All about: Aesop’s Anatomy of Generosity initiative for the holidays

Aesop's holiday gift kits are always a joy to have to hold, with much more thought going into their curation than the average mini in a bauble. This year the cult brand has gone one step further again, creating a wonderful initiative around their release that fans of the brand will love.
Entitled ‘Anatomy of Generosity’, Aesop's 2021 gifting collection is designed to honour and encourage everyday acts of kindness. Each kit has been tied to one of five registered charity groups, and as a concrete gesture of support, the Aesop Foundation—the brand’s now global charitable platform—has donated AUD $100,000 to each of these organisations, regardless of sales.

The Forager

 Launching on Monday, the gift kits celebrate five of the starring roles in any nurturing and equitable society. Each of these personas correlates to one of the featured charities and the work that they do. Through the altruistic archetypes after which they are named, the kits can also serve as a token of recognition for the recipient, representing the values they embody for the giver.
Each contains an assortment of complementary products, housed in a case made from 100% recycled paper pulp, making for a conscionable gift option whose impact reverberates beyond the first exchange. Now for a little about the full, glorious line up and the associated charities…

The Advocate
The Advocate comprises a quartet of cleansers and hydrators for the hands and body. Seldom speaking for themselves, advocates give others the floor so their voices can be heard. They aim to amplify the plight of others and raise awareness of the underserved. Similarly, US-based human rights charity Voice of Witness brings 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 donation will assist with the publication of another issue in their current book series and support a further three titles over the next two years.

The Listener
The Listener is an invitation to invigorate and nourish the skin from neck to toe through a trio of complementary formulations. Patience attends this archetype—offering advice and understanding they have also mastered their own tongue, always knowing the right word to speak, yet doing it sparingly. Offering similar sustenance, the London arts community Pan Intercultural Arts was 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 ‘Anatomy of Generosity’ will be used to recruit more participants and explore even more channels for the group’s creative pursuits.

The Mentor
The Mentor is a triptych of antioxidant-rich formulations for impeccable cleansing, toning and hydration. A mentor trades in wisdom, passing it on over time and from generation to generation. Their good-hearted and gentle handling keeps knowledge alive in the actions and minds of those lucky enough to receive it. Putting this in practice 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— alongside three schools in London, Leeds and Manchester.

The Forager
The Forager is a refreshing citrus-infused body care duo, for those seeking a purifying and nourishing experience. Assemblage is the art of this persona, accumulating inspiration to nourish the collective. They actively seek out the often overlooked to empower them and inform others of their importance. Sharing stories that are otherwise untold is also the focus of Photographers Without Borders, a grass roots global advocacy programme. The group is a diverse network of over 1000 photographers 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 resources. Our investment in 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

My personal favourite, The Protector combines a trio of fragrant additions for the home or office, devised to provide refreshing aromas and preserve accommodating environs. Protectors see value in the small and urgency in the endangered—placing themselves courageously and selflessly in harm’s way to preserve the precarious balance of their ecosystem and those who make it up. The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust 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 off the land. The Trust also focuses on preserving the cultural heritage of the country’s original inhabitants. As such, the investment made through the Gift Kits will help halt the current decline of ecological and spiritual knowledge in today's Indigenous communities, which is sadly dying out with the passing of older Indigenous generations.

Each of these organisations was specifically chosen to be represented and supported by the Aesop Foundation due to shared values and outlooks. Established in 2017, the Foundation was the culmination of a history steeped in philanthropic initiatives. Since then, it has been devoted to giving voice to the underrepresented, with a particular interest in promoting literacy.
Friends and partners of Aesop are invited to learn more about the Foundation by contacting foundation@aesop.com – and show your support by picking up a few gift kits in the lead up to the holidays, for loved ones or as dream gifts-to-self.