Monastery traveled to Paris during Fashion Week to debut the Skin Sanctuary, an ephemeral space created in partnership with Dover Street Parfums Market and Semaine.
Over the course of eight days, the Skin Sanctuary invited Paris into the world of Monastery through an ethereal treatment room and retail space.
Our botanical, hand-poured products were presented alongside custom works by local Paris artists Ana Kraš and Clément Pasquier, as well as antique pieces from our spa in San Francisco.
Each day, clients came to experience the bespoke Monastery facial with founder and master esthetician, Athena Hewett, and Monastery Director of Esthetics, Marija Gelo. Created by Athena specifically for the Skin Sanctuary in Paris, this bespoke facial was a deeply nourishing, healing experience rooted in ultimate luxury. Using Athena’s signature application techniques and small-batch, hand-poured formulas, each treatment was tailored to procure a truly transformational result. Finished with proprietary burgundy red light LED, skin was left sculpted, glowy, repaired, and rejuvenated. Each client enjoyed a Rest + Digest tea from Doctor Stolberg post-treatment.
To celebrate the opening of the Skin Sanctuary, Monastery & Dover Street Parfums Market hosted an intimate evening with friends of the brand. Guests gathered on a spring-like evening to experience the line, sip champagne and enjoy kombucha from Scoby Baby. Each guest left with our custom silver pouch and our cult favorite balm, Attar Floral Repair Concentrate.
In addition, guests were treated to a modular food installation from Parisian food artist, Caro Diaro.
“A simple spread station where each element nods to the textures, colors and formulations found in their products. We made a sage labneh, a sweet & spicy rosehip spread, a hazelnut oil, a green tea butter and an almond and chocolate spread. All to be layered on slices of dark rye bread for aperitivo!”
Throughout the week, the space opened its doors each evening to welcome admirers of the brand into the world of Monastery. Each product was available to explore and experience firsthand. Our best sellers throughout the week were Attar Floral Repair Concentrate, our hero product Rose Cleansing Oil and glow-inducing Flora Botanical Cream Serum.
To close the week, we invited the public to join us for a conversation with founder Athena. Tea was served by our favorite tea brand, Doctor Stolberg. Athena shared her journey building Monastery, the thrill and challenge of sourcing the finest ingredients in the world, and her thoughts on debunking skin trends through the lens of more than 25 years as a practicing esthetician.
"Seeing customers and friends experience Monastery in Paris was a pinch me moment. Working with everyone to achieve such a beautiful, functional space was a dream come true. We're so appreciative of all the love we received." - Athena
