We are thrilled that BEDI will be included in Holt Renfrew’s H Project across Canada. While many of us are familiar with Holt Renfrew and its luxury retail experience, Holt’s H project is less than 10 years old and doesn’t get quite the same amount of attention.
Started in 2013 by Alexandra Weston, Holt’s Director of Brand Strategy, Holt’s H Project is a conscious curation of products that are beautiful, well-storied, and that are creating a positive impact in the world. By creating H Project, Weston was responding to their customers' growing desire for socially responsible products. Each product that is selected to be a part of this collection meets either one or more of 6 criteria, that are not only good for Holt Renfrew to be considering but are also a great tool for any consumer to use when looking to shop responsibly.
Alexandra Weston, Holt Renfrew’s Director of Brand Strategy, heads the company’s initiative to “shop with a cause in mind”.
1. Artisanal
How the product is made, the people who make it, and how it positively impacts them is the first thing taken into consideration when a product or a brand is being considered to be a part of this initiative. Everyone who is a part of the production process, from idea to execution, is expected to work in safe working conditions and to be paid a fair living wage.
2. Materials
The material that makes up the product is another important factor into whether or not that product is making a positive impact on our environment. Some questions to ask when considering material are: Is it organic? Is it certified? Where does it come from?
3. Charitable
Are a portion of the profits from this product going towards a charitable cause? Whether it is towards cleaning up the environment, protecting women’s rights, or providing access to water and sanitation to communities in need, many brands under the H project umbrella are giving back to the community in a positive way.
4. Innovative
A brand may be considered for Holt’s H project if it is innovative, forward-thinking, or disrupting the fashion or beauty industries for the better.
5. Circular
Whether that means pre-loved, vintage, or upcycled, it is important for brands to be participating in the circular economy for them to also be considered to be included in Holt’s H Project.
6. Clean Beauty
Finally, H Project has a clean beauty program that promotes products that are good for you, inside and out. Beauty products offered by H Project are free from BHA/BHT, Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Donors, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates (SLS and SLES), and Triclosan.
H Project offers boxes in all of Holt Renfrew's stores to take back non-recyclable beauty products and finds ways of recycling them responsibly.
A common misconception, as we often say at BEDI, is that consumers need to sacrifice quality or design for sustainability. H is just another example that this is not at all the case. When asked about curating products with the Holt Renfrew Luxury aesthetic in mind, Alexandra Weston says that “at the end of the day, products that have incredible stories associated with them, and that have a real sense of humanity, that is luxury”. We see this new definition of luxury taking shape in many brands that are either new on the market or have been around for a long time. Through the lens of fashion and beauty, either brands are leaning into and owning their stories, or becoming aware of and changing practices to ensure customers can connect with them and know they are making socially, environmentally, and healthy choices when they shop.
Inder meeting with some of the buyer's from Holt Renfrew's H Project.
At BEDI, we ensure that all of these criteria are put at the forefront of everything we do (and even more - we have barely scratched the surface on where things are manufactured, how to determine real positive impact from greenwashing, and other important components that we take into account when we design our products). We would love to hear what you look for when making responsible purchases.
We partnered with Montreal chocolate artisans at Suite 88 to make vegan fortune cookies, which will be handed out at all stores and events across Canada over the coming weeks.
If you are interested in reading more about Holt Renfrew’s H Project you can click here, and if you would like to take part in their Trend Talk where Inder will be participating as a panelist, you can click here to check out dates, times, and RSVP to the events happening across the country.
