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.

How Top Brands Are Saving the World

Let's face it, between work, family, and friends, we are easily overloaded and there is rarely enough time to finish what was due the day before…let alone think about trying to make a difference and save the world. We all work hard and deserve to live as we see fit a life that is comfortable and fun. Everyone enjoys some fun, right? And sometimes indulgent rewards of working hard—be it a shoe fiend or avid traveler are just what we feel are perfect for hard work. Yet, we can get so wrapped up in getting ahead and advancing our careers and own lives that we often fail to remember how extremely lucky we all are in this world.

So just for a moment, imagine life from a different perspective, perhaps being in an impoverished country with no running water or designer shoes and handbags. Consider the differences? Maybe you would no longer care about shopping sprees, or be that carefree traveler and book a weekend getaway. In this moment, stop and think just how can you turn your good fortune into doing something good for others while feeling good about it for yourself, your family and others?

One great example is every shoe-shoppers delight. Manolos really is saving the world while you shop. And they are doing it one pair at a time. Fashion and luxury brands are uniquely positioned to rise to the occasion and are taking on the responsibility of giving back. By maximizing the benefits the world’s most valuable natural resources, their profit margins have grown exponentially since the 1980’s and allow them to position their brand products into symbols of humanity, and you can help.

Supporting brands that support philanthropy to make a difference can make a world of difference in more ways then one. From watches and pendants, to face creams and handbags, you can spend your hard-earned money on products that give back to a cause. No excuses! These companies aren’t cutting a check to just for the tax deduction. They are actually making an impact through awareness with a high level of corporate involvement. You might even be surprised that a go-to item of yours now gives a portion of its sales to charity—a great excuse to keep buying it! Doing good can be as easy as swiping your plastic or clicking your mouse with no scheduling required.

More and more top brands are making a difference through their sales and making significant contributions to worthwhile charities. Here’s just a sampling:

Montblanc – UNICEF, Jewelers for Children, Nelsom Mandela Foundation
Bulgari – Save the Children
Cartier – Youth Aids, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, USA Harvest
David Yurman – Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Lustgarten Foundation
Elie Tahari – God’s Love We Deliver
Gucci – UNICEF
Helen Ficalora – Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation
Jimmy Choo – Elton John AIDS Foundation
Kate Spade – Women to Women International
Linea Pelle – Doctors without Borders, UNICEF
Louis Vuitton – White Ribbon Alliance
MAC – MAC AIDS Fund
Monique Pean – Charity: water
Pierce – World Vision
Ralph Lauren – Fashion Targets Breast Cancer
Saks – Key to the Cure, Charity: water
Sergio Rossi - Goodplanet
Swarovski - Charity: water
Tag Heuer – Green Cross International, Natural Resources Defense Council
Valentino - Francesca Rava Foundation for Haiti
Van Cleef – Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Versace – Starlight Children’s Foundation, One Foundation

Go ahead, make your mark by supporting these products and strive for purpose beyond ourselves. As consumers, we need to can put our purchasing power to use through brand philanthropy and support all brands that ‘do good.’ Collectively, we can change the face of the world one luxury purchase at a time.

Please visit makeluxurycount.com, who contributed this article to our blog, to stay up to date on the latest in brand philanthropy and the newest products that are giving back! If you’re going to make a statement, make it count.

Catwalk for Kids: Fashion, Celebrities + Philanthropy

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual CATWALK for Kids event in Charleston, SC and meeting Mary Norton, the founder of this benefit event. It was a spectacular event and raised over $200,000 to support MUSC Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Center. With more than 300 people, sponsors like Swarovski, Wayne Newton, and celebrities who autographed their distinct handbag and other items (some that auctioned as high as $40,000), wine, champagne, award winning Chef McKee catering, and to-die-for drawing gifts, plus so much more, it was a over the top a faaabulous event!

Catwalk for Kids™ benefit luncheon enters its second year for MUSC Children’s Hospital after a sell out success for its inaugural event last year! This year’s event will be hosted by charity founder Mary Norton, presented by Charleston Fashion Week, with runway show by Carmen Marc Valvo sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue, entertainment by Edwin McCain and an extraordinary lunch provided by Oak Steakhouse prepared by celebrity Chef Brett McKee. There will be a raffle of exciting items, topped off by a live auction of one-of-kind handbags made by Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Stephen Colbert, Kristin Stewart, Amanda Peet, Gabrielle Union, Darius Rucker and the amazing children of “Catwalk for Kids™” brings the fashion and entertainment worlds to Children’s Hospitals nationwide. This is done by designers and entertainers doing “hands-on” creative fashion or entertainment projects with the in-hospital patients as well as by holding “Catwalk for Kids™” fundraisers. This enables fashion designers, entertainers, patients and their families to celebrate creativity and collaborate together.

The fundraiser consists of a luncheon with a live fashion show, an entertainment portion, shared stories from patients past and present and topped off with auction items, including some of the creative collaborations made during the “hands-on” hospital visit. Funds are donated to areas of specified need within the hospital.

“Catwalk for Kids™” inaugural year was in 2009 at Charleston Fashion Week, with Wayne Newton and sold out two weeks before the event during the worst economic period since the Great Depression. “Catwalk for Kids™” was founded by red carpet accessories designer, Mary Norton. MUSC Children’s Hospital is the beneficiary of the “Catwalk for Kids™” in Charleston.

You can view last year's benefit event here.

About MUSC Children’s Hospital:

Until fairly recently – 1987, to be exact – children in South Carolina who had serious illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and heart disease often had to leave the state in order to receive proper treatment. For the child, this usually meant long stays far away from the comforts of home and lots of time spent in an unfamiliar, sometimes frightening environment. From the parent’s perspective, it meant putting everything in your life on hold while you did everything you could to make your child well again.

That was before the Medical University built its Children’s Hospital. Today, MUSC Children’s Hospital is the number one children’s hospital in the Southeast and one of the 28 best in the country, based on a recent ranking by Child magazine. No child, rich or poor, is denied the finest care available. Many are facing serious, chronic, congenital or life-threatening conditions yet, thanks to the Children’s Hospital, they are able to hope for a brighter tomorrow. The best part is, they don’t have to leave home to receive this high level of care.