Ayurvedic brand Forest Essentials to open first flagship UK store

Ayurvedic beauty brand Forest Essentials will open its first international store outside of India in central London this November.

Visitors will be able to shop the brand’s skin, body and hair care products when it opens at 28 James Street, Covent Garden.

Forest Essentials claims it is the first ‘made in India’ brand to launch a luxury retail boutique in the UK.

The store features a modern and minimalist design, which is accentuated with Indian artisan themes. 

Natural stone walls with a slope-like roof also pay homage to the brand’s Lodsi Factory in the Himalayas, where ingredients are sourced by local female artisans. 

“It has been a dream of mine to see Forest Essentials open a store in the UK, one of the most dynamic beauty markets in the West,” said founder Mira Kulkarni.

“We have been thrilled by the response to the brand so far and we look forward to welcoming consumers to become a part of the Forest Essentials’ experience that we create within our stores.

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medical science which focuses on the balance between mind, body, and spirit for holistic wellbeing.

Kulkarni founded Forest Essentials in 2001, which has focused on sustainable Ayurvedic practices that support local communities and female empowerment.

The brand said “careful consideration” is given to ingredient selection and packaging to reduce its overall environmental impact.

It has also worked in conjunction with the Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) as a strategic partner, following its discovery by ELC heir Leonard Lauder. 

Forest Essentials will also launch a curated gifting range alongside the new store opening, with its new Enchanted Forest Collection.