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Fashion taking efforts towards breast cancer awareness

By Kristopher Fraser

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Fashion

Fashion with a conscious is a beautiful concept. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, several fashion companies have taken efforts toward supporting breast cancer awareness and research. One such company that has put their fashion power behind breast cancer awareness is Dressbarn.

Dressbarn is known for providing stlish private labels and affordable contemporary fashion. Some of their most popular offerings include Mixt by Heidi Weisel, and Luxe by evening wear designer Carmen Marc Valvo. The idea behind Dressbarn's offerings is usually a high fashion aesthetic with an affordable price tag.

For October 2015, Dressbarn produced a Breast Cancer Awareness Month dress and scarf. 25 percent of the purchase of each item went towards the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. The two items available include a pink lace print sheath dress priced between 48 and 54 dollars, and a pink lace print sheath scarf, priced at 16 dollars.

The Dressbarn and BCRF partnership came about thanks to Melissa Ersoy, the marketing manager of Dressbarn. The company had historically supported the BCRF in the past through Relay for Life and the annual Breast Cancer awareness campaign, but this year they decided to step it up with some fashion offerings.

Fashion Industry supports BCRF with 28 million dollars in funding

Dressbarn isn't the only company taking efforts toward breast cancer awareness. Saks Fifth Avenue held an event this month on October 15, titled "Key to the Cure" hosted by celebrated news anchor Katie Couric. The event, which was held at the Baccarat hotel, was done in collaboration with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and included a cocktail hour as a kickoff for the second half of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, Saks was hosting a Key to the Cure Event on three floors of their store. The event was a fashion filled and socially conscious soiree that got everyone to darn their best garbs and think about efforts needed in the field of breast cancer research. From October 14 to Sunday October 18, 2 percent of Saks's sales went towards the Louisiana Research Cancer Consortium.

While fashion might often be viewed as an industry that is just about beautiful clothes. The big name fashion brands and companies often use their influence to promote important issues like breast cancer. What's more chic than fashion with a conscious after all?

On October 29 the Brest Cancer Research Foundation honored Tory Burch with their humanitarian award. Burch, who was described by BCRF President Myra Biblowit as an "inspiration and icon," was presented the award by her chic and stylish mother Reva Robinson, who is also a major support of breast cancer research. The event was attended by 1100 people at the Waldorf Astoria, and the fashion crowd certainly had quite the presence.

In addition to Burch, many fashion industry personnel from brand's like Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Monique Lhuillier, and department stores like Macy's, Bloomingdale's Saks, Lord & Taylor, and Dillards were in attendance. These are just a few of the brands that in help put 28 million dollars in total towards BCRF every year.

"We're the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world," Biblowit said. "When it comes to fashion brands looking for philanthropic efforts in the breast cancer research field, [BCRF] is the gold standard." Many of the funds raised through these fashion partnerships go towards supporting 240 breast cancer researchers who are scattered across the globe. BCRF's largest corporate funders happen to be Ann Inc. and Loft.

This year, Ann Inc. will be presenting BCRF with a check for 4.3 million dollars which will go towards 17 breast cancer researchers across the globe. Each researcher will receive 250,000 dollars. It's clear the fashion industry's efforts towards supporting breast cancer are there, but Biblowit hopes that these efforts will continue year round, not just during October.

"Women get breast cancer 12 months of year, it would great to see more fashion brands have programs that extend beyond October," she said. "In turn, they will not only be supporting us, but they will making themselves an important part of changing the future for women."

It's certainly a brighter future for the breast cancer awareness movement thanks in part to the beauty of fashion partnerships. How much better do you get than having both new items for your wardrobe and supporting an incredible cause?

BCRF
Breast Cancer Awareness
Dressbarn
Saks Fifth Avenue