Creativity with a Conscience: ARTHOUSE Unlimited

ARTHOUSE Unlimited is a not-for-profit social enterprise based here in the UK which creates design-led, sustainable, luxury products like soy wax candles, organic soaps, artisan chocolates and hand-crafted homewares, all produced in collaboration with and in aid of adults living with complex disabilities.

 The collective supports artists living with complex epilepsy and learning disabilities. These artists work alongside instructors to create artworks which are developed into designer products for sale. The brand strives to challenge perceptions and to create better acceptance and inclusion for all people living with disabilities by giving them a sense of purpose through truly inspirational creativity that is kind to people, animals, and the environment too.

I was kindly gifted two organic, triple milled tubular soaps, a wisteria, white tea and orange soap with the cactus print wrap, and a rhubarb and ginger soap with the dinosaur print wrap. The packaging really is king with ARTHOUSE Unlimited; each product is painstakingly hand-illustrated by the hard-working artists, but the soaps themselves are beautiful too; hand engraved with positive messages from the artists (I got 'Be Happy' and 'Be Proud'!) and infused with the most divine aromas.

Bar soaps like these are something I am trying to make a transition to, away from plastic-heavy supermarket liquid hand soaps for a more zero-waste daily routine! Another easy sustainable lifestyle swap is in the candle game; as my befuddled boyfriend would tell you I am obsessed with buying copious amounts of candles, so I am thrilled to have discovered that ARTHOUSE Unlimited make cruelty-free, vegan and organic scented candles in beautifully illustrated glass jars. I received the 'Bee Free' oats and honey candle and its a wonderful, ethical addition to my collection!

You can support this wonderful ethical project by investing in the gorgeous products which you can buy online and in select stockists like Edinburgh boutique Dandelion & Ginger, and even nationwide lifestyle retailer Fat Face. You can also donate to the collective, and even volunteer with their incredible in-house team!

Find out more about the artists in the following video, and let me know what you think by commenting below or tweeting your thoughts to @arthouse_unltd