Cool ocean dips, sunrise walks and reuniting with loved ones. Summer is coming and we’re eagerly awaiting the festive season.
Here to get you into the spirit of things is Aesop‘s Anatomy of Generosity, a range of gift kits designed to celebrate the beauty of kindness.
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Each package is tied to a chosen charity and is named after acts of selflessness: The Forager, The Advocate, The Protector, The Mentor and The Listener. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s to be kind to one another.
The Mentor trades in wisdom, that most precious of commodities. By their gentle handling and good- humoured delivery, knowledge is preserved and perpetuated, passed down the generations to live in the minds and actions of those lucky enough to receive it.
The partner organisation for The Mentor is Create UK, a charity dedicated to educating children in the UK with special needs and disabilities. Centring on the power of art, their creative programmes promote inclusion, wellbeing and belonging. The grant from this year’s Gift Kits will launch a new initiative with an environmental theme—working alongside three schools in London, Leeds and Manchester.
The Listener: Patience attends The Listener, whose generous ear has abated countless worries and woes. Requiring an athlete’s dedication, they have mastered the tongue not only for silence, but also for finding the right words—uttering them sparingly yet always to lasting effect.
This kit is dedicated to London arts community Pan Intercultural Arts, who were founded in 1986 to empower refugees and minorities through the transformative effects of the arts—while enlightening their audiences. Detailing the narratives of the displaced through performance, they work with members from all cultures and religions to foster a world of respect and understanding across societal divides. The funding from the Aesop Foundation will be used to recruit more participants and explore even more channels for the group’s creative pursuits.
The Forager: Assemblage is the art of The Forager, who accumulates ideas, resources and communal ties in order to nourish the collective. Always active behind the scenes, they employ generosity and a keen eye to seeking out all that is valuable but often overlooked.
Partner organisation is Photographers Without Borders, a grass roots global advocacy programme. The group is a diverse network of over 1000photographers and filmmakers who shine a light on pertinent issues through visual mediums. Maintaining a mission to make the means of storytelling accessible to all, they also run schools and provide relevant learning. The Aesop Foundation’s contribution to Photographers Without Borders will enable them to develop a five-year programme of funding for ten new storytellers to be brought onboard annually.
The Protector is one who sees value in the small, the underrepresented and the endangered, who appreciates the role of everything that is essential to the precarious balance of our ecosystem. Schooled in the art of resistance, they place themselves in harm’s way selflessly and with courage.
The partner organisation for The Protector is The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, which brings together Indigenous ranger groups in Australia to help address some of the nation’s pressing environmental problems—from managing native biodiversity to combating climate change and promoting traditional ways of living from the land. The Trust also focuses on preserving the cultural heritage of the country’s original inhabitants. The investment made through The Aesop Foundation will help halt the decline of ecological and spiritual knowledge in today’s Indigenous communities, which is sadly dying out with the passing of older generations.
The Advocate: Seldom speaking in the first person, The Advocate is one who puts the collective voice before their own, amplifying the plight of others and raising awareness of the underserved. Curious and attentive, they persist in careful conversation, scholarship and respect while resisting prejudice at every turn.
The partner organisation is US-based human rights charity Voice of Witness. This association aims to bring attention to the stories of those most impacted by social injustice—who are too often underrepresented in mainstream media. Echoing Aesop’s appreciation for the power of storytelling, Voice of Witness compiles and publishes oral accounts and educates others through an ambassador network. The Aesop Foundation’s investment will facilitate the publication of another issue in their book series and fund a further three titles over the next two years.
Each beautiful gift set is packaged in 100% recycled paper pulp cases with a recyclable sleeve to finish. So good, you’ll have to include one (or two) on your own wish list.
In the midst of this global pandemic, we see a surge in something that gives us hope: Kindness. Aesop are encouraging this kindness and compassion among customers this Christmas.
The Aesop foundation is a major part of the festive campaign this season. The underlying message of the launch is to ‘honour and encourage acts of everyday kindness’. In light of this, each kit has been tied to a charity and to show their support the Aesop Foundation have donated AUD $100,000 to each of these organisations, regardless of sales.
Encouraging us to continue to spread a little joy when we need it most, the Aesop Foundation has partnered with five charities for the festive launch and has pledged to donate to each one.
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Available in-store and online from November 1, 2021. Visit Aesop online or follow @aesopskincare on Instagram to find out more.
