photo: Mark Glassner
Travel Talk with Wolfgang Lederhaas on the occasion of our collaboration project: the ARRIVÉE - TRAVEL SET.
In this interview Alexandra talks to Wolfgang Lederhaas, the creative head, philosopher and connoisseur of fragrances - the mastermind and founder of LEDERHAAS Cosmetics, Vienna, about the inspiration for his natural cosmetics edition ARRIVÉE and his wanderlust.
WL Franz Schubert set a wanderer’s approach to life to music like hardly anyone else: "I wander, a stranger, from land to land, so homeless, so unknown". The fortunate is he who, "wherever he goes, still stands on his homeland soil”. Throughout the ages, people have lamented their lack of being settled: being settled themselves, with those around them, in near and far places, arriving in life and arriving in mind.
AP So your edition is about arriving...
WL Yes, about homesickness for the world and arriving. For as great as the longing for arriving and being settled is, for peace and being with one another, it is also true that movement and change is life. Arriving does not mean a new Biedermeier, or a return to the old order. Evolution distinctly shows that all is in flow and in change. But it also shows that organisms have ever needed their time to grow, that they are pulsing with life. Life pulsates. Moments of acceleration and pause, healthy exchange with the environment and sustainable health in being with oneself: only when thought together do these poles form an earth. It is no coincidence that Schubert's Wanderer observes nature and sees it as his role model.
AP Some people call you a natural philosopher. And you say that one of the tasks you have set yourself is to connect nature and culture.
WL Nature is origin - in it is arrival. Through breathing and food, fragrance and beauty we are in exchange with it. In the interplay of nature and man, well-being, health, joy, meaning and fulfilment can come about.
AP You often point out that nature is your teacher. You call it an "architect of beauty".
WL We can learn from nature to compose sophisticated and effective natural cosmetics with the building blocks of the natural kingdoms. No soulless laboratory cosmetics, but subtle cosmetics that address skin and senses, body and spirit holistically. In accordance with our principle that ecology, economy, social issues and aesthetics belong together, ARRIVÉE combines the good with the beautiful - for the benefit of mankind and the environment.
AP Do you have a special, personal connection to native plants and raw materials?
WL Yes, the knowledge of the effects of native plants has been incorporated into ARRIVÉE in a special way. Elder and lime are the leading plants of arrivée. Hand-picked ingredients from local plants such as apple, apricot, rose hip, hazelnut, evening primrose and sunflower melt here into a select formulation. arrivée should invite people to enjoy conscious moments of beauty - and the good feeling of having arrived.
AP The cooperation between SAID THE FOX and LEDERHAAS ARRIVÉE was inspiring for both of us.
WL Yes, that's why we describe our collaboration as "Bringing together what belongs together." Our products and projects have a lot in common: a love of craftsmanship, of high-quality domestic raw materials, of timeless design. Exquisite natural cosmetics and the finest Loden material from Alpine handicraft tradition - the good and beautiful are combined here on more than one level.
AP Thank you, Wolfgang, for sharing your thoughts - it is always a pleasure ...
Find out more about our Collaboration Project here.
Get the ARRIVÉE - TRAVEL SET in our webshop; the entire certified ARRIVÉE organic cosmetics range and the entire set is available at LEDERHAAS COSMETICS