Sheria Na Mavazi!

 

Ralph Lauren Donates $2m to Sandy Relief Effort.

AMERICAN fashion designer Ralph Lauren is to donate $2m (£1.25m) to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, after his native New York was hit by the tropical storm last week.

"I'm a born and bred New Yorker," said the veteran designer. "I raised my family here and started my business here. We want to support the selfless work of so many agencies, professionals and volunteers and hope that these donations will make it easier for our cities to rebuild and recover."

The donation comprises $1m from the Ralph and Ricky Lauren Family Foundation and $1m from Ralph Lauren Corporation, of which Lauren himself is chairman and CEO, and will be divided between the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City; the Robin Hood Relief Fund; the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund; and other local organisations.

Joining Lauren in making donations are luxury etailer stylebop.com which will donate 10% of all proceeds to the American Red Cross until November 7; swimwear designer Mara Hoffman who will donate 15% of all proceeds to the American Red Cross until November 15; Chantecaille Cosmetics which will donate 20% of all online proceeds to the American Red Cross and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) until November 18; Coach which will donate $2m to the American Red Cross; Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation which will donate $1m to the American Red Cross;  and Canadian fashion website The Coveteur, which will donate 100% of all online proceeds to the American Red Cross. Gap Inc. has already given more than $250,000 worth of clothing and $750,000 in cash to help those in the most severely affected areas.

Major figures in the fashion industry were severely affected by the floods and loss of power that the hurricane caused. Marc Jacobs' Manhattan home was flooded, while American Vogue editor Anna Wintour was forced to evacuate her West Village home following a power cut.