This year, we had the joy of bringing not one, but two groups of beauty professionals from across China to visit Longsheng — home of the Red Yao and the rice terraces that inspired Viori’s bars.
Each of these women earned their spot on the trip by reaching impressive sales milestones in their own salons. It was our way of saying thank you — and inviting them to connect with the story behind the bars they’ve helped bring to so many customers.
Over a few beautiful days, they walked through the very rice fields that supply our Longsheng rice, met some of the Red Yao women whose wisdom and traditions inspired Viori, and enjoyed local meals prepared by the same families who grow the rice and make the embroidered ornaments they took home as gifts.
Trips like these do more than just inspire. They generate real, direct income for the local community. Every stay is hosted in family-run guesthouses. Every meal is prepared by villagers. Every activity — from guided hikes to cultural workshops — is led by locals. This way, the money spent doesn’t trickle through layers of outside businesses. It goes straight to the people who live here and who benefit from a little extra income the most.
At the same time, we’re moving carefully. We know the risks of tourism. We don’t want to flood the village or commercialize traditions that are meant to be lived, not performed. That’s why we’re starting small — a few groups a year — and learning alongside our Red Yao partners how to make these visits meaningful, respectful, and beneficial to everyone involved.
Some highlights from this year’s visits?
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A spontaneous dance in the fields with our guests and Red Yao grandmothers
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Long chats over tea about how beauty is passed down in different parts of China
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One guest saying, “I thought I came here to learn about a product. I didn’t expect to be so moved by the people.”
We’ll continue to refine these trips and open them up to more guests who are curious about where Viori really comes from. But as always, we’ll do it the way we try to do everything — slowly, carefully, and with the community’s voice leading the way.
Thank you to the amazing women who joined us — and to all of you who continue to support these kinds of connections through your everyday choices.