Well-being practices can be found throughout history and across all cultures. Many modern wellness tools and techniques are directly inspired by or drawn from global history. When participating in these practices, it is important to approach each action with respect, intention, and acknowledgement for the cultures they come from.
We take this approach in the development, design, and sourcing of our products.
Oxford Languages defines cultural appropriation as “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” This often perpetuates stereotypes or leads to the spread of misinformation about cultural practices.
Cultural appreciation is best explained as the act of learning about the traditions and history of a culture or practice in order to understand it fully and participate in a meaningful and intentional way.
In the product development process, our team is diligent in their research and understanding of the practices and cultures that influence our products. We communicate much of this information both on our packaging and in blog posts (found on the Resource page at geocentral.com). We also work with suppliers who maintain ethical social and environmental practices, supporting the Earth and the people who tend it.
We ask that our customers sell our products with as much respect and intention as we create them with, and help us pass on this message to the end consumer as well.
