Pencils for everyone

"Give me the “skin tone pencil.” Many parents have been reaching for the pink crayon here for too long. That's a problem because people in our society aren't pink. Racism and discrimination start with language. 

At the end of 2016, together with a friend, Malte decided to do something about the monotony in the crayon boxes and the stereotypes in raising children. The result was a set of colored pencils in 12 different, representative skin tones. With this, children can finally paint themselves and their friends as they really look. The message behind it: skin tone is not the same as pink! Each of us is unique and that's a good thing.

Our skin tone products assist parents, educators, and teachers in promoting representation in education and breaking stereotypes. The lone pink "skin tone" pencil in conventional pencil sets fails to live up to its name. On the path to a more open society, multiple approaches are needed. With the Skin Tone Pencils, we focus on the youngest members of our society. Through our products, children can playfully discover the value of diversity.

Children are born without prejudices. However, to ensure that stereotypes are not learned early and unconsciously, the role of parents, educators, and caregivers in upbringing and sensitization is crucial. Providing discrimination-free education and nurturing a new generation is an opportunity for change. Step by step, we make an important contribution towards a more open, unbiased society.

Our customers love the Hautfarben products because they represent a meaningful gift that is also beautiful, enjoyable, and contributes to creative education. By giving these gifts, they convey an important message, and through their purchase, they make a societal contribution, as the proceeds support nonprofit projects against racism and discrimination.

The education of our children influences not only their lives, but also the future of our society. Non-discriminatory education is essential in this regard, but why actually? Here are a few reasons:

1. Building healthy self-esteem: children who are raised without discrimination build healthy self-esteem. They recognize that they are unique and valuable just the way they are.

2. Developing empathy: Children who value the diversity of people around them develop stronger empathic skills. They learn to empathize with others and understand their perspectives.

3. Strengthening social skills: When children understand that differences are normal and valuable, they are better able to interact with people from different backgrounds and worldviews. They also learn to resolve conflicts and compromise.

4. Building a just society: non-discriminatory education is a step towards a more just society. It teaches children that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities. Children are the adults of tomorrow who will shape the future.

Now you may be asking yourself: how can I contribute to discrimination-free education? Talk to children openly and vividly about the value of diversity. With Skin Tones pencils, we offer a simple but powerful way to teach these lessons. Our pencils in 12 representative skin tones help children discover the value of diversity through play and understand that everyone is unique and valuable.

Together with diversity experts and artists, we have selected 12 shades with which different skin tones can be drawn as realistically as possible. Of course, 12 shades alone can never represent the full range of human skin tones. However: Through skillful combination and mixing, our color selection enables the drawing of a large and realistic skin tone spectrum. Recommended by artists and educators!

The production is carried out jointly at four German production sites with 100% green power from PEFC-certified wood that comes from sustainably managed forests. The pencils have a special lead protection (ABS) that withstands intensive and exuberant use by children's hands. The packaging is printed on environmentally friendly, PEFC-certified natural cardboard by Egger, a small, ecologically oriented printing company in Bavaria. Product safety is certified by the CE seal. 

The production of crayons is a multi-step process consisting of various stages. First, the wooden pencils are made from high-quality cedar or lime wood and cut into different lengths. The wooden pencils must be cut precisely to allow for comfortable handling and easy sharpening later on.

Color pigments and binders are carefully selected and mixed to achieve a perfect color blend. The color pigments are ground very finely to ensure even distribution on the paper later. Binders are essential to enable reliable adhesion of the ink to the paper.

The ink mixture is poured into special molds and dried. The drying process is done by heating or air drying. After removal from the molds, the pens must be dried again to ensure that they are fully cured.