To highlight the rampant cost-of-living crisis in Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), Ireland's largest charity, and In the Company of Huskies have launched … read moreEssentielle, a new high-end boutique unlike any other. Essentielle is flipping the narrative on what 'luxury' really means because, in Ireland, one of Europe's richest countries, even the most basic, everyday items have become unaffordable luxuries for so many people. Set in the elegant Powerscourt Townhouse shopping mall, this luxury pop-up is a response to the shocking statistic that one in five people are now living below the poverty line. Nestled among some of Ireland’s most exclusive stores the shop fits comfortably amidst its sophisticated retail counterparts. Only after closer inspection do we realise that something is amiss. Instead of designer handbags or Italian leather shoes adorning marble table tops and glass displays, it’s nappies, briquettes and hygiene products. The store visually reflects the rising demand for basic essentials that have become a luxury for many people in Ireland. All the items on display in the Essentielle Boutique are accompanied by the real words taken directly from the distressing requests SVP receives daily. Such as the parent hoping to get children’s gloves “I’m finding that their little hands are getting so cold on the walk to school. And the weather is just going to keep getting worse. Their winter wear is too small for them, but after all my bills are paid, I’ve nothing left to get more.”
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