SOUVENIR…

Today, we take a closer look at a word that’s very dear to me — souvenir. Not only is it the title of a beautiful (and little-known) song, but the word itself carries the scent of travel, of vacation…

According to the Treccani encyclopedia or a simple Google search, the definition remains more or less the same: from the Latin subvenire — “to come to mind” — a substantivized use of the verb souvenir, meaning “to remember.” A souvenir is an object one brings back as a memory from a place visited.

The most classic example? A fridge magnet bearing the name of a city. I remember, for instance, buying a salamander in Formentera that still decorates our fridge, or a model of the Eiffel Tower my daughter insisted on getting in the gardens of the Champ de Mars. A piece of the fallen Berlin Wall from 1989. And of course, the expensive yet “essential” Harrods teddy bear dressed in a red jacket and the iconic British bearskin hat of the Royal Guard.

Generally speaking, the word souvenir often gets degraded and lumped together with another noun: trinket — something of little value. The cause of this devaluation might lie, in part, in the often kitschy appearance of the object itself. But it may also stem from the shops that sell them: touristy stores cluttering up historic city centers, their displays spilling onto sidewalks and turning beautiful plazas into chaotic bazaars.

So here’s an idea:
What if every European capital had a luxury souvenir store? A concept store, inspired by something like the legendary (and sadly closed) “Colette” in Paris — offering only design and artisanal objects that truly reflect the identity of the city.

In Rome, a miniature Colosseum crafted in precious metal by Bulgari. In Naples, ties from Marinella or Ulturale featuring subtle nods to the city and its gulf. In London, a Tower Bridge model marked with Paul Smith’s signature colorful stripes. And so on…

BonSoul, in its own way, seeks to make room for creativity, art, and craftsmanship — deliberately avoiding the ordinary. With this spirit in mind, we hope you’ll be inspired to take home a BonSoul souvenir — and maybe help set a new trend: one that replaces the typical made-in-China token with something that truly represents the memory of a place.