Jean-Christophe Gaven & Christophe Fargier
Portrait
Co-founders of Oppidum, a precious natural organic skincare line.
Why did a university researcher in legal history and a business engineer decide one day to put all their commitment into the creation of Oppidum?
Every year, botanists discover more than 2,000 species of plants that were previously unknown. We wanted to explore this terra incognita, whose power, mystery and scope fascinated us. To finally create the skin care products we wanted, without concessions and without renunciation that are 100% plant-based, 100% or 99.5% organic, 100% effective and 100% pleasure.
How did your project come about?
A lifelong passion for re-discovering the sensitive world, natural scents, beautiful materials, accepting the world as inexhaustible as that of wine or gastronomy.
The desire to reconcile the good and the beautiful, organic and pleasure, organic and sensual. The principle of pleasure, in fact, is found in most of our choices.
What are your objectives in terms of sustainable development?
Continue to discover beautiful natural materials. Evolute more and more towards rare materials and wild harvesting.
What is your major challenge in terms of improvement within 2 years?
Staying on the lookout for the best eco-friendly solutions for our packs.
To be connected to innovative designers, discoverers and inventors.
And to set up a re-generating network that involves all our dealers and customers.
Your definition of ‘Sustainable Luxury’
Travelling on horseback, on the roads for a month or two.
Why join 1.618 ?
To join a highly committed, stimulating, vibrant community of designers who share the same values and experiences that are both very similar and unique to each story.
What are your main victories/challenges?
We have managed to convince the Achuar community in the Amazon to work with us to gain access to Sangre de Grado, the pure resin of the Croton Lechleri, which they harvest by tending the forest. This is one of our greatest pride. It wasn't that obvious. We are not faced with harvesters who want to sell at any price to anyone. You have to convince people first.
You have to show them the sincerity of your project and the purity of your intentions. And in Iquitos, there was a magical moment when we talked about our respective forests...
a real door to their world!
