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. It’s about protecting small pockets of stillness. And being kind to myself when the day doesn’t go to plan or I don't get as much ticked off the to-do list as I had hoped.

 

The Inarra has such a calm, considered feel. How do your own values and lifestyle influence the way you approach the brand?

THE INARRA is an extension of my values. I am drawn to calm, thoughtful spaces. I value longevity over trends. Depth over noise. I want the brand to feel like a pause in someone’s day. A place that respects women’s intelligence and complexity. Because I’m living motherhood in real time, the content is lived, not theoretical. The styling is practical yet elevated because that’s how I want to dress. The conversations are layered because that’s how I experience life. I never want it to feel frantic or performative. It has to feel grounded and not trend-based.

 

Can you walk us through a typical day for you, the work, the family time, and the small moments in between?

Right now, “typical” looks a little different because my daughter is just three weeks old, so I’m still very much finding our new normal. The mornings begin early. There’s usually a newborn feed before the house properly wakes up, then breakfast with the boys and school drop-off. Those early hours feel full but tender. I’m trying to soak them in.

Work is happening in shorter, more focused pockets at the moment. A few emails while Mila naps, refining creative ideas for upcoming projects. I’m gently easing back in rather than diving headfirst, which feels important in this season. Afternoons are a mix of newborn cuddles, school pick-up, snacks, homework, and the beautiful chaos that comes with three children. Evenings are family dinner, bath time, and once the house quietens, I might open my laptop again for an hour if I have the energy.

In between it all are the small moments that mean the most. A sleepy stretch from Mila. A story from Johnny about his day. Alfie’s excitement over something tiny and ordinary. A message from a reader saying something resonated. It’s layered and imperfect and full. I’m learning to move slower in this season, and to let that be enough. 

 

Where do you look for inspiration, whether creatively, in business, or simply as a woman navigating the different roles in your life?

I find inspiration in women who are building meaningful things while staying deeply themselves.

I’m inspired by architecture, interiors, art, travel. I’m inspired by thoughtful brands that move slowly and deliberately. I’m inspired by conversations with mothers who are honest about the juggle. Creatively, I often look outside fashion. Books, documentaries, long walks. Space is where ideas form.

 

If you could sit down with your younger self, what would you tell her and what advice would you give her?

I would tell her that she doesn’t have to rush. Everything will fall into place exactly as it's meant to. There is so much pressure to achieve quickly, to prove yourself. I would tell her that depth takes time. That setbacks are not failures, they’re refinement. I would tell her to trust her instincts earlier. To back herself. And to know that the life she will build will feel aligned, even if it doesn’t look exactly as she once imagined.

 

What’s ahead for The Inarra? Are there any projects, ideas or directions you’re excited about right now?

There is a lot ahead, and that excites me. We’re expanding the commercial arm in a more structured way, building thoughtful partnerships that feel aligned rather than transactional. I’m also developing an extension of THE INARRA focused on supporting mothers in their work lives, creating a more flexible, modern ecosystem around career and creativity. Editorially, I’m leaning further into long-form storytelling and curated style edits that support women through different life stages, especially pregnancy and postpartum.

Ultimately, the vision is longevity. I want THE INARRA to grow into a platform that evolves alongside the women who read it. Calm, intelligent, enduring.

Photography: Iris and Me