Fashionable Philanthropy

NEW YORK — When most people think of October, they think about the bright reds, yellows and orange of the turning leaves, or the orange and black associated with Halloween. The fashion and beauty industries, though, think pink. Pink is the color that represents breast cancer awareness, and shoppers will see a lot of it in the coming weeks. No matter who your favorite designer or what your favorite product is, there’s a way to benefit Breast Cancer Research. “New Balance offers one of the largest groups of products, known as the Lace Up for the Cure Collection. It includes 12 models of athletic shoes, tank tops, shorts, a polo shirt, a sweatshirt hoodie, socks and hats, each embroidered with a pink ribbon. For every $25 minimum purchase, consumers receive a donation form to send to the manufacturer. For each form received, New Balance donates $5 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation up to $150,000. “The Estee Lauder Cos. teams with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Elizabeth Hurley and Bloomingdale’s for the “Give Breast Cancer the Pink Slip” campaign. Combs

designed a pink slip that’s sold for $85 with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. That foundation was founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993.

“Saks Fifth Avenue partners with the Entertainment Industry Foundation for Key to the Cure, a women’s cancer initiative that culminates with shopping days Oct. 28 and 29, during which a percentage of sales will benefit EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund. Actress Hilary Swank stars in a national public service announcement wearing a limited-edition T-shirt with Swarovski crystals designed by Diane von Furstenberg that will be sold at Saks stores. Mercedes-Benz USA is another partner in the initiative, donating $1 million through sales of a signature edition of the R-Class sports tourer.

“ Lilly Pulitzer is working with Ford Motor Co.’s Tied to the Cause campaign, creating a special green-ground scarf with large magenta and blue flowers to raise money for the Komen Foundation.

“Ann Taylor offers a Love Cures card for $30 at its namesake and Loft stores. The card entitles shoppers to 15 percent off purchases of $100 through Dec. 31, and cardholders get a one-year subscription to a Conde Nast magazine. Ann Taylor splits 50 percent of the card’s purchase price between the Komen Foundation and the BCRF.

“Keds’ BCRF Champion is a classic canvas sneaker adorned with a pink ribbon. Keds donates $1 from each pair sold to the Breast Cancer Research Fund.

“Tumi creates three bags to support the BCRF – an oversized tote, a demi-zip shoulder bag and a cosmetic pouch. All are in Tumi’s logo pattern in a pink jacquard with pink leather trim. Twenty percent of the retail price is donated to the BCRF.

“ QVC’s Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale is Oct. 26. More than 100,000 pairs of shoes are offered at half the suggested retail price. All proceeds from the three-hour program (7-10 p.m. EDT) will be donated to research and education institutions, including the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Gillette Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Institute.

“Song, Delta Air Lines’ low-fare carrier, introduces a pink plane to its fleet, with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s pink ribbon logo next to the boarding door.) In each of Song’s planes, pink products, such as Chelsea Paper Co.’s Perfectly Pink stationery set and Karen Neuburger’s pink slipper socks, will be sold, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting the BCRF.

“Coach’s Positively Pink watch features a stainless steel baguette case edged in bright pink and a narrow leather band striped in different shades of pink. The dial is set with sparkling pink Swarovski crystal markers. It’s available at Coach stores and Macy’s; $100 from the sale of each watch goes to the BCRF.

“Wrangler, which built its image as maker of cowboy clothes, offers one of the few men’s breast-cancer awareness products – a Tough Enough To Wear Pink shirt with a rope emblem in the shape of the breast cancer ribbon.

“Nike’s breast cancer awareness swimwear collection features pink suits in four silhouettes – a tank suit, a tankini with boy shorts, a back-exposing cutout tank and a V-neck tankini. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Komen Foundation.

“Bliss’ Go Bust is a new firming, toning, skin-tightening cream. All net proceeds from the sale of the product will support Rethink Breast Cancer. Juvena of Switzerland has a fund-raising Bust Performance Intensive Firming Bust Gel that includes the antioxidant pomegranate.

“Nautica Sleepwear made a $25,000 donation to the Komen Foundation and produced a limited edition women’s sleepwear “pink collection.” All garments in the collection have specially designed pink hangtags and shoppers will get a pamphlet about breast self-examinations at sales counters.

“Rebecca & Drew Breast Cancer Awareness Shirt – like all Rebecca & Drew shirts – is sized depending on wearers’ bust size, ranging from 32A to 38D. During October, 15 percent of proceeds from sale of the breast cancer shirt, a fitted white button-down with pink satin ribbon laced down the front and tied in a bow, on NeimanMarcus.com benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Essie, a nail products manufacturer, launches the Pink Ribbon nail polish shade. It’s soft pink with a touch of shimmer. Proceeds go to the Libby Ross Foundation, which offers support programs.

“Nordstrombeauty.com is donating 15 percent of proceeds from Clarins Colour Gloss in pink sparkle to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Xela Aromasticks Soothing Nursery Scent is a home fragrance that aims to bring back memories of childhood. Through Dec. 31, 10 percent of the product’s profits will go to the Komen Foundation.

“Sephora raises money for the Komen Foundation with a two-tone trapezoid makeup pouch detailed with the pink ribbon and a silver, retractable lip brush also decorated with the ribbon.

“Shopbop.com and True Religion jeans support the Y Me National Breast Cancer Organization by donating 100 percent of the proceeds of Joey-style jeans that are embroidered with pink butterflies and flowers along with a breast cancer ribbon.