OURIKA COMMUNITY GARDENS
In the untouched landscape of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, known for its extreme conditions, YSL Beauté created exceptional gardens. In collaboration with dry landscapes designers and a cooperative of 32 local women, botanicals are grown in respect of water and soil and harvested to explore their properties and infuse their potent efficiency in YSL Beauté products.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
“For the landscape designers Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières: “it is a resolutely contemporary interpretation of the ancient Garden of Eden, which seeks to portray Yves Saint Laurent’s affection for the Mediterranean culture.”
The gardens are divided into three distinct areas. The first is composed of 64 square plots for growing plants that will be incorporated into YSL Beauté products. In addition to the famous saffron pistils used in Or Rouge range, walnut leaf is used in the Top Secrets range, pomegranate in Rouge Volupté Shine while the Touche Éclat range is formulated with marigold. A second space – called the “botanical area” – is an experimental area for testing new ingredients. Finally, a “legacy” space pays tribute to Yves Saint Laurent and his passion for flowers. It includes a dozen plants and flowers such as wheat, hibiscus, and lilies.
THE STEPS TAKEN
THROUGH OURIKA COMMUNITY GARDENS 2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
THROUGH OURIKA COMMUNITY GARDENS
First saffron harvest for the launch of Or Rouge
Creation of the women's village cooperative in the Ourika region
First harvests of Marigold for Touche Eclat & walnut leaves for Top Secrets range
32 women work for the cooperative
Over 5.5 million products sold contain an ingredient from the Ourika Community Gardens
First harvest of pomegranate for Rouge Volupté Shine
Launch of Pure Shots range with iris, mallow, barbary fig and moonlight cactus
