Tribute Charlene Florian
Charlene Florian Chief creative officer, Kerstin Florian International 1967-2016
Those who knew her best described her as a true friend, an avid student and teacher, and a firm believer in the power of love and following one’s heart and intuition.
A lasting legacy As a tribute to Charlene, Global Wellness Day (GWD) founder Belgin Aksoy has announced that the 2016 event is to be dedicated to her memory. Furthermore, echoing Charlene’s passion for nature, Aksoy has initiated plans in Turkey to establish the Charlene Florian Forest. The venture will involve the planting of some 2,000 trees in cooperation with TEMA – the Turkish Foundation For Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats. Kerstin Florian International will also be working globally with GWD to plant trees all over the world to continue to honour Charlene’s legacy.
A tribute from Kerstin Florian
H
ere at European Spa we were extremely sorry to hear the sad news about Charlene Florian, who died peacefully on March 27, surrounded by her family and close friends. Charlene was a charismatic, fundamentally positive and truly kind individual who embodied the very essence of the Kerstin Florian brand in her role as chief creative officer. A source of inspiration and knowledge to her colleagues around the world, she worked tirelessly alongside her mother for more than two decades to build and grow the Kerstin Florian brand, sharing their philosophy and passion for wellness and health far beyond the spa industry. Responsible since 2013 for the brand’s creative direction and product development, Charlene spent the last two years developing a new organic/natural skincare range that will launch in early 2017 – the culmination of her in-depth research into ingredients and a passion for luxury and wellness. First and foremost a proud mother and a caring daughter, Charlene was a passionate advocate of healthy, natural lifestyles, and a lover of life, travel, adventure and the world.
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“Charlene was my daughter, my partner and my best friend. She felt the energies of nature, as I do, and from an early age was very curious about nutrients that benefit health and wellbeing. “Charlene started helping out with my business and products when she was just 10 years old, writing the labels and filling products. She was a perfectionist with a keen eye for detail. Whatever she did, she committed to it 100%. “When Charlene graduated from college at UCLA, it was just natural that she should begin her career with me in the company. We travelled the world together in search of natural resources and therapies, exploring nature’s gifts. “Charlene was the guiding creative force for the brand from the very start. She was a great speaker; she was inspired and she knew how to inspire others. She loved being in front of people, talking in depth about ingredients, research, longevity and skincare trends. These were her passions. “Charlene was a gift to me and my husband Wayne, but also to Kerstin Florian International and everyone whose lives she touched.”
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