Gift of Love Elevating Pernod Ricard’s CSR in China Through Powerful Human Storytelling

Pernod Ricard, the French wine and spirits giant, commissioned Justin Jin to tell a story in China that reflected shared values with their Chinese partners. He documented an Indigenous Chinese community that the company is supporting in a region known for its exquisite embroidery, focusing on a mother’s sacrifice to educate her children.

Layer by layer, lace by lace, Mother Wu draped her daughter in the garment she began while she was pregnant. Everything fits. Mother Wu’s stoic face melted, the deep lines of hardship recast with the dignity of sacrifice.

With no structured brief, Justin immersed himself for weeks in a remote village, listening closely to people’s hopes and struggles. There, he met Mother Wu—a woman who never attended school herself but devoted her life to educating her four children. Through intimate photography and storytelling, Justin captured a universal tale of sacrifice and resilience that resonates across cultures.

The marketing team created a gala event based around this story.

Pernod Ricard invited Justin to present his story to hundreds of the company's VIP guests at a Shanghai gala decorated with his pictures.

Pernod Ricard turned Justin's story into a luxury coffee-table book
Justin's story followed Mother Wu who worked her life to support her children's education -- culminating in her daughter's university acceptance, a first for the village.
Justin showcased community efforts in building houses using ancient blueprints.
Justin's story focused on the living artisans practicing ancient cultures. Here, women wearing hand-woven embroidery perform the Dong song, a UNESCO heritage.

In the Press:

This story has been published in dozens of magazines in Europe, USA and Asia.