Lucie Carr, who is a director of the brand alongside Charlie Williams, said: “Be kind to yourself, each other and the planet. “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about so just be a kind.” The Kindness Co-op sells t-shirts and sweatshirts for kids and adults, bags, notebooks, postcards, pin badges and button badges. It was started in 2014 and was relaunched and rebranded in 2018. Lucie used to be a doctor before moving into property renovation and then set up her own online shop. “I left the NHS in 2008 for mental health reasons, I then did property renovation with my family. “I had kids and wanted to start something up by myself, something a bit different, the result was The Wee Store. “Charlie set up Kurt and Marni when she was on her second maternity leave.” Charlie was a buyer for 20 years before she set up her own shop and the pair joined forces four years ago. “We wanted to launch our own brand rather than selling other people’s items and at the same time do something fulfilling with a philanthropic element,” Lucie said. The products feature uplifting and empowering messages such as ‘be kind to our planet’ and ‘one of a kind generation’. “We come up with the ideas and then work with an illustrator who brings them to life,” said Lucie. “We get inspiration from everywhere really. “From people we follow on Instagram, things in shops to street art and friends.” From each piece of its own brand merchandise that is sold a donation is made to YoungMinds. The UK charity helps support young people and children with their mental health and wellbeing. “We chose to support YoungMinds as Lucie has had mental ill health since she was very young. “It was not something that was picked up on at the time but looking back she can see it was there,” Charlie explained. “YoungMinds is such a wonderful charity championing young people’s mental health so it made sense to us to support them.” With its focus on spreading kindness they decided on the name The Kindness Co-op, but they have other plans for the brand. “We have always loved the idea of creating a co-operative, maybe some sort of independent shopping co-operative in Brighton.” Having both overcome adversities in their own lives in relation to their health(one physical, one mental) the pair are also keen to pay it forward as they explain how they were shown enormous kindness and now want to share that with helping others. And by spreading a little joy with their products be it a t-shirt or notepad for yourself or as a gift. To view the products, visit www.thekindnessco-op.com