Curation + Inspiration

“For me, philanthropy and commerce are completely interconnected.”
– Donna Karan in Oprah’s Next Chapter

Tonight’s episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter profiles Donna Karan’s humanitarian work with local artists in the still-ravaged and struggling country of Haiti.

I greatly admire Donna Karan and how she exemplifies what I think of as fashion as a spiritual path.

Fashion? As a spiritual path?

Yes!

I believe that fashion, just like anything we love and practice with devotion, can be used for good in the world and as a means to help us develop a deeper connection with our Selves.

Simon Mainwaring is another role model I admire who is also leading the charge to combine philanthropy with commerce.

About a week ago, I was lucky enough to grab a mini consultation with this Branding Guru, who is the author of We First, named Best Marketing Book of 2011 by Strategy + Business.

Simon is a social media expert who has consulted with some of the world’s biggest brands including Nike, Toyota and Motorola, and when I described what I was doing here on Zuburbia he immediately recognized the connection between the timeless qualities of vintage clothing and the timeless qualities at the core of our Selves.

He suggested the new tagline “Your Self Expressed” to symbolize how Zuburbia encourages the use of vintage clothing in the expression of personal style while simultaneously encouraging conscious, fulfilled lives through authentic Self-expression. I think I like it!

I know I LOVE Simon’s message of moving from the old Me First mentality that has informed so many business practices of the past to his proposed We First plan that allows us to buy and sell what we want and need while also building a better world.

Simon proposes that a small percentage of every dollar spent on a product or service first be contributed toward a pressing social issue.

I couldn’t agree more!

Since the beginning, Zuburbia has participated in 1% for the Planet and directed 1% of all revenues to Trees for the Future. Call me crazy but I have a goal of wanting to plant one million trees on this planet during my lifetime (and yes, I have quite a few to go!).

Why trees? you ask.

I’m not sure.

Anyone who knows me would immediately think that literacy would be my cause of choice, but right now I’m inexplicably drawn to planting trees with all the myriad benefits it brings to communities around the world.

Just imagine the world we’d share if EVERY business would allocate just 1% of revenues to their favorite causes!

It would mean when you purchased a vintage piece like today’s VPOD, a vintage Donna Karan dress previously owned by Barbra Streisand(!), 125 more trees could be planted on the globe or some other additional benefit could accrue to the world in addition to you looking smashing!

Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from donating 1% of your purchases to your own favorite causes until enough businesses join this philanthropic band wagon.

It’s just one more way for you to be a Vintage Crusader!

Available at Antique Dress.

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