Linea Pelle Alyssa Clutch, on sale for $98 - 50% of proceeds go to either UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders (your choice).

We all know the celebrities have come out en masse to support the awful earthquake in Haiti, so it’s about time luxury caught up! Leather goods brand Linea Pelle is generously marking down the prices of a selection of its handbags and giving 50% of the profits to your choice of charities – UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders.

The selection is quite limited, but I think the Alyssa Clutch (featured in the image) is a winner and it’s half off!

Founded in 1946 in response to the desolation caused by WWII, UNICEF - United Nations International Emergency Children’s Fund – is the world’s leading advocate for children, with programs in over 190 countries. Focusing on practical ways to alleviate the symptoms of poverty and devastation, UNICEF works to secure children’s universal human rights as outlined by the UN.

Founded in France in 1971, Doctors without Borders is an international medical non-profit providing humanitarian and emergency care to people in over 60 countries affected by desolation, armed conflict and epidemics.

Women’s Wear Daily published an interesting interview this week with Charity: water’s Scott Harrison about luxury brands’ role (right now and in the future) in world-wide philanthropy.

Here is an excerpt:

WWD: How have your collaborations with fashion companies helped?

S.H.: Our most successful campaign has been with Saks Fifth Avenue. [Since 2008, the retailer has sold $5 rubber bracelets at various outlets, with 100 percent of proceeds going to Charity: Water.] We raised about $700,000 — enough to bring clean water to 140 communities. You’ll see us continue to do more with Saks. We’ve done stuff with Miss Sixty. We did a great campaign with Theory that raised $80,000 for Ethiopia.

WWD: How would you characterize the fashion industry as opposed to another group in terms of fund-raising?

S.H.: I think the fashion industry has very high standards for the kinds of organizations that it’ll support. I think that might hint at why we’ve been successful. When we started this, design was so important to us. Just because we’re a charity, why should our Web site look bad? Our attention to detail, to design, using large-scale photography [has helped].

WWD: How important are products and merchandise?

S.H.: It’s not a huge part of the bottom line, but it’s really important for awareness. We’d like to work with more brands. I think there’s a merchandising piece that we’ve started to explore with Saks but there’s a lot more. We haven’t really gone to full scale.

To read about what Monique Pean, Swarvoski and Saks have done specifically for Charity: water, click here.

It’s so great to hear about the real results of what luxury can do for a charity and what we as consumers can start just by shopping!

Jimmy Choo

Choo has partnered with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support the Simelela Rape Center in South Africa  by donating 25% of all proceeds from his new line to the center.  

The iconic collection, dubbed Project PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), includes handbags, flip flops, sandals, flats, bracelets and accessories. All products feature a collage of signature Jimmy Choo details like snakeskin, leather, grommets, graphic artwork and Choo’s label. 

The fun and flirty sandals, featured on the model in the image above, are available at Saks  for $975.  

The Simelela Rape Center was created to address the physical and emotional needs of rape victims in its South African community. Sexual violence is a huge problem there and Simelela offers hope to women in their darkest hour providing post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV transmission prevention and trauma counseling.  

Jimmy Choo Project PEP collection, prices range from $95 for flip flops to $995 for a large handbag - 25% of proceeds support the Simelela Rape Center in South Africa

 

Hermes Life in a Pocket tie, $180 - portion of the profits benefits the Sidaction Assication to fight HIV/AIDS

The crème de la crème of luxury goods, Hermes, has come out with quite a twist on their notable tie collection. Instead of some new avant-garde design rivaling their well-known critters in various scenes of recreation and amusement, the 173 year-old Parisian house has created this tie to support the HIV/AIDS effort and raise awareness. 

The Life in a Pocket tie retails for $180 and is hand-folded out of heavy silk. The back of the tie features a small, hidden pocket designed to slip a condom and promote the message of protection and prevention. 

Hermes is donating a portion of the profits to the Sidaction association to assist with advances in HIV/AIDS research. Sidaction is a public event/campaign in France that promotes awareness and raises money for various HIV/AIDS organizations.  

In addition to publicity on TV and radio, Sidaction also organizes sporting and cultural events all over France where people learn about AIDS research and prevention and have the opportunity to contribute to the fight against the pandemic. 

Naomi Campbell modeling the Spring/Summer 2010 Louis Vuitton bag, $2,789 – a portion of proceeds to benefit the White Ribbon Alliance

Louis Vuitton, the ultra-famous French luxury house, has partnered with supermodel Naomi Campbell to support the White Ribbon Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to reducing maternal mortality.

Naomi partnered with Marc Jacobs, the creative director of LV, to design the bag made of khaki metallic monogram canvas stripes, embroidered on colored metallic leather with natural leather trim which retails for $2,789. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Alliance.

The model is a global ambassador for the organization, which has lobbied world leaders since 1999 to support safe motherhood initiatives and empowered women to demand safe and respectful medical services. The Alliance also works to address the effects of poverty, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, gender inequalities on safe motherhood.

“People say fashion people don’t do anything. We do a lot,” Naomi Campbell said in an interview (she’s also donating the proceeds from her auction of Hermès bags to the charity). I couldn’t agree more but think that fashion and luxury still have a lot more to do. Why? Because they can.

So if you’ve been looking for some new pearl studs or a new necklace (just explored their website and they have some pretty trendy and creative choices!), choose Carolee. Shop online at www.carolee.com, using the shopping code CLOSET at checkout, and Bottomless Closet will receive 10% of net sales.

For 10 years, Bottomless Closet NYC has helped New York women gain their economic independence and strengthen their self-confidence through wardrobe consultation, one-on-one interview counseling and evening career workshops.

When not adopting children, attending awards ceremonies or shooting their newest blockbuster, the globe-trotting, humanitarian celebrities (or as they might prefer, celebrity humanitarians) were apparently busy designing jewelry for charity this past year. 

Their limited edition collection of serpent-inspired gold jewelry and silver home accessories, available exclusively from the 200 year-old British luxury jeweler Asprey,  is called ‘The Protector’ in honor of the charity it supports – Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. 

100% of net proceeds from sales of The Protector line benefit the Partnership. Co-founded by Jolie in 2006, the charity works to educate children of war, conflict and natural disasters. 

WWD quotes Angelina on the need for the charity: “These are the children who most need a safe place to learn, a place to heal, a place to learn reconciliation, a place to build a better future and a place — to just be children. Yet the education for these children is often forgotten. Tens of millions of children and adolescents in conflict are not in school.” 

Why Serpents? Besides being very trendy right now (think Elizabeth & James, Kara Ross, Kenneth Jay Lane) the snake has a personal meaning for the couple. Angelina was given a ring in the shape of a coiled snake when she was pregnant with Shiloh (child #3) and considers the snake to be a talisman for her family. 

Serpent pendants - 100% of net proceeds go to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict

Serpent ring with pavé diamonds - 100% of net proceeds go to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict

De Beers Luck & Love drop earrings, $1,300 - 100% of silent auction item donated to Bottomless Closet

Last month, I was fortunate enough to have my place of employment, De Beers Diamond Jewellers donate these cute Luck & Love collection drop earrings (6 round diamonds set in white gold, .42 total carat weight) as a silent auction item to the charity that I volunteer for – Bottomless Closet. They sold for a little less than retail value, so the buyer got a good deal and 100% of the purchase went to Bottomless Closet!

For 10 years, Bottomless Closet NYC has been helping New York women gain their economic independence and strengthen their self-confidence through their one-on-one interview counseling and evening career workshops. And of course, their huge “boutique” of clothing is perfectly suited to help these women land a  good job and keep it.

I’ve been volunteering there as much as I can since May or June. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the staff and working on the retail committee. I only wish I had more time to give; helping the clients choose work-appropriate clothing and coaching them to ace the interview is actually a lot of fun for me. It feels great to know that I can give a little of my time each month to empower other women living in the same city as I.

Please visit their website if you live in the city and would like to help out or contribute clothing donations.

Yurman dog tags with or without pave diamonds, $450/$950 - 10% of sales go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Last week, I spotted these pink dog tags in a vitrine inside the David Yurman store on Madison Ave.  I was attending a special shopping event for the charity I volunteer for – Bottomless Closet (they provide clothing, interview/resume prep and career-oriented workshops to local NYC women) – so a special THANKS to David Yurman for putting that together!

The dog tags are made out of sterling silver and pink rhodonite, which is a rose-colored stone commonly used in upscale breast cancer-themed products . There is also a more expensive option with pave diamonds (.36cts), which is obviously the better choice.

10% of the sales from the tags will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by David Yurman. The Foundation strives to raise awareness, encourage early detection and fund research efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in the world and women in the United States have a 1 in 8 (12.5%) chance of developing it in their lifetime. So there’s a good chance that if breast cancer prevention and a cure is not already a priority to you, it may become one eventually as this disease affects so many women around us.

The dog tags can be purchased at DY stores and at their online boutique.