Potions In Motion
What happens when an Australian skincare brand heads to the Asian beauty capital? Juliana Norza explores new traditions with Aesop.
Strolling along a busy street in Seoul, a sprawling metropolis of exuberant creative energy, the first thing that strikes me are the towering skyscrapers snuggled neatly between modest neighbourhood eateries. Turn a corner, and the bustling Itaewon district vanishes into winding hills and rows of quiet side streets, but upon further inspection, dessert cafés and concept clothing stores full of the city’s coolest kids reveal themselves. Living and creating seem to blur together for the city dwellers of Seoul. Creativity, and more importantly innovation, is everywhere.
NEW HISTORY
Australian natural skincare brand Aesop applies a similar approach in creating new connections out of tradition. The Aesop standalone store in Samcheongdong, borne out of a collaboration with Japanese firm Torafu Architects, retains the traditional structure of a Korean hanok—apt, considering the neighbourhood is known for its Joseon-era buildings. However, the dark blue exterior and large glass windows tell a more contemporary story.
Marsha Meredith, creative director of Aesop, explains, “Aesop approaches everything in a poetic manner, looking to imagery that evoke a sense of movement, discovery, and wonder.” The interlinked pipes from above for example, which sends water to the stainless steel demonstration sinks, are left bare, and the floorboards are untouched to “bare scuff marks from their past life”.
The Aesop Hannam Sounds signature store, a warm haven in collaboration with Hong Kong architecture firm Mlkk.Studio, is built in a similar vein. The space, crafted out of mandaengi gama, traditional chambered kiln, features terracotta brick arches, inviting visitors into a Korean furnace lined with Aesop’s nurturing products.
SEASONAL JOURNEY
The common ground between Aesop and this dynamic city was clear. “A creative sensibility underpins all that we do,” muses Meredith. “We believe that good design improves lives.” At an immersive launch of the Atlas of Attraction Gift Kits— Aesop’s collaboration with Iris van Herpen, the Dutch couturier’s patterns come to life through a spectacular structure suspended from a ceiling at the Albus Gallery. A visual film by Adam Jeppesen is on loop, depicting footage of bird migration and ethereal patterns of movement—an arresting experience that looks at the idea of onward journeys. An extension of this is the Van Herpen structure itself, to be dismantled after the launch and distributed to stores around the globe. On four plinths are the Gift Kits, standing individually to reflect their narratives. The Familiar Horizon, of beloved Aesop home care products such as Post-Poo Drops and Istros Aromatique Room Spray, concentrates on the idea and significance of homeward journeys, while The Orbit of Intention focuses on creating mindfulness through its skincare formulations. A Curious Connection provides Aesop’s best in its body care range, and tells of magnetic connection on a more cellular level, and finally, Contours of Discovery includes bathroom essentials, and recognises the value places have in bringing transformation and rejuvenation. The collaboration brings forth the power of a journey, be it towards the familiar or new perspectives. With Aesop’s wondrous alchemy for the soul and Van Herpen’s innate sense of otherwordly creativity, comes a different way of looking at everyday forms. Always thinking beyond, always challenging the norm. The Aesop J Atlas of Attraction Gift Kits are available until November 2019 at Aesop stores nationwide. www.aesop.com/my