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I ran Gap’s public relations office in New York when they became one of the first brands to partner with (RED). I’ll never forget when the entire team gathered together to watch the episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show dedicated to the initiative—it was emotional (yes, I cried) and overwhelming to be a part of something so major that was going to help so many people (since it’s launch in 2006, (RED) has generated over $160 million for the Global Fund). Fashion brands producing limited-edition items to benefit a specific charity certainly isn’t a new concept—but that doesn’t make their continued efforts any less worthwhile. Some causes might fly under the radar without big-name brands drawing our attention to them, while some others might even affect you personally.
Perry Ellis launched a white cotton pique polo (with an embroidered pelican logo) to support Project Beach, an initiative created by the brand (who’s corporate offices are based in Miami) to raise funds and awareness for Gulf Coast recovery efforts in the wake of the BP oil spill. The polo will raise up to $15,000 for nonprofits working to restore the coastline. Perry Ellis is dedicated to the long-term recovery of the Gulf region—the Spring 2011 advertising campaign was shot at several beaches (in Manatee and Sarasota) on the Gulf Coast (a first for the company). Below is a bonus shot (just because the Style Guyde loves you) of Tommy Dunn from that campaign, photographed by Rocco Laspata.
The Perry Ellis Project Beach polo retails for $24 and is available at http://www.perryellis.com.
Kenneth Cole has been an advocate on behalf of AIDS research since 1985 (long before it became “fashionable”). He is the chairman of amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and through AWEARNESS, the Kenneth Cole Foundation raises awareness, supports education and eradicates stigma in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The latest AWEARNESS project is a nylon unisex hooded rain poncho (which reverses from blue camouflage to solid black) that supports Help USA. From March 3-May 31, 2011, 100 percent of the net profits from the sale of the poncho will go toward funding housing for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Kenneth Cole AWEARNESS rain poncho retails for $60 and is available at Kenneth Cole stores nationwide as well as http://www.kennethcole.com
NUMBER:Lab (yes, them again—the Style Guyde can’t get enough of these guys!) has designed a T-shirt to benefit the Special Olympics (which was founded way back in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver). Officially called the >heart< project tee (it was appropriately launched on Valentine’s Day), the bold red T-shirt (seen below on Luke Gulbranson) is cut from NUMBER:Lab’s signature highest-quality pima cotton—with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the charity.
The NUMBER:Lab >heart< project tee retails for $88 and is available at http://www.number-lab.com.
Nautica’s Save Our Oceans T-shirt also supports the relief efforts on the Gulf Coast—100 percent of its proceeds are donated to Oceana, Inc. (a nonprofit organization, of which Ted Danson is a founding board member, that has been protecting the world’s oceans since 2001). In August 2010, Nautica joined Oceana in Gulfport, Miss. to donate $100,000 to support the organization’s Oceana LatitudeGulf Expedition, which analyzed the magnitude of the BP oil spill and its effects on marine life. The Save Our Oceans T-shirt was launched this past December and you’ll be happy to know that the environmentally conscious design is made using organic cotton and vegetable-based dyes.
The Nautica Save Our Oceans T-shirt retails for $25 and is available at http://www.nautica.com.
SWAG SUITE!
Nautica knows a worthy cause when they see one. Not only are they committed to helping support the restoration and protection of the Gulf Coast, on a (much) lighter note, they also want you (our loyal Style Guyde readers) to smell good, too! The brand’s newest scent, Pure Nautica, is a woody, aquatic fragrance comprised of natural ingredients—with top notes of brisk sea spray, sparkling mandarin and bergamot.
E-mail us at
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with “Nautica” in the subject line and tell us in 100 words or less which charity (or charities) you support and why. The first 10 entries (with a valid e-mail, home address and telephone number) will win a 1.7 oz. bottle of Pure Nautica—which retails for $49. Only one entry/winner per household please.
Be sure to check out http://www.nautica.com for (much) more from our friends at Nautica.
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