Background information
Räbeliechtli: Show me how you carve and I'll tell you who you are
by Patrick Vogt
"The story behind an object is the most beautiful thing for me"
15.8.2019
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Thomas Kunz
Finely curated gift boxes that are tailored to the recipient. This is what Alejandra Lauper stands for with "I Love My Gift". The small label from Zurich Wiedikon supports neighbourhood shops and wants to stand out from inferior plastic gifts.
"There's hardly any nice furniture or toys for children. Everything is brightly coloured and made of plastic." Alejandra doesn't like the uniformity and poor quality of Ikea. The graphic designer looks everywhere for alternatives for her two children - in brockis, at flea markets and in neighbourhood shops. "One day, a friend needed a gift for his godchild and asked me and my friend for help because he couldn't find anything nice and didn't have the time." That was the starting signal for her own business. Under the name "I Love My Gift", Alejandra sells personalised gift boxes that stimulate the senses and creativity.
An aesthetic experimentation box
"One of the first boxes was for making your own iced tea," recalls Alejandra. Not only can you brew a delicious drink with it, you can also experiment with it. One ingredient turns the liquid a bright purple colour, which can be changed again using various other components in the box. "It's important to me that the boxes not only look attractive, but are also functional and fulfil a purpose. Nobody needs dust catchers." In addition to a natural tea blend, the iced tea box also contains a tea infuser, a funnel, glass jars and cinnamon sticks. Alejandra makes sure she has a mix of old and new and good quality. "The items should last a long time and be fun to use, not lie broken in the corner after three uses."
Objects with a history
The good quality also plays into the hands of another central topic: Sustainability. Alejandra is a regular customer at brockis and flea markets, but she also finds things from private individuals or shop liquidations. "In Aarau, someone inherited a workshop from his father and sold everything in it. I found lots of boxes and tools there. Sometimes you just have to be lucky." These stories behind the products are a big part of the fascination for her. "I once collected children's benches from the orphanage in Basel. Knowing that the pieces of furniture could have helped to give the children some normality makes them that much more special."
These stories and the age or rarity of the objects sometimes make it difficult for her to part with them. "I don't have a favourite box, there's a lot of heart and soul in all of them. But when I put rare letter stamps or old clothes pegs, which are like art objects, into a box, it does hurt a little." When the new owner is happy about it, the pain of separation is immediately forgotten.
Against the death of shops
The new products are easier to pick up. She gets them from neighbourhood shops whenever possible. Fabrics from Idaplatz, pipettes from Bergapotheke and beeswax from Wabe3. Like her home, all the shops are located in Zurich's District 3, in Wiedikon. "Supporting these shops is a personal way of life that is passed on to the boxes. And fortunately also to my own children," says Alejandra. Her daughter is always rummaging through the stock and making little works of art. "She would love to put together individual boxes for all her friends. Then I have to bring her back down to earth and explain the value of the items."
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Not only the contents, but also the boxes themselves are deliberately chosen. They should represent the topic and at the same time be of high quality and beautiful. The post box, for example, comes in the shape of a letterbox, the small ice-cream box in an old military galley. "The packaging alone often costs a lot of effort and money. But it's important to me that everything makes sense together." In addition, the box should be easy to store again and again, which is why it is just as important to Alejandra as the objects inside.
She is currently storing the items in her shared office, which is also located in Wiedikon. Because "I Love My Gift" is clearly a hobby so far. "It has to be, considering how much effort goes into a box." It can take a while for her to find suitable items that are as plastic-free, high-quality, regional and visually appealing as possible. This is because most boxes are made to order. This can range from a gift for a young detective fan to one for a retired fly fisherwoman.
Quality and regionality has its price
With this in mind, it is surprising that some people criticise the price, even though they think the idea is great. Especially that this criticism often comes from people who value organic and fair trade themselves. "They should know better than anyone that sustainable shopping comes at a price." Sustainability and reuse may be in tune with the zeitgeist, but for many people it stops at the price. "I understand if someone can't spend that much money but still wants good products. I'm always willing to put together smaller boxes for these people, which might only cost 60 francs."
When asked about her wishes for the future, Alejandra immediately has a scenario in mind. "I would love to have my own small shop where customers can put together their own customised boxes." That way, she would always have the direct contact with people that she values so much. "I want to pass on the history of the objects to the buyers and brainstorm with them." However, she is also enough of a realist to know that something like this wouldn't work, as most people don't have enough money. "But I can dream. And the gift boxes bring me so much joy, even in their current state." And I'm sure the recipients will too.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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