Not a Date to Celebrate: Why Lush Is Standing With Clothing The Gaps
Not A Date To Celebrate
Every January, as the country edges toward the 26th, a familiar tension fills the air. For some, the day is marked on the calendar as a summer celebration, a chance to gather, barbecue, and enjoy a day off. But for many First Nations people, January 26 is not a celebration at all. It is a day of mourning, survival, and remembrance; a stark reminder of the violence and dispossession that began with invasion and continues to echo through systems and lived experiences today.
Australia often prides itself on being diverse and inclusive. Yet holding onto this particular date as a national holiday tells a different story, one that overlooks the truth and the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In settler spaces, it’s common to hear, “We’re not celebrating Australia Day, we’re just catching up.” But in a country where inequality persists for Indigenous communities, neutrality isn’t neutral. Choosing not to confront the truth contributes to ongoing harm.
At Lush, we believe in listening deeply, uplifting First Nations voices, and standing beside organisations leading meaningful change. That’s why we’re proud to support Clothing The Gaps in calling for a respectful change to January 26. Their campaign, Not a Date to Celebrate urges Australians to acknowledge the true significance of this day and to push for a future where national pride does not come at the cost of someone else’s pain.
If you’d like a deeper understanding of why this conversation matters, we recommend reading “8 Things You Need to Know About Jan 26”, a thoughtful breakdown of the history, the myths, and the lived realities surrounding this date.
A Simple Action With Real Impact
Change starts with awareness, but it doesn’t end there. You can help by signing the national petition calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider the date and recognise the harm that celebrating on January 26 continues to cause Indigenous communities. Every signature adds weight to a movement led by the people whose voices should matter most in this conversation.
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/australia-day-jan-26-not-a-date-to-celebrate
Introducing: Always Will Be, Our Limited-Edition Giving Product
To further support Clothing The Gaps’ advocacy and educational work, we’ve created a limited-edition soap: Always Will Be. Made in consultation with Mob, this bar blends grounding sandalwood with calming lavender to create a scent that’s both earthy and soothing, a small reminder of connection to Country every time it lathers in your hands.
What makes this soap truly special is the impact behind it. Seventy-five percent of the sales price (excluding tax) goes directly to Clothing The Gaps. Your purchase helps fund their community programs, cultural initiatives, educational resources, and continued push for social change.
A Step Towards A Lusher Future
Buying the soap or signing the petition might feel small, but movements are made of many small steps, thousands of people choosing to listen, to learn, to show up, and to refuse complacency. Supporting this campaign means joining a conversation led by First Nations peoples and standing beside them in the call for justice, truth, and respect.
Visit your local Lush store to explore the Always Will Be soap, chat with our team, or learn more about why January 26 is Not a Date to Celebrate. Together, we can help create a future where celebration doesn’t overshadow survival, and where national pride aligns with respect, truth-telling, and real change.
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