Friends with Benefits: Charitable Italian Fashion Designers
Many Italian designers are interested in the greater good. They want to not only make aesthetically beautiful things for the world, they also want to do something beneficial and beautiful for the less fortunate. As an act of solidarity, several design houses devote their creativity to making specific products whose revenues go toward a cause or organization working to aid children and others in troubled areas of our world.
Whatever your global concerns, there are some great options if you want to be part of it all. When you wear these items you know that not only are you adorned in something beautiful, you are also doing something beautiful for others.
Gucci’s Frida Giannini designed a special edition Sukey bag where 25% of proceeds go to Unicef’s Schools for Africa program.
Bulgari developed a special ring made of silver and ceramic for Save the Children. It launched the program in 2009 and has renewed its commitment through 2013. So far nearly $16 million has gone to Save the Children through this initiative and they hope to raise at least another $4 million.
Missoni made a capsule collection consisting of 12 pieces in their red and pale pink zigzag chevron pattern for OrphanAid Africa, an organization founded by a former Vogue editor and supporting children in need in Ghana.
Marni launched a project called Children’s Imaginary World that involves children helping children. Marni invites underprivileged children from South America and East Asia to co-design T-shirts and totes, which are then sold through Marni boutiques and website. The proceeds go to street children in several countries.
Prada and other designers have made shirts whose proceeds go to the Jane Goodall Institute. This initiative honors Goodall’s 50 years of service and contributes to the education of orphans and homeless youth in the area of Kigoma.