Ecco Domani® Announces $50,000 Donation to the Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund AND Reveals Collaboration with Fashion Designer Brandon Maxwell

 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio today announced a $50,000 donation to the Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund established by Meals on Wheels America. Inspired by fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, who has previously supported the organization and whom Ecco Domani enlisted to give its bottle a bold new look for the 2020 summer season, the donation will benefit the Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund to help local senior nutrition providers actively responding to the evolving COVID-19 crisis across the U.S., as well as assist with the supply of nutritious meals to vulnerable senior citizens during this pandemic.

While Brandon Maxwell's limited-edition label will hit shelves nationwide on June 1, Ecco Domani was inspired to lend its support and unveil the collaboration early after seeing Maxwell's commendable, proactive response to help those affected by the current crisis.

"Brandon Maxwell's bold approach to design was one of the initial reasons we were drawn to partnering with him," said Maud Pansing, Vice President of Marketing for Ecco Domani. "Not only does Brandon inspire us through design, but his recent philanthropic efforts encouraged us to provide support through our own donation commitment to Meals on Wheels America. We're filled with pride to announce our limited-edition label collaboration with Brandon and hope Ecco Domani fans and consumers everywhere can look forward to embracing their statement-making style this summer."

Brandon Maxwell officially announced his partnership with Ecco Domani on his Instagram yesterday, offering viewers a first look at his limited-edition label which is dressed in his signature monogram and leopard print designs. Classically chic, the label's standout pattern complements Ecco Domani's timeless, quality flavor profile, making it a trusted Pinot Grigio for nearly 25 years. The limited-edition label from Brandon Maxwell marks Ecco Domani’s sixth iteration of its annual Designer Label program.

"When Ecco Domani initially approached me to design a limited-edition label, it felt synchronistic as I grew up around the brand through my father's distribution company," said Brandon Maxwell. "For the design, I drew inspiration from my Fall/Winter 2019 collection to create a label that fully captures Ecco Domani's bold personality and offers consumers the opportunity to make a confident statement, even if enjoying a glass from the comforts of home."

The limited-edition label from Brandon Maxwell marks Ecco Domani's sixth iteration of its annual Designer Label program. The eye-catching bottle will be available for purchase in stores and via third-party delivery services nationwide beginning June 1, 2020.

Brandon Maxwell is a luxury women's ready-to-wear label launched in New York in 2015. The brand was born out of the desire to make women feel beautiful, sophisticated and powerful, with timeless garments that are impeccably tailored. With a focus on craftsmanship, the entire collection is designed in New York City.

Maxwell was awarded the 2019 CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year, the 2019 FGI Fashion Star Award, the 2019 Texas Medal of Art for Design, the 2018 Woolmark New York Semi Final Prize Award, 2016 Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for Womenswear, the 2016 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear, and was named a finalist for the 2016 LVMH Prize. Maxwell is a judge on Bravo TV's Project Runway.

FASHIONADO

Streetwear Brand 'Social Distance Social Club' Launches Collection

 Social Distance Social Club, a new streetwear brand out of Los Angeles, Ca, launched Friday, April 17, to record-breaking sales. The new clothing line was created to increase awareness around the importance of Social Distancing in the era of COVID-19, while raising money for World Central Kitchen.

The current line-up consists of t-shirts, hoodies, facemasks, crop tops, and tank tops with a straightforward message: Social Distancing Saves Lives. The streetwear collection was created by two young entrepreneurs with strong backgrounds in fashion and brand marketing.

The passion for creating the line came out of their frustration with the mixed messaging in media and government on the importance of social distancing to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

The founders have close friends working in the restaurant industry and healthcare, two of the hardest-hit sectors in the COVID-19 pandemic. They understand the challenges restaurants are facing and the sacrifices the nation's healthcare workers are making.

Inspired by José Andrés and World Central Kitchen, the duo were motivated to create a campaign to raise money supporting World Central Kitchen and #ChefsforAmerica COVID-19 response.

World Central Kitchen is working across America to safely distribute individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support by activating restaurants to help meet this demand while providing jobs for their staff and meals for those in need.

Five dollars of every item sold at SocialDistanceSocialClub.shop will be donated to the World Central Kitchen COVID-19 relief program.

With backgrounds in fashion and branding, the founders felt confident they could reframe the Social Distance narrative by aligning the message with an urban streetwear vibe designed to appeal to the America's Gen Z and Millennial generations.

The founders plan on extending the product line to include joggers, socks, jackets, and other small accessories within the coming weeks.

FASHIONADO

Anne Klein's Granddaughter Unites with Iconic Fashion Brand to Launch COVID-19 Relief Effort and Deliver 100,000 Masks to Essential Workers Throughout the U.S.

Anne Klein's granddaughter - Jesse Gre Rubinstein - unites with iconic fashion brand to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 WHP Global ("WHP" or the "Company"), owner of the iconic women's fashion brand Anne Klein has united with the namesake designer's granddaughter Jesse Gre Rubinstein to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the immediate need for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), the Company today announced the procurement of 100,000 face masks through its supply chain, which will be distributed with Jesse to essential workers and community organizations providing relief across the United States.

"Uniting the brand Anne Klein with the founder's family at this critical time and making a commitment to distribute 100,000 masks to those on the frontlines helping our communities, is a win/win. This is just the beginning of our planned collaboration with Anne's granddaughter, Jesse. We're thrilled to partner with her," said WHP Chairman and CEO Yehuda Shmidman. 

"I am honored to have the opportunity to play a role in supporting my grandmother's legacy by highlighting inspiring individuals who even during this time of great uncertainty, embody the vision and strength to empower their community and uplift those around them," added Jesse Gre Rubinstein, founder & CEO of social media agency, Hello There Collective. "My hope is that this initiative serves as the launch of a powerful network that can both support and inspire others to help not only in the present, but as we begin to rebuild."

Additionally, WHP has tapped Jesse and her agency to spearhead the upcoming launch of Anne Klein's new social series, featuring notable individuals making a difference and connecting communities during this global pandemic.  Following in the footsteps of Anne Klein who inspired so many, Jesse will host a Facebook Live series featuring the heroes of today, inspiring the next generation of trailblazers, with guests from a variety of industries who are championing aid during the pandemic.

FASHIONADO

H&M USA Provides Over Two Million Dollars Of Product For Communities Impacted By COVID-19

H&M USA is providing relief for communities around the country affected

by COVID-19, as well as allowing customers additional ways to

contribute to the effort.

H&M cares about the health and wellbeing of not only its customers and colleagues, but the community at large, especially those affected by the current pandemic.  Therefore, H&M USA will make an in-kind donation of over two million dollars of product to organizations like Children's Defense Fund,  GLAM4GOOD, Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Nashville Rescue Mission.  The product donation will include bedding, sheets, children's and adult clothes amongst other pieces, to help these communities meet their needs in this hard time.

Also beginning today, H&M USA is partnering with Givz so that for every $60 spent on hm.com/us, H&M USA will donate $10 to charities providing support and relief to those on the front line of the pandemic, for a total donation of up to $150,000.  Customers can choose to donate to a myriad of organizations like CDC Foundation,  Direct Relief, Meals on Wheels  and GLAM4GOOD amongst others.

In addition to these efforts, H&M Group has taken actions in the previous weeks to help aid in the fight against COVID-19 around the world.  In March, H&M Group began quickly arranging for its supply chain to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to be provided to hospitals and health care workers around the world.  In addition, H&M began letting global aid organizations utilize H&M social channels to spread the message of health and safety around the COVID-19 pandemic to followers around the world.

Alongside these actions, H&M Foundation made a $500,000 donation to the WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. 

FASHIONADO

The CFDA and Retail Industry Sends Letter to the White House Calling for Support Amidst Coronavirus Crisis

Lower Manhattan streets are all but emptied of shoppers. Photo: VogueRunway/Getty Images

As the coronavirus pandemic has taken hold of the U.S. over the last week, designers have been outspoken about the challenges facing the fashion industry in this crisis. Citing impending cash flow issues for brands up and down the price spectrum Prabal Gurung told Vogue that “this situation will not be fixed by a sale.” Brandon Maxwell, for his part, said “my main focus through all of this is going to be my team and keeping everyone employed, number one, and making sure everyone is feeling healthy, mentally and physically.” Retailers, too, have been forthright about the struggles posed by “stay-at-home” and “shelter in place” regulations. “The supply chain is severely affected by this. I can only imagine, in the coming months, how it will affect things for next season... There is no question that it will be a challenging year ahead of us,” said Andrew Dryden, the co-founder of LA’s menswear mecca Departamento.

Yesterday, the CFDA and 90 business groups including the National Retail Federation, the Accessories Council, and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York brought their concerns to the White House, sending a letter to President Trump calling for economic stabilization efforts amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The letter begins by commending the Administration and Congress for their public health efforts and actions to minimize the economic fallout caused by the spread of the virus. It goes on, however, to state: “The economic harm from social distancing and mandatory store closures is real. Layoffs and economic hardship will surely follow, particularly for smaller, specialty retailers and brands. The biggest single issue facing the industry right now is liquidity, and federal stimulus efforts must be swift and flexible enough to address the urgent need for access to credit to keep these businesses afloat.” The letter concludes by encouraging policymakers to develop proposals that support the retail workforce and to provide a “bridge” for retail businesses of all sizes to stay viable during the crisis.

“The fashion business has been hit hard and from every angle. American Fashion is a $400 billion driving force of the US economy employing 4 million people, not including retail jobs. The retail industry is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $4 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs—53 million working Americans,” said Tom Ford, Chairman of the Board of the CFDA. “Tory Burch has been actively driving a CFDA effort to urge the President and Congress that fashion and retail be part of any stimulus packages being developed. She quickly organized a group of industry leaders who were behind the letter that was sent the President on Saturday. The CFDA’s strength lies within it members, and we are thankful for Tory’s commitment to our industry.”

“It is imperative that our government, the federal reserve, regulators, and the public understand the vital importance of our industry to the overall economy of the United States,” Burch told Vogue. “Directly and indirectly we are one of the largest employers and contributors to the GDP. We must make our voices heard ... for our industry and our country!”

John Idol, the Chairman and CEO of Capri Holdings, parent company of Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo, echoed Burch’s sentiments: “As with all Americans, the most important issue facing us is employment. We know that this pandemic will eventually subside and the industry will return to a new normal. In the interim, we need financial assistance in the form of immediate payroll subsidies, no-interest loans, and extended tax-payment relief in order for us to continue our commitment to retain our employees.”

In Washington DC today, negotiations around a stimulus package of approximately $1.4 trillion are ongoing. As the retail industry waited to hear the outcome—an announcement is expected Monday morning—Marc Metrick, the President of Saks Fifth Avenue, emphasized the importance of community: “Our utmost priority is the health and well-being of our people, customers, and communities. Our industry has historically faced and overcome a number of headwinds. This situation is not only unprecedented, but also constantly evolving. The best and most important thing we can do today is to work together as an industry, so that all of us can weather this storm and come out the other side.”

Source: Nicole Phelps/ VogueRunway

FASHIONADO

NAMILIA x Pornhub HEROTICA NYFW F/W20

Photos by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Berlin-based and internationally celebrated design duo NAMILIA partnered with Pornhub, the premier online destination for adult entertainment, for their NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 runway collection entitled “HEROTICA.”

HEROTICA represents a powerful, unprecedented commentary on a male-dominated world where sexual fantasies have objectified and fetishized women, creating alluring stereotypes – the submissive exotic Asian, the accessorized eye candy and the “dirty” porn star. Throughout the collection, the designers reclaim the female perspective and flip around the idea of white supremacy to express a new reality – one with fierce women at the helm.

The runway show will feature an all-Asian cast consisting of runway models and Pornhub models Marica Hase, Jade Kush, and New York-native megastar Asa Akira, Pornhub’s Brand Ambassador.

“The cosmos of sexual pleasure has been restricted to a few boring and chauvinistic narratives for the pleasure of the male gaze, up until rather recently. Porn isn’t something existentially male, most women just have been previously excluded from determining the narrative.” said Nan Li of NAMILIA.

“We are excited to support boundary-breaking creators and help to penetrate New York Fashion Week with a must-see runway show. The NAMILIA collection challenges long-held stereotypes that today’s consumers no longer stand for, which we’ve seen echoed on Pornhub through a push for even more diverse perspectives within the past few years,” said Corey Price, VP, Pornhub. “This partnership reaffirms Pornhub’s commitment to supporting the arts, especially that which celebrates human sexuality and follows our recent commissioning of The Pleasure Principle, a pan-generational, sexually-charged exhibition of female artists at the Maccarone Gallery in Los Angeles. We hope our fans will stay tuned for more as we prepare to launch our upcoming limited fashion collaboration with NAMILIA.”

Pornhub has a history of collaborating with well-known clothing brands. The company marked its foray into the fashion industry in 2016 when it was the presenting sponsor of Hood by Air’s runway show, followed by an apparel collaboration with popular streetwear brand Richardson. 

In late spring, the brands will roll out a core collaboration collection of select pieces, to be made available online through NAMILIA and Pornhub.

FASHIONADO

Luxury Resale Is Growing Faster Than Primary Luxury Market

A new report from the Boston Consulting Group details that the luxury resale market is expected to grow at a faster rate than the primary luxury goods market. According to The Fashion Law who first reported on the study, luxury resale expects a 12 percent average growth rate through 2021, as well as a nine percent share of the personal luxury goods market. This level of growth would outshine the primary luxury goods market that’s expected to grow at an average rate of three percent.

The survey states that 50 percent of customers in the US that have purchased a luxury item within the past year have also participated in the luxury luxury market. It also notes that “secondhand sellers typically use resale to regain some of the money they spent on firsthand purchases—often so they can reinvest in new, full-priced luxury products.”

Analysts who worked on the survey conclude that this is actually “a powerful opportunity” luxury brand consumer bases because they have the chance to convert resale consumers to the primary resale market. Boston Consulting Group’s study found that 44 percent of consumers surveyed said they purchase “more-expensive luxury items than they would have bought without a resale market.”

Along the same lines, Bloomberg’s Sarah Halzack and Andrea Felsted also argue that higher access to reselling platforms could actually encourage younger consumers to take the plunge and purchase primary luxury goods instead of resale. “Say you’re considering a classic Balenciaga City bag for about $2,000 USD. Is it worth the investment? A scroll around The RealReal shows that you might be able to resell it for about $600.” They note that this could be “exactly the kind of assurance a first-time millennial or Generation Z luxury buyer needs to take the plunge on a pricey accessory.”

FASHIONADO

SOURCE THE FASHION LAW