Hannah Whale, the owner of Stinking Rich UK is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in Ceramics, Jewellery, Painting and Drawing. Stinking Rich came about when Hannah noticed many vegan hair and body products were packaged in soap sleeves with a muted palette or brown Kraft paper, sometimes with the token burlap or hessian add-ons. With their natural elements incorporating minimal design layouts and flora and fauna, such brands conjure up calm, clean living and luxury that veers towards Scandi and Hygge ideals. And there is nothing wrong with that.

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But to challenge this aesthetic Hannah designed the Stinking Rich soap packaging to shout at those with doubtful habits, to engage ones who like a play on words and to grab at the folk who prefer cult classics over mainstream. The facial images used in the packaging has been in Hannah's portfolio for many years; variations on the main characters have been used for stationery, coasters and even ceramics. Put all these faces together in a line-up and you have a hybrid of the Stepford Wives and members of an underground religious cult.

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 Stinking Rich is loud and quite chaotic. You'll hear it before you enter the room. It doesn't take itself too seriously. Despite this Hannah hopes the designs will draw you in, thus engaging a wider audience, a younger audience and those who realise smelling good shouldn't mean smelling boring. 

Lets not forget, however, this somewhat questionable branding gives way to plastic free packaging that houses 100% natural, eco-friendly, vegan soap that uses the best plant-based ingredients. It is cruelty free and contains no SLS, parabens or palm oil. And so it is at this stage the Stinking Rich raw soap can also conjure a feeling of calm, luxury and clean living.....