Picot Collective
Rebrand
The Vibe
The love child of Jane Birken + Brad Pitt
I love Jane Birken's style from the 70's —she always looks confident in her skin. It was a time before fillers, botox, and all that shiiiitt. Brad Pitt is just a timeless babe who seems to get better with age. He can pull off being both disheveled and polished. I bet he smells incredible.
The Love Story
Picot has coloured (or perhaps I should say scented) my world for the last 6 years. It’s been subtle but impactful — as any good scent should be — and until very recently I hadn’t realized just how much of an impact it’s had… When I sat down to write the project summary for this beautiful labour of love I couldn’t help but wax a little poetic about the journey Picot and I have been on.
So, instead of droning on about technicalities and specifics and project goals and outcomes, I’m going to tell you our story. Or rather, I’m going to give you the outline of how I’d write our story…
First, I’d start with the blog post I wrote 6 (!!!) years ago about the beautifully curated brick and mortar collective Picot started out as in the Fernwood Square. I’d talk about meeting Britt for the first time and how that kind, open-hearted interaction trickled into so many other areas of my life.
I wouldn’t be able to proceed without talking about the uncommonly kind, warm hearted, butterfly-loving friend I made at an open house there a few short days later, and how that friend would leave a lasting mark on my heart before leaving us all way too soon.
Then I’d naturally segue into the scent that just smelled like home — MY version of Victoria embodied in a candle — earthy, sophisticated, feminine and confident.
I’d make quick mention of an afternoon spent trying to make myself the perfect candidate for a job I had no business applying for (who wouldn’t apply for a job that requested both retail experience and Shopify knowledge without having either?! 🙃 Always up for a tech challenge 🤘🏼).
From there I’d fast forward a little, skipping a year or so, to get to the part where I’d moved back to the mainland to go back to school for graphic & web design. I’d talk about the day I sat in class reading emails instead of listening to teachers talk at me and how as I sat there, tears pooled in my eyes as I read the email letting me know the end of the shop was near. I’d linger for a moment on the sadness I felt, knowing I’d never be back in that small cozy space, enveloped by that warm, safe scent, but I’d also talk about the excitement I felt for Britt, knowing only better things could be on her horizon.
I’d talk about dragging my boyfriend at the time into an overpriced boutique on Main Street so I could treat myself to my favourite scent in roller form for my birthday and then go on about how that very roller would travel with me for years, surviving multiple moves, purges and identity crises.
Eventually I’d get to where we were 4 months ago, July 2021, living in Mexico and seeing a post from Picot seeking a graphic designer — a job I was qualified for this time! I’d talk about all the people who vouched for me on that fateful Instagram post, encouraging me to reach out; the imposter syndrome that surfaced as I waited to hear back; the fear I felt at the idea of making changes to something I knew so many people loved so passionately; and the major adrenaline rush that came with finding out I was going to be the one spearheading the rebrand.
I’d probably end up walking you through the process in more detail than you’d care to hear about — highlighting the learning moments, romanticizing the Zoom calls, and recounting the pages of mockups that were printed, cut out, folded and assembled as we worked our way through the production process.
At the end, I’d wrap it all up with how I feel right this very moment: proud, excited, stoked, humbled, and honestly, still a little nervous.
To work on this project was a dream and to have the opportunity to reflect on my love story with Picot has been a gift.
Now, if you’re still here, go check out the newly rebranded Picot products. I can’t choose a favourite but I will say, even if you’re a die hard Honey Tobacco fan, give Wildwood a whiff. It’s nothing like HT but holy Hannah, is it ever amazing.
