Celebrate Light this Christmas

Artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen developed the Little Sun solar-powered lamp to give access to clean, reliable and affordable light to 1.6 billion people who don’t have it

This Christmas la Rinascente is pleased to join Little Sun in a celebration of light for all – making Little Sun lamps available in six new off-grid shops for the very first time.


Little Sun is a solar-powers lamp in the shape of a hand-sized sun. It is an affordable alternative to the unsafe and costly kerosene lanterns that most off-grid areas rely on. Charging a Little Sun for 5 hours in the sun during the day produces a full evening of solar-powered light.


Little Sun and la Rinascente are setting up six Little Sun shops in countries with insufficient light access. Little Sun shops will be opening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya; Jakarta, Indonesia; El Nido, Philippines; Yangon, Myanmar; and Johannesburg, South Africa.








December 4th marks the opening of a special installation created by Little Sun for la Rinascente’s famous Milan store windows that will showcase the off-grid shops throughout the Christmas season. The design of these windows will establish a powerful visual link between customers in Milan and customers in these off-grid areas.




Little Suns will be exclusively available for purchase in Italy through la Rinascente’s stores, giving customers a chance to participate in the project. Purchasing a Little Sun at the regular price of 20 euros in Italy makes it possible for Little Suns to be sold in off-grid areas at locally affordable prices.

Additionally, la Rinascente is providing funding to stock the six Little Sun shops with Little Suns. Little Sun will invest all profits from sales into developing the shops and expanding off-grid light distribution.


“We can’t think of a more perfect Christmas present to give to family and friends of any age” – Alberto Baldan, CEO of la Rinascente.


This unique business concept will unite la Rinascente and its customers with the Little Sun project in achieving a common goal – getting Little Sun light to off-grid areas in a celebration of light for everyone. Little Sun is a work of art that works in life.