One of Melbourne’s best-known skincare stores is putting books ahead of beauty this month, with Aēsop once again transforming its Flinders Lane location into a temporary queer library.
From 15 to 19 July, the CBD store will pause normal retail trading for the fifth annual Aēsop Queer Library, inviting visitors to browse a specially curated collection of books by LGBTQIA+ authors and take one home free of charge. No purchase is required, with the space reimagined as a place to discover stories, ideas and voices rather than skincare products.
This year’s edition is themed Body of Work, exploring how the body shapes identity, belonging and our relationship with the world around us. The selection highlights queer literature while shining a light on stories and perspectives that have often been overlooked in mainstream publishing.
Since launching in 2021, the Aēsop Queer Library has grown into a global initiative, gifting more than 115,000 books to readers around the world and encouraging greater access to LGBTQIA+ literature.
The Melbourne activation also carries a local impact beyond the bookshelves. As part of the program, the Aēsop Foundation will make a financial contribution to Minus18, the Australian organisation dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ young people through advocacy, education and community programs.
Previous editions have sourced titles from Melbourne’s iconic queer bookshop Hares & Hyenas alongside Australian publishers, reinforcing the initiative’s commitment to supporting local literary voices.
Aesop is at Shop 1C, 268 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000.
