Leif is the creation of Jonnie Vigar and the team at Container design studio in Sydney. Known for the packaging designs they had created for others, they finally branched out (!) and designed their own elegant containers, then worked on formulating products which use the unique properties of Australian native plants. Now stocked in some of Australia's top restaurants and boutiques, Leif products provide a lovely contrast between the clean, contemporary design of the bottles and the ancient botanical goodness within. We talked to Jonnie...


Leif is used at Vue de Monde restaurant, Melbourne.

What is the story behind the name 'leif'?
The idea for the name actually came from a story; Leif was a character in a book I often read to my son. We'd just begun developing the range and I was drawn to how the word felt familiar yet wasn't. I liked how it was an anagram of Life and that most people pronounce it Leaf which connects to the key ingredients used. Since naming the range we've discovered it's a pretty common christian name in Scandinavia (they pronounce it Layf) and we've had quite a few enquiries from people who want to wash themselves in their self!


If you happen to be on the Greek island of Symi, you'll find Leif products in the Soroco store there.

What's special about the formulation of the products?
Australian natives. We have some of the most unique plants on earth yet they often seem to be overlooked and we'd love to shine a light on some of these. We wanted to create formulations that were absolutely Australian in content but that had a modern look and feel.


Leif products in Poepke fashion boutique in Sydney's Paddington.

What response have you had to Leif? 
It's been really positive. As Container we have always focused on creating beauty packaging for others and have stayed in the background. If nothing else Leif has meant that we've had to get out a bit more. Early on we chose to sell through independent stores rather than larger retailers and that seems to have been a good decision. The stores where Leif appears are linked by their design credentials, some are interior focused, others are fashion and the products seem to benefit from being part of tightly curated collections.