Soap and glory
Modern times require hygienic heroes with a considered approach
As hygiene has come to play such an important part in all our lives in recent months, so too have young designers looked to create innovative and aesthetically pleasing ways to keep clean. In an attempt to reduce the amount of waste generated by the mini bottles of shower gel and shampoo found in hotels, Manon Novelli created the Ephemeral collection, consisting of a selection of soaps, for hands, body and hair. Conceived for her diploma project while studying for a bachelor’s degree in industrial design at ECAL, the soaps are distributed in reusable bamboo boxes, are free from packaging and only last the length of one wash. Meanwhile, for her diploma project while studying for an MAS in design for luxury and craftsmanship at ECAL, Sarah Remy reimagined the ritual of cleaning and self-care with Sōl, a stackable tower of glass containers inspired by the Japanese skincare ritual of ‘layering’. Morning and night, users can lay out the various containers and successively work through their natural contents: oil, soap, konjac sponge, aloe vera and water. The result is a more considered approach to an everyday routine, while its elegant design, with its mouth-blown glass base and bronze dome cast in a traditional bell foundry, makes it a welcome addition to any bathroom countertop.