Ralph Lauren to Design First of Limited-edition Exclusive Items
September 5, 2007--the Council of Fashion Designers of America/cFDA
Foundation, Inc. will enter into a new partnership with the online
global luxury retailer Net-a-porter.com to launch Fashion Targets
Breast Cancer (FTBC) Worldwide. The initiative marks the first
global retail partnership for FTBC, in which a series of
limited-edition FTBC-branded items will be available for sale
exclusively at NET-a-pORTER.COM.
The
partnership was announced on June 19, 2007 at a luncheon in New York
hosted by designer and CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, and will be
launched worldwide in the fall, beginning at New York Fashion Week on
September 5, 2007. Exclusive designs will be introduced on the site over
a period of one year. Ralph Lauren will launch the initiative with an
iconic Fashion Targets Breast Cancer WORLDWIDE shirt of his own design,
followed by special merchandise from other American and international
designers. A portion of those proceeds will benefit the Fashion Targets
Breast Cancer Canadian campaign.
As the first global retail partner, NET-a-pORTER.COM will establish a
dedicated FTBC store within the site featuring a collection of exclusive
limited edition merchandise from American and international designers.
Additionally, NET-a-pORTER.COM will host an educational micro-site
providing woman with health and resource information. We communicate
daily to an audience of over one million women around the world. This
initiative allows us to take what we do well and focus that into an
invaluable vehicle to raise funds and provide essential breast cancer
information to women worldwide, said Natalie Massenet, Founder, NET-a-pORTER.COM.
NET-a-pORTER.COM has made a long term commitment in launching Fashion
Targets Breast Cancer Worldwide so we can work with woman globally each
day to make a difference. I couldn't think of a smarter way to launch
this CFDA partnership than with Ralph Lauren at the helm.
Ralph Lauren
was asked to inaugurate this momentous project in recognition of his
pioneering commitment to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, which he founded
in 1994 in response to a plea from the late Washington Post fashion
critic Nina Hyde, who fought the disease. In 1994, I challenged the
fashion community to support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer when it was
first getting started, he said. What began as the answer to one woman's
request has become a global initiative that has raised millions of
dollars for breast cancer charities. The Ralph Lauren Fashion Targets
Breast Cancer WORLDWIDE shirt will be available on the site beginning in
September. In Canada, proceeds from the sale of FTBC merchandise on
NET-a-pORTER.COM will benefit Rethink Breast Cancer. We are delighted
to be receiving support from this important international campaign, said
MJ DeCouteau, Executive Director of Rethink Breast Cancer.
CFDA Executive
Director Steven Kolb remarks, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has been one
of the most significant and productive initiatives the CFDA has ever
launched. We are particularly proud that after over a decade, the
commitment of our members to this crucially important program is just as
strong, and that we can boast more participation, more ideas, more
products, and such a prestigious online retail partner to continue
Fashion's fight against this disease.
About Fashion Targets Breast Cancer
Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) is a worldwide charitable
initiative of the Council of Fashion Designers of America/cFDA
Foundation. The CFDA Foundation, through FTBC, is committed to providing
meaningful assistance to women with breast cancer and their families,
friends and other supporters by rallying designers, models, retailers,
and other creative energies within the fashion industry.
The Foundation commits proceeds raised from FTBC campaigns to
helping women concerned about or diagnosed with breast cancer gain
access to reliable health information and quality health care, and to
supporting education and outreach programs. Since its launch in 1994,
Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has raised over $40 million for
distribution to breast cancer charities in 13 countries. FTBC currently
conducts campaigns in Canada, Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, Greece,
Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United
States. For more information, visit
fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org .
About Rethink Breast Cancer
Rethink Breast Cancer is an innovative charity that reaches out to young
people concerned about and affected by breast cancer. By taking a
breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer medical
research, support, public awareness and fundraising Rethink Breast
Cancer is expanding support for the cause. Rethink has brought together
some of Canada's leading scientists to develop a much needed research
program focused on cultivating the talent of new young researchers. To
find out more about Rethink Breast Cancer, please visit
www.rethinkbreastcancer.com.
About NET-a-pORTER.COM
NET-a-pORTER.COM
launched in June 2000 and has since successfully established itself as
the world's leading global online luxury retailer. Presented in the
style of an online fashion magazine, NET-a-pORTER features each season's
key trends, helpful editors tips and expert style advice. With luxury
packaging, free returns, same day delivery in London, New York City and
express delivery to the rest of the world, NET-a-pORTER provides an
unparalleled level of service and designer offerings to online shopping.
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