At the heart of the Slow Movement is the notion of preserving crafts and valuing the handmade. The reason isn’t just about enjoying the quality of items that have been slowly created with care and years of skill. It’s also about learning to appreciate the human story behind products.
I love knowing about the people behind the stuff that I bring into my home. It might be because I’m plain nosey, but I love to hear that the woman who started the tomato sauce / organic bed linen / bicycle satchel company used to dance the Tango in a Buenos Aires ballroom five nights a week. For example. It adds a extra dimension to my belongings that they have a human story attached.
So, unsurprisingly, I’ve gone nuts for the Dr Bronner’s range of organic beauty products. Dr Bronner’s is launching it’s certified organic Moisturiser Magic to the UK this season, but before I tell you about that let me tell you about Dr Bronner himself.
Dr. Emmanuel Bronner was a third generational soap maker who spent his life renouncing hate and war. He gave public lectures on the message of world peace and the dangers of communism and fascism, following the death of his family in the Holocaust.
His strong views landed him in a mental asylum in Chicago, but eight months later in 1948 Bronner escaped and continued giving lectures in California. He also began making peppermint liquid soap under the ‘Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps’ brand.
Bronner gave away soap during his talks and when he realized people were taking it without listening to him speak, he started writing his philosophy on the bottle in tiny script. This is still used on Bronner’s packaging today.
Four times married Dr Bronner died in 1997 and the company continues under his son Ralph, daughter in-law Trudy and grandsons David and Michael, with an ever growing fan base including Drew Barrymore and Sandra Bullock. The Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is currently the USA’s no 1 selling natural soap brand.
That’s some story isn’t it? And believe me it’s the tip of the iceberg. Peace campaigner by day, organic beauty pioneer by night. I wonder if Anita Roddick knew about him.
So, on to the new Moisturiser Magic range. Along with the finest organic essential oils for fragrance, these lotions are based on pure, high potency organic jojoba, coconut, hemp, avocado and grain oils, which are free from petrochemically modified ingredients and preservatives.The frangrance variations sound good enough to brew in a teapot, including Orange Lavender, Peppermint, Patchouli Lime, and Lavender Coconut.
Dr. Bronner’s is available worldwide. In the UK it is available nationwide including Liberty, select Waitrose stores and leading health shops including Fresh & Wild, Planet Organic and Whole Foods.
To find your nearest UK stockist call 0845 072 5825 or visit www.kinetic4health.co.uk.
