Frette backs Rwandan artisans through Fashion’s Night Out partnership

Luxury linen retailer Frette is partnering with Same Sky, an organization that promotes trade skills among HIV-positive women in Rwanda, Africa to benefit children in the country through a fundraising initiative that will launch on Fashion’s Night Out.

Frette will donate one foam mattress for every set of sheets that is sold in its flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York, starting Sept. 8 and lasting through Sept. 12. In addition, the retailer will be selling bracelets created by Rwandan women in the Same Sky program to further promote the program and its products.

“We wanted to do something that extended beyond the Fashion Night’s Out festivities,” said Filippo Arnaboldi, New York-based vice president of Frette.

“We were delighted to align ourselves with an initiative like Same Sky because it not only inspires our aesthetic, but also serves to empower women everywhere,” he said.

Helping hand

For every set of the sheets that are sold in the flagship store, Frette will donate one foam mattress to a child of a Same Sky artisan in Rwanda.

The mattresses will be distributed through the nonprofit organization, Avega, which aims to increase the quality of life for victims and survivors of the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

Frette will offer 10 percent off all in-store purchases Sept. 8-12.

In addition to providing the children of Same Sky artisans with mattresses, Frette will be selling Same Sky's original hand-blown, glass-beaded jewelry in its New York store.

Same Sky will also sell a new line of “prosperity bracelets” for the first time during Fashion’s Night Out.

By selling the jewelry, Frette is furthering the reach of the Rwandan artisans and increasing awareness of the Rwandan genocide and its many lingering effects.

“Some of Frette's core values are craftsmanship and artistry,” Mr. Arnaboldi said.“We pride ourselves on our artisan workers and the products they produce.

“We understand the importance of training and skilled workers, and support an initiative that empowers women, gives them an identity and encourages their artistic development,” he said.

In bed with FNO

Frette joins the rankings of numerous luxury retailers who are associating this year’s Fashion’s Night Out events with a charitable cause.

For example, luxury department store Barneys New York is emphasizing its local roots during this year’s Fashion’s Night Out by donating 10 percent of its proceeds to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum (see story).

In addition, Bergdorf Goodman will be donating the net proceeds of its ticket sales for the “BG Wheel of Fashion” contest happening in-store on Sept. 8 to the New York AIDS Trust in Community Fund.

Also, cosmetics empire Revlon and the Mondrian Soho hotel are partnering for an event that will feature personal styling and a goodies gift bag, of which ticket proceeds will benefit the “Look Good, Feel Better” charity that supports women undergoing cancer treatment.

Even the official Fashion’s Night Out tote designed by Brahmin has a charitable factor, with part of the proceeds donated to the New York AIDS Trust in Community Fund (see story).

For Frette, this is the second year in a row that the linen retailer will partner with Same Sky.

“We are hoping to continue promoting and building awareness about the Same Sky’s initiatives and the incredible artisans they work with,” Mr. Arnaboldi said.

“We are hoping to sell as many bedsets as possible, and, in turn, we will donate a mattress for every bedset sold to a child in Rwanda,” he said.

Final Take
Kayla Hutzler, editorial assistant on Luxury Daily, New York