August 08, 2024

Colors of Cambodia is a non-profit that can not survive without dedication, teamwork, and working with others. Over the last twenty years we have had countless volunteers, kind-hearted donators, and organizations who have felt driven to support us in unique ways.

This year, we’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with a Phnom Penh based venture known as Seekers Spirit House and Siem Reap based Herbal Kulen - a local company that produces spirits, oils and teas featuring medicinal herbs used for thousands of years in Cambodia. While it may seem strange than an art school should collaborate with two spirit-based companies, Seekers, Herbal Kulen and Colors of Cambodia all share the same unique zest and zealous nature for the country of Cambodia - it’s botanicals, art and sumptuous beauty.

Seekers describes themselves as “independent spirits, forever curious and eternally open-minded.” Founders Tania and Marco (originally based in London and Barcelona), both embody a true nature of SEEKING, living with absolute passion, and drawing from the elements of Kampuchea.

Herbal Kulen, founded by Pari Sophary Unn and her husband Guilhem, is a local company that works with a deep sense of patience and living with the timing of the seasons. The herbs are hand selected and dried from their forest garden, and brought into the workshop for distillation. The gins are produced in small batches, so that each bottle imbues full integrity.

That same ilk of seeking, passion, patience and quality control also remain at the heart of Colors of Cambodia.

Both Seekers and Herbal Kulen are rooted in sustainability. Seekers “champions green leadership, integrating eco-conscious practices into every aspect” of it’s operations. They’ve even garnered a few awards including the “most sustainable brand at the 2023 “Chilled Awards in New York and also at the 2023 “EuroCham SME CSR Awards in Phnom Penh. And Herbal Kulen “remain committed to sustainable farming practices, focusing on closed-loop production, minimizing resource inputs, and reintegrating animals into the production cycle.”

Seekers and Herbal Kulen first came to FCC with the idea to create custom FCC liquors that would be served uniquely in-house, and GM Jacques Varet knew exactly who to contact in order to adorn the bottles with beautiful artwork - works that would highlight and support Cambodian artists.

Well, when forces combine, especially surrounding the FCC, an event is done RIGHT, and the FCC decided to make it an event with a twist — they hosted an amazing competition for two winning Colors of Cambodia artists (over 18 years of age of course), that would have their works featured on the labels!

Right on the lawn in the midst hot season, members of our community gathered to cast their votes on who they thought should be featured for this new artists series through Seekers.

After the ballots were tallied, there were two clear winners: artists Set Sing and Lim Sopheary.

Set Sing’s drawing features an edgy hand-drawn black and white Singha lion unique to Khmer heritage. The Singha is a guardian lion - a symbol of nobility and divinity. Lim Sopheary’s winning work features a gorgeously rendered watercolor featuring a quintessential Cambodian countryside scene replete with wooden houses and native palms. Set Sing’s work will be featured on the Asian Lime Leaf FCC Vodka and Pheary’s work on a 300 bottle limited edition Herbal Kulen FCC Vodka. The Gin features galangal, green orange peel, marigold flower, long pepper, kaffir lime, and pandan leaf.

When you decide to take it easy and sip one of Seeker’s or Herbal Kulen’s beautiful, sustainable and fragrantly botanical gins or vodkas, please be sure to soak in the label artwork as well.

We are so very proud to work with others in the Cambodian community who are not only making a difference in the lives of others, but also in the world at large.

Huge thank you to FCC, Seekers and Herbal Kulen!