In my book nothing is more fashionable but fashion with a charitable mission.
Designer Rachel Roy is constantly working on new ways to improve the lives of others through charity, entrepreneurship, and cultural understanding. Earlier this year, on her birthday, Rachel asked friends, fans and family to donate to Charity Water campaign in lieu of gifts, and she raised over $17,000 for the cause. Rachel Roy also announced a partnership with Fairwinds Trading in a form of an effort to create jobs for women in Africa. Rachel Roy designed limited edition items that are hand-crafted in Africa by women artisans and women-owned businesses. Three products of this collaboration were launched this spring.
Charity has always been part of Rachel Roy’s mission, and last week the RACHEL Rachel Roy team announced a charity = clarity campaign and offering others an amazing opportunity to be charitable as well. RACHEL Rachel Roy will give a $1,000 grant to 3 people to help improve the lives of others. Rachel Roy believes that through giving back to charity you gain clarity, peacefulness, happiness and balance in your own life, and she wants to make it possible for three people to have their “own charity”.
You can submit your own charity idea at RachelRoy.com, enter by May 31st for a chance to win $1,000 for your “charity” that will improve the lives of others. The three charity idea winners will receive the $1,000 grant as well as a FLIP camera to document their plan in action for the world to see. The videos will be featured on RachelRoy.com to inspire others to make a difference.
The debut Rachel Roy Fairwinds Collection is available at Macy’s at at RachelRoy.com, and buy purchasing any of the pieces, you will support women’s independence through employment. And to me this is more empowering than donation – creating jobs is much more sustainable and beneficial in the long run, than just donations.
The collection includes a clutch handmade of interesting textiles in Tanzania and shredded paper bracelet and bead earrings from Rwanda, both seen on Tyra Banks show last month. The jewelry includes beads constructed from a unique paper layering process, unique to Rwanda.
