The design brief was simple, Kenton Cool wanted a unique piece of headwear for his successful attempt to summit Mount Everest for a 16th time in May 2022.

The uniquely hand-painted helmet features iconography personal to Kenton Cool including prayer flags, a planet earth, Buddha's eyes and the Buddhist mantra, 'Om Mani Padme Hum' which translates as, 'The Jewel is in the Lotus'.

According to the Dalai Lama the mantra has the power to transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech and mind of a Buddha.  It is said that to know this mantra is to attain enlightenment.

Photography (c) 2022 Kenton Cool & Guy Iliott