THE VILLAGE THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMILE

t first glance, it could be any other picture-postcard village, with its cobbled streets lined with trees and groves, and its small Provençal-style cottages with tiled roofs, pastel facades, and colorful awnings. But that’s where the similarity ends. Because behind every door lies a world of temptation –, the famous pictogram is celebrating its fifty anniversary with a smile, and thanks to the widespread use of emojis on smartphones worldwide it’s just as vibrant as ever. The Smiley Company and The Bicester Collection, through its charitable initiative Do Good, which supports ten organisations worldwide, have joined forces to create fun cultural and artistic events inspired by this global symbol of possibility and promise. Yellow pop-up kiosks and stores across the village will highlight two specially created capsule collections, with all profits going to selected charities, including L’Envol in France. The first collection, launched in July, is a beachwear line with t-shirts, caps, flip-flops, water holders and eco-friendly XXL shopping bags. The second, arriving in August and called Bag to School, is an exclusive school backpack with smiley accessories and a clean conscience! As a bonus, kids can take part in an emotional intelligence (EI) program with the Smiley Movement organization, to start the new school term on the right foot.