In the lead up to January 26, Lush has teamed up with First Nations clothing label Clothing The Gaps to create the ‘Always Will Be’ soap in an effort to encourage Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to formally acknowledge the ongoing harm of celebrating ‘Australia Day’ on this date.
The Always Will Be Soap is part of Lush’s Not A Date To Celebrate Campaign, which runs from January 19 to 26. Guided by Clothing The Gaps and First Nations voices, Lush will help educate shoppers on the true significance of Invasion Day.
Customers will also be able to sign Clothing The Gap’s petition to change the date in Lush stores, which calls for the PM to formally acknowledge the harm that celebrating Invasion Day causes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people every single year. The petition also calls for truth-telling, respectful dialogue and engagement with First Nations communities about the future of the day.
“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 26 January is a day of mourning, marking the beginning of colonisation and the devastating impacts including dispossession, cultural loss and intergenerational trauma,” Clothing The Gaps CEO and co-founder and Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson said in a press release. Continuing to celebrate on this date ignores these lived realities and undermines national values of respect, unity and reconciliation.”
She said that Clothing The Gaps’ partnership with Lush is about ensuring that the truth is told and that First Nations voices are heard.
“It’s time for the Prime Minister to acknowledge the profound significance and ongoing impact and division that celebrating ‘Australia Day’ on this date continues to have,” Thompson said.
The Always Will Be Soap ($11) is a limited-edition soap bar that Lush developed in collaboration with Clothing The Gaps using natural ingredients ethically sourced from First Nations suppliers. It’s infused with sandalwood oil, eucalyptus from Follow the Flowers Alliance, and lavender.
75 per cent of the profits from each sale will be donated directly to Clothing The Gaps, who will use the funds raised to support education and advocacy campaigns for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people.
Lush Australia’s Advocacy and Activism Executive Jessielee Pearce said: “Guided by First Nations communities, we’re proud to create spaces that help educate, spark conversation and support action”.
As part of the campaign, Lush will also be selling Clothing The Gaps’ Not A Date To Celebrate pin badge ($15) and tote bag ($45), both of which are ally friendly.
Lush’s Not A Date To Celebrate campaign in partnership with Clothing The Gaps is available to buy online and in-store.
Image credit: Getty Images / Lush
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