Louis Vuitton Donates 2,500 Face Masks to New York's MTA Workers

After shifting several of its workshops to producing face masks in the wake of the coronavirus, Louis Vuitton is now allocating supplies to some of the most dire areas around the world. The French label has reportedly donated 2,500 of the masks specifically to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees, as detailed by The Cut.

Several masks were said to already have been doled out to the MTA staff at the end of March as COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the city, though it hasn’t stopped the virus from taking its toll on the workers. Reportedly more than 80 have died since the pandemic hit, and thousands have tested positive.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently implemented further changes to the transportation system in order to help combat the spread. Last week, he announced that the subway would close down every night from 1 a.m. until 5 a.m. to allow for additional cleaning, a move that hasn’t been enacted in over 115 years, as The New York Times notes.

Though Louis Vuitton’s donations may not be able to fully provide for the MTA’s more than 74,000 employees, the resources still come at a time when the city continues to grapple with managing the virus amid limited supplies.

“As an important French House, Louis Vuitton wishes to commit at its level to producing many thousands of masks that will be distributed within the region, at no charge, to protect those who are most exposed,” CEO Michael Burke stated previously when speaking of the company’s decision to produce masks. “This production is the fruit of a wonderful collaboration with the regional sector of the textile industry.”

Elsewhere in fashion, DSPTCH has recently launched its own durable cotton ripstop face coverings, seeking to raise money for those most affected by the virus.

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Times Square Billboard Promises A Free Face Mask For Every American

DHVANI, the Activ(ist)Wear brand, unveiled a Times Square billboard promising "A Mask for Every American." The red, white and blue billboard features the internet address DHVANI.com/FreeMasks – a web page where anyone can request a free face mask, and donate to help supply masks.

The billboard kicks off a fundraising campaign to provide all 327 million American residents with a free face mask to protect themselves and others from the COVID-19 pandemic. The company will provide medical-grade masks to healthcare professionals and reusable cloth masks to the general public, per recommendations from U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

This is a personal issue for DHVANI's co-founder and chief of operations, Kanayochukwu Onwuama. Onwuama first learned of the seriousness of the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages in the New York City area from his mother Joy Austin, a registered nurse at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY. 

"When my mom told me she'd been using the same disposable mask for a whole week, my stomach dropped, and I couldn't help but cry," said Onwuama. "I immediately knew I had to do something."

"We hope nobody actually sees the billboard because they're sheltering in place," said Avi Brown, DHVANI's co-founder and chief executive. "Unprecedented times require unprecedented action. It's up to all of us to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of donations from the public, we're using our manufacturing and distribution resources to put a mask on every face in America."

The two founders quickly decided to help the American people fight the virus, which has already caused more than 170,000 deaths worldwide, one in four of which have been in the U.S. In Portland, where DHVANI is headquartered, the company made an initial donation of 10,000 medical-grade face masks to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and an additional 1,000 to essential workers such as grocery store employees. Its next donation of 10,000 masks will be delivered to Elmhurst Hospital.

"Providence is grateful for DHVANI's mask donation," said Nancy Roberts, chief operating officer of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. "Every caregiver in a patient care area, no matter what their role, wears a mask for their shift. Donations from local organizations like DHVANI help us ensure that we continue to have masks to protect our patients, their families, and our caregivers. We are truly amazed by the generosity of individuals and businesses in Oregon."

DHVANI is no stranger to philanthropic activism. Earlier this year, the brand launched their Buy One, Plant One initiative to help the reforestation effort of Australia's 8.8 million acres of brush fire devastation. The company plants a tree for every item purchased from their website. And in an effort to directly reduce plastic pollution in oceans and landfills, DHVANI recently announced its new Terra leggings and sports bras, which are made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. 

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Canada Goose Launches Sustainable Impact Strategy and Commits to Carbon Neutrality by 2025

Canada Goose launched its Sustainable Impact Strategy outlined in the company's first-ever Sustainability Report. Driven by its long-standing commitment to keep the planet cool and the people on it warm, the accelerated strategy includes tangible commitments supporting four key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

As part of its Sustainable Impact Strategy, Canada Goose outlines key commitments:

Canada Goose (CNW Group/Canada Goose)

• Carbon Neutrality: Net zero direct and indirect (Scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, through aggressive and tangible action plans which aim to reduce emissions by more than 80 per cent from current levels.
  

• Reclaimed Fur: In 2022, Canada Goose plans to introduce reclaimed fur into its supply chain, which includes beginning to manufacture parkas using reclaimed fur and ending the purchasing of new fur. The company also plans to launch a consumer buy-back program for fur in the months ahead.

• Responsible Down Standard (RDS): In 2019, in partnership with Textile Exchange, the company completed third-party compliance audits at 100 per cent of its manufacturing facilities and commits to being 100 per cent RDS-certified by 2021.

• bluesign®: Commit to reach 90 per cent of Canada Goose fabrics as bluesign® approved for responsible and sustainable practices by 2025, increasing from 32 per cent in 2019.
  

• Plastic-Free: Eliminating single-use plastics in all Canada Goose owned or controlled facilities.

Sustainability has been a foundational part of the Canada Goose business model for more than 60 years, starting with its unwavering commitment to making best-in-class products using highest quality materials and craftsmanship. The company's 2019 Sustainability Report marks its first step in measuring and publishing its global environmental and social impact, and new and ongoing commitments in support of four key UN SDGs.

The inaugural report also highlights the company's long-standing global citizenship initiatives including its Polar Bears International (PBI) collection, the Canada Goose Resource Centres Program and Project Atigi, all aimed at supporting Canada's Northern communities. As well, the report details innovative employee-driven sustainability initiatives, giving programs, and impactful commitments to reduce its environmental footprint and transform operations.

"We have always believed in building a business that is good for our team, for the communities we're a part of and for the planet, for generations to come," said Dani Reiss, President & CEO, Canada Goose. "No matter how much we've done over the last 60 years, we need to do more – the world can't wait. Our aggressive commitments outlined in our first Sustainability Report are the steps we're taking to transform the way we do business and ensure we are doing everything we can to create the future we want to see."

As part of its accelerated Sustainable Impact Strategy, Canada Goose also announced it achieved carbon neutrality as of March 2020 through investments in strategic offsetting projects, equivalent to 200% of its annual greenhouse gas emissions. The company will continue to offset at this level as it continues to transform business operations to achieve its 80 per cent emissions reduction targets by 2025.

To read the full report, visit: canadagoose.com/sustainability/

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Loverboy Launches A Refreshing Twist On The Classic Spritz

Loverboy, a New York based better-for-you beverage startup, founded by Bravo TV's Kyle Cooke from Summer House, announces the launch of its first 'Spritz' product, a distinctive low calorie, no sugar added option as a flirtatious twist on the traditional spritz. Exclusively sold online, direct-to-consumer—Loverboy Spritz will bring summer to your doorstep as a refreshing new ready-to-drink canned beverage.

To meet demands for the health-conscious consumer, the new bubbly Loverboy Spritz is designed to taste like a freshly-shaken cocktail without being overly sweet or artificial. "We love the refreshing nature of a spritz cocktail, but recognize it's high in sugar and calories," said Cooke, "we created our own spritz with quality ingredients and only 100 calories and 2g of sugar for a guilt-free sip, with no sugar hangovers." To bring levity to individuals at home, and taking a turn from traditional cocktail combinations, the first flavor to market is Blueberry Lemon, a combination of blueberries kissed with basil, zest, and bubbles to take you from your living room to the Amalfi Coast.

Making their spritz available to most states, Loverboy Spritz is exclusively sold online, direct-to-consumer, bypassing industry norms for a safer and more convenient delivery method. "No more trips to the store for ingredients," said Cooke. "As an already prepped, ready-to-drink beverage, our spritz is a great grab-and-go item you can take anywhere, and is less expensive than trying to duplicate a cocktail at home."

With the Loverboy brand built on family and friendship, Cooke's Summer House co-star, co-creator, and fiancé Amanda Batula serves as the brand's Creative Director, designing Loverboy's packaging and managing branding and merchandise. As their first line of sparkling hard teas was inspired by Kyle's persona; colorful and playful -The Spritz will embody Amanda's with a classic feel; minimal, elevated and sophisticated, yet sexy. "We wanted a look and feel that was elegant enough to toast at a wedding, yet cool and fun to post on your Instagram feed," stated Batula. Joined by co-star Carl Radke, who heads sales and business dev for Loverboy, the trio promises the spritz will "turn any occasion into a special occasion.”

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