The Written Word
In light of the launch of the Montblanc for Unicef Collection this year, the collaboration leaves no doubt that it will continue to be a channel for change, writes Kathlyn D’souza
Montblanc and Unicef partner to release a collection that aims to eradicate illiteracy
As far as partnerships go, Montblanc and Unicef may just be the most perfect one yet. Both parties are champions of educational rights across the globe, and have done so for 13 years, and counting. Montblanc has been rooted in the culture of writing, and it is their belief that the written word is a precious gift and a key pillar of education that should be bestowed to everyone, by everyone. As iterated by Montblanc’s Southeast Asia managing director, Anouar Guerraoui, to whom we spoke with during the Kuala Lumpur launch, “Montblanc is a dominating player when it comes to writing instruments,” and so we can see that it was only natural that the brand would work hand-in-hand with Unicef to improve the lives of five million people worldwide through education. The maison is earnest and determined to be the force for good behind education, exhibiting this in their cross-category products. “Montblanc is called a lifetime companion because it allowsws you to have access to different products. Some appeal to different age groups and interests. What is recurring is the Europeann craftsmanship, offering top quality and topp functionality. Apart from that we do have a very strong sense of social responsibility,” expressed Guerraoui. This is where Unicef comes in. “It is not just about the business, nor the success of the brand, but also about social responsibility. I think it is an obligation that every successful company has to consider, to make the world a better place.” In the case of Montblanc, the maison picked Unicef because of the strong belief in what they do, and the shared passion for writing. “This is clearly the best partnership we can hope for to transmit our values, which are obviously combined with theirs as well,” said Guerraoui. “Education is recognised by the world as a fundamental human right. I believe education is a very strong tool to elevate countries from poverty, so not only does it help in terms of development, but also for progress, the elevation of standards and way of living.” With this campaign’s key message in mind, the brand launched its Montblanc for Unicef Collection—now in its third cycle of product releases to represent that partnership. Comprising writing instruments, leather,
“It is not just about the business, nor the success of the brand, but also about social responsibility. I think it is an obligation that every successful company has to consider, to make the world a better place”