Donna Karan Talks Fashion and Philanthropy

Image: SheKnows.com

SheKnows.com featured a wonderful article about Donna Karan and her commitment to helping the people of Haiti.  She says, in the article, "We can create jobs; we can create meaning; we can create consciousness; we can create the change."  You can read the article here.


Donna Karan is one of the fashion industry leaders in philanthropy. I always use her as a model for brand philanthropy when I work with emerging fashion designers who aspire to making a living and making a difference through their label.

White Gown Auction for White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood

On September 20th, The WIE Symposium - Women: Inspiration and Enterprise held its annual conference in NYC. WIE is a forum where exceptional women role models share their stories, time and inspiration to empower the other women and the next generation. It is like giving girls "girl power."

This year's WIE Symposium hosts are three powerhouses: Arianne Huffington (who many of us admire) Donna Karan (who everyone wants as their gal pal), and Sarah Brown (who you want as a neighbor and best friend). The day included talks, lectures, a fashion show, awards and a panelist of speakers on politics, philanthropy, fashion and the arts.

The event is hosted by White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, an organization that works to promote awareness about making pregnancy and childbirth safe to decrease maternal mortality.

This year a White Gown Auction is being held through CharityBuzz to benefit the White Ribbon Alliance. Some of the designers include Vera Wang, Marchesa, Catherine Malandrino, Chloe and more.

PureDKNY Really Cares!

Last night I was watching the Chelsea, "Bang-Bang" Lately Show. She interviewed Jennifer Aniston about her new flick, Switch, to be released this Friday in theatres everywhere. In addition, Jen, friend of a long-ago friend of mine, actress, Leslie Bibb (really), revealed her new fragrance. Apparently, Jen loves fragrances. Well, over the years, I have invested in fine fragrances. My nose knows and I appreciate now lighter, cleaner smells. Yet some of favorite fragances rose, jasmine and sandlewood.

So Donna Karan’s newest fragrance, pureDKNY blends rose, jasmine, sandalwood with hints of vanilla into one fine bottle. In addition, Donna Karan's pureDKNY fragrance has partnered with CARE, a humanitarian group fighting poverty issues globally. Together, pureDKNY and CARE are helping entreprenurial women in this the Uganda region provide incomes for themselves and their family now and long-term.

The vanilla used in this fragrance is grown sustainably in Uganda. pureDKNY supports CARE, an international development organization, in a specific microfinance project that will reach 900 Ugandan vanilla farmers, many of whom are women.

The bottle, organic in shape and inspired by a drop of water, appears to be formed by nature. The materials include 100% recyclable glass and a cap of high-purity aluminum. Its compostable box is made of sustainably harvested paper manufactured in a mill that uses 100% renewable energy.

pureDKNY 3.4 ounce bottle reatails for $80. Get yours here.

Fashion Designers Who Give Back

It is quite a time for retail and even the runway, but there's one thing that never goes out of style: giving back. This year, fashion designers have really up-ed giving and all with style.

Marie Claire magazine highlights 15 designers who don't just make our world look more beautiful, they make it better. Here they are:

Ralph Lauren: The Pink Pony Fund and The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention

Donnatella Versace: Versace One Foundation

Kenneth Cole: amfAR

Patrick Robinson: P.A.C.E. (Personal Advancement, Career Enhancement)

Michael Kors: Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Oscar de La Renta: New Yorkers for Children

Angela Missoni: Orphan Aid Africa

James Ferragamo: GlobalGiving

Frida Giannini: UNICEF

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG: Vital Choices

Christopher Bailey: The Burberry Foundation

Donna Karan: The Urban Zen Foundation

ALESSANDRO BENETTON: Africa Works

Nicola Bulgari: Save the Children

Giorgio Armani: Project (RED)

See the short video here.