Manolo Blahnik supports mental health + more Fashion News You Missed This Week

More on COVID-19 relief efforts from the fashion industry.

 Manolo Blahnik supports mental health with Manolo shoe colouring pages

This week, shoe genius Manolo Blahnik introduced a creative initiative under his eponymous brand. Digging into his design archives, Blahnik has created colouring pages out of his original sketches, which have been simplified into outlines. Totaling five sketches, including the Sicilian-inspired Spring 2000 Tortura heel and the floral Margolina slingbacks from Spring 2013, Blahnik’s hope is to offer an activity that provokes joy and positivity while being home-bound. Colouring is an especially beneficial activity at this time, as it delivers a sense of calm and mindfulness. That being said, the program is as philanthropic as it is creative—the designer has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation, which offers free, direct tips on looking after your mental health during the current global health crisis. The colouring pages are available here for everyone to download and enjoy.

Arc’teryx and Canada Goose are enlisted by the Government of Canada to manufacture medical gowns

This week, the Government of Canada signed letters of intent with 22 brands to secure them as supply chains to address the shortage of medical protective gear for healthcare workers. Canadian brand Arc’teryx has been enlisted to manufacture 30, 000 medical gowns. Canada Goose is another among the 22 brands, and is under contract to produce at least 60,000 gowns per week. Over in Manitoba, Canada Goose will also produce 100,000 reusable gowns for Shared Health.

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation donates a total of $1 million to COVID-19 relief

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation announced a $1 million commitment to COVID-19 related initiatives. Of that amount, $750,000 is being allocated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. This organization looks at global situations, prioritizing the greatest needs such as countries with the weakest healthcare systems, to ensure all countries are prepared to prevent, detect and respond to the pandemic. The other $250,000 will be sent to The New York Community Trust’s NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund to help aid non-profit social service and arts and culture organizations, particularly those toiling through the economic impacts of the coronavirus. “During this global health crisis, we must all be responsive to the urgent needs of our global communities. We are proud to support organizations providing immediate relief for communities impacted by COVID-19, including our hometown of New York,” said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chairman and president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. In addition to these structured commitments, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation will be matching employee donations toward qualified nonprofit organizations supporting COVID-19 relief, and are signed onto Philanthropy’s Commitment During COVID-19, which pledges support for philanthropic organizations.

Lingerie brand Fleur du Mal gives back to healthcare workers

NYC-based lingerie brand Fleur du Mal, founded by Toronto-native Jennifer Zuccarini, is giving back to the community with the launch of the Fleur Gives Back campaign. Focusing on benefiting COVID-19 healthcare workers in New York City, the brand will donate 10 per cent of proceeds from online sales to NYC Health + Hospitals, a relief fund that offers support through meals, groceries, laundry service and hotel rooms to doctors, nurses and other frontline workers. Additionally, Fleur du Mal has purchased 2,000 FDA-approved masks for donation to healthcare workers.