Q TELL US ABOUT THE SKYLAKE COMPANY.

We research, manufacture, distribute, and sell cosmetics made with natural components. We started by holding classes on how to make natural cosmetics in 2012. Then, in 2017, we were selected among the top 25 wellness facilities by the Korea Tourism Organization. We have since steadily had domestic and international tourists visit us to this day.

Q HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR PRODUCTS?

Iris has “tannin” as a component, and it restores damaged parts and moisturizes hair. Long ago, we traditionally used to wash body and hair with iris water on Dano day (fifth day of the fifth month in lunar calendar) in Korea. In addition to the popular belief that its smell chases away ghosts, it smoothens skin and hair and has a treatment effect. We tapped in on this wisdom of our ancestors to develop shampoo and body wash products using iris.

Q WHERE DID YOU GET THE INSPIRATION TO MAKE THE POP-UP PACKAGING?

I personally like pop-up books, so I wanted to make a pop-up packaging. If I could three-dimensionally show the Geochang Changpowon, the iris garden and a tourist site in Geochang, I thought it could help promote not only our products but also the garden and Geochang.

Q WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THE GEOCHANG CHANPOWON?

Irises were planted in the past as water-purifying plants to replace the source of pollution of farmed land with a wetland and revive the ecosystem around the submerged region due to the creation of Hapcheon Dam. That is how the garden came to be created. It is now an ecological tourist site filled with not only irises but also lotus flowers, chrysanthemums, and reeds. It is currently designated as the number one regional garden in Gyeongsangnam-do.

Q WHAT WERE THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS DURING YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST?

The process of making the pop-up book packaging was quite cumbersome. We had to go a tedious trial and error process to find the right angle and shape for the pop-ups to stand when the packaging is opened. We worked hard on the sampling. We cut so much paper. I remember the time we spent cutting and glueing paper with the staff till late at night.

Q WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

We will market the Shining product series as a souvenir of the Geochang Changpowon to actively promote the county of Geochang in collaboration with its office. In addition, we plan to expand our iris products collection to hair conditioner and body lotion, among others. We will continue to innovate what we can as a company to boost the best parts of the region.