THE RECOGNISED BRAND STORY
The Dove Popon®
5 years supporting Mental Health
The idea for the Dove Popon came from dream. 5 years on and the Dove Popon has become a symbol of hope for so many and the dream a reality. Founder of Recognised, Anneka shares the impact the Recognised community has had through sales of the Dove Popon.
ANNEKA WALLINGTON
THE RECOGNISED STORY
The Dove Popon®
5 years supporting Mental Health
The idea for the Dove Popon came from dream. 5 years on and the Dove Popon has become a symbol of hope for so many and the dream a reality. Founder of Recognised, Anneka shares the impact the Recognised community has had through sales of the Dove Popon.
ANNEKA WALLINGTON
We have just launched our Female Empowerment popon®! This is a huge milestone for us here at Recognised as it is something we have wanted to create ever since the business first started. There has been so much thought and creativity behind the design, and you can see all about that on our social media. Our founder Anneka has put together an amazing reel to talk about the journey of making the Popon.
This post is all about the impact of your purchase, or as we like to say “the women you’re empowering when you purchase your Popon”. This feels pretty great to say right?!
We have partnered with three amazing women’s charities for our Female Empowerment Popon and are so excited to share with you what they do.
It all started with a dream. A literal dream.
In my second year of university, whilst at home for Christmas, just after New Year’s Eve at the beginning of 2016, I went to sleep and had a dream. In my dream I saw a woman entering a supermarket who had depression. At the till point she saw a woman wearing a bracelet with a dove on. Above her head were the words ‘I stand with you’. The dove was a symbol of solidarity and connection and the woman with depression in that moment didn’t feel as alone. She felt recognised.
When I returned to university that term, several friends opened up to me about their struggle with depression. This was a time when stigma surrounding mental health was hugely prevalent and with it people so often suffered in silence. This became apparent to me and with it these conversations collided with my dream and opened up the dreamscape further for me. I wondered whether, like I'd seen in my dream, there was something you could wear or give to someone which would be a powerful symbol of hope, that would spark an important conversation, that would ultimately help someone feel seen, valued and no, no matter what, they were not alone.
The idea for Statement Popons® was birthed and with it Recognised was launched - a brand which would help people feel seen, valued and Recognised when they need it most.
On the 10th October 2018, World Mental Health Day, we launched Recognised to the world, with our first ever Statement Popon for Mental Health.
5 years on and the Dove Popon has become a symbol of hope for so many and the dream I saw a reality.
5 years on and the Dove Popon has become a symbol of hope for so many and the dream I saw a reality. Time and time it’s given to loved ones struggling with their mental health, through the pandemic it was a show of support, it has helped to raise awareness, spark conversations, at times, life saving conversations and break down stigma and shame, communicating to anyone feeling isolated that they are not alone. One customer described it as her comfort blanket -wearing it every day brings her strength. We know of two customers who’ve even had it tattooed on to themselves!
The Dove Popon and its meaning has taken on a life of its own. Here are a couple of stories from the Recognised Community.
"Just wearing the dove each day makes me feel less isolated and reminds me everyday that no matter who you are, there will always be someone to support you and your journey. I will forever respect and cherish my collection of Recognised jewellery" - Felicity
"My health was suffering, I felt very vulnerable, which led to a few mental health problems causing me to further regress. I had finally come out of the house and that's when we saw you and your cause. The Dove is so significant to me as it was something I needed to hear and see at that point to help me. I wear my bracelet and all my Popons with pride" - Avneet
“I wear my Dove Popon everyday. It symbolises to choose to keep going. I lost my Dad to suicide seven years ago, and so it’s for him and to remind myself that either way you are brave. I treasure my bangle and Popons” - Viv
"Just wearing the dove each day makes me feel less isolated and reminds me everyday that no matter who you are, there will always be someone to support you and your journey. I will forever respect and cherish my collection of Recognised jewellery" - Felicity
"My health was suffering, I felt very vulnerable, which led to a few mental health problems causing me to further regress. I had finally come out of the house and that's when we saw you and your cause. The Dove is so significant to me as it was something I needed to hear and see at that point to help me. I wear my bracelet and all my Popons with pride" - Avneet
“I wear my Dove Popon everyday. It symbolises to choose to keep going. I lost my Dad to suicide seven years ago, and so it’s for him and to remind myself that either way you are brave. I treasure my bangle and Popons” - Viv
Your Impact
Over the last five years 2231 Dove Popons® have been purchased, including two limited edition Dove Popons (who remembers the two-toned Dove and I’ll be there Dove Popon collaboration with BEKA?) raising over £16,000 for our charity partners. Every penny of your donations have been put to work, helping come alongside those facing some of their hardest moments. We’ve been able to support Student Minds providing funding for counselling for students up and down the country, a lifeline to those who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise. We’ve funded pioneering research into mental health and how to prevent it with our partners at MQ: Transforming Mental Health. Most recently we’ve partnered with Ripple to help prevent suicide as people search for harmful content online.
The next 5 years
The impact doesn’t stop there. Through the newly launched Recognised Foundation, we will be hosting our first ever Recognition Dinner Clubs, convening space for people to come and connect with like-minded individuals when feeling alone. Our evenings are specially designed to foster connection and bring recognition by a vulnerability leader to people at times when they need it most. All of this is only made possible by the Recognised community and your continued purchases, of which our commitment maintains to donate 100% of profits from Statement Popons sales to help people feel seen, valued and recognised when they need it most.
That is our driving purpose and is something we each can live out everyday, looking out for those around us, checking in on loved ones, being patient and gentle with those we speak too, not knowing their current situation, giving people our time, making everyone feel like a great somebody, showing empathy, being kind, making small thoughtful acts of kindness. All of these things create a culture of recognition which enable people to feel seen, valued and recognised.
DOVE POPON®
This Recognised Dove Popon® is a beautiful and meaningful gift. The Dove is a symbol for Mental Health and 100% of profits are donated to support the powerful work of leading Mental Health charities, MQ and Student Minds.
The Dove Popon was created as a show of support for every single person struggling with their mental wellbeing. This Popon not only helps raise awareness of mental health, it has played a significant role in sparking important conversations around mental health, helping break down stigma and shame and communicating to anyone feeling isolated that they are not alone, there is hope and the sun will shine brighter on another day. From stories of family members who have lost loved ones to suicide and purchased this Popon in memory of them, to friends sending each other the Dove as a show of support throughout the pandemic, this Popon carries hope, healing and messages of love.