Some say it's an open door. Some say it's when a single soul lives in two bodies. And, others say it's an overwhelming physiological response to spending a significant amount of time with another human being. Whatever you think love is, chances are that the person sitting right next to you (someone you love, even!) has an entirely different meaning.
The #loveisproject seeks to create a dictionary of definitions about what love means around the world — across countries, creeds, and cultures. Holding a beaded bracelet created by African brand LIFE Line, in collaboration with The Supply Change — a company that builds relationships between the design industry and global artisan communities — people from all over the world were shot for portraits while sharing their personal definition of the word.
The project was started by Chrissie Lam while on a trip from Russia to the Middle East, during a series of horrifying global events including the Malaysian Airlines catastrophe in Ukraine, the beginning of the Ebola outbreak, and a string of ISIS beheadings. "It was easy to forget that love exists. This project was a search for love to restore my faith in humanity. I found grace, gratitude, and grief in many answers," she said.
Lam has traveled to 90 countries so far and plans to continue around the world in the coming year. She's started an Indiegogo to raise awareness and funding to continue her #loveis journey, as well as to raise money to help the nonprofit CTC International create jobs around the world. For Lam herself, she said, "#Loveis energy. If you radiate positivity and love, you will openly receive it back." Click through for 37 more definitions from people around the world.
Pauline Tyler, Bali (from Hawaii)
"#Loveis like an iceberg. There is always more to it than the eyes can behold."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Marie Mazelis, U.S. (Los Angeles)
"#Loveis a sense of belonging. It's the opposite of empty."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Chloe Slattery, Australia
"#Loveis all-encompassing. It's everything. We manifest love."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Romita Bhandary, India
"#Loveis life. It is what we are born with and what we cannot live without."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Sigrid Wauters, Belgium
"#Loveis freedom. You can only love when you let go."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Juliana Janssen, Bali (from Kuwait)
"#Loveis an adventure you want to be on forever."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Beth Magill, U.S. (Austin)
"#Loveis mutual. For it to work, you need to give 100%, and be sacrificial and joyful."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Rose, Kenya
"#Loveis to love someone always, without any ill feelings and with an open heart."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Soha Merhej, Lebanon
"#Loveis the warm, fuzzy feeling in your stomach."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Aaliyah Bochhah, Holland
"#Loveis a feeling. It's indescribable."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Mariam Nikuradze, Georgia
"#Loveis being filled with life and emotions, memories, feelings, and even grief sometimes, but all together."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Diana Lion Giustiniani, Corsica
"#Loveis sharing your roots and culture with others."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Niveen Kuforani, Palestine
"#Loveis what you would want for yourself. How would you want peace for yourself? I think you would want it for all the people that are suffering due to war or any other cause. That's simply love to me."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Maria Garcia, Colombia
"#Loveis nature. It is where the energy of love comes from."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Johanna Georges, France
"#Loveis sharing the best of yourself."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Greta Eagan, U.S. (San Francisco)
"#Loveis the unseen energy that connects us all and is best felt when we take care of others as we would ourselves."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Jang Hee, China
"#Loveis friendship and sharing."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Hamda, Jordan
"#Loveis Allah."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Emma Kibo, Indonesia
"#Loveis full of surprises. Love crosses borders and knows no age, race, or religion."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Yana Liashenko, Ukraine
"#Loveis peaceful and freedom. To be free to be who you are."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Barbara Lardera, Bali
"#Loveis the beauty of this world. #Loveis family."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Touline Habake, Syria
"#Loveis a choice in darkest and lightest of times."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Jessica Stein and James Thompson, Australia
"#Loveis the passion and compassion you give to the world and people without the expectation of it being returned."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Julie Chang, U.S. (Los Angeles)
"#Loveis the deepest form of understanding."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Yonat Cintra, Israel
"#Love is for all. #Loveis total acceptance."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Ashley Abou Elias, Lebanon
"#Loveis not just a feeling, it is a necessity for life. Without love, the world would be occupied with loneliness and chaos."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Astghik Hovhannisyan, Armenia
"#Loveis the highest value in life for humans. #Loveis respect towards each other."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Tamar Areshidze, Georgia
"#Loveis beyond the borders of logic. It is inside you until someone comes along and reflects it."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Xenia Kelsch, Bali (from Germany)
"#Loveis passion in everything you do. #Loveis everywhere."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Olga Zinovieva, Russia
"#Loveis unconditional."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Emily, Latvia
"#Loveis a strong energy which inspires and creates harmony. It's trust, passion, friendship, a meeting of souls, a magical connection with sparkles. It lifts you up! #Loveis the universe."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Saruul Khatanbaatar, Mongolia
"#Loveis an evolution. Even though love comes in various forms, the feeling of love evolves from a sparkle of passion."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Patricia, Croatia
"#Loveis beautiful! It makes you a better person. You want to give the best of yourself to others."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Šarlote Krūmińa, Latvia
"#Loveis thinking, caring; sometimes even worrying, praying; showing it in big or small gestures if you're separated by continents, cities, or just by a wall."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Rody Radichkov, Bulgaria
"#Loveis a concept. You can't live without it. It's the past, present, and future."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Corina Safaler, Moldova
"#Loveis warmness and comfort of the soul."
Photo: Courtesy of @thesupplychange.
Rheanna Colyer, Great Britain
"#Loveis adventure. It can come from anywhere and take you around the world."
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