Closet Archive #A: Agnès b (3)

In past few weeks, our Agnès b features revolved around Agnès' upbringing and her capabilities in combining her interests into her business units respectively. Check out our coverage of Agnès b (1) & Agnès b (2). Through the stories, we learnt that she retains passion that never dies out. Her devotion to art also makes her a fairy godmother, nurturing the growth of the young artists. At last, our last feature of Agnès b will mark a closure. This week, we will cover the upholding social responsibilities carried out by this kind lady and the philanthropic activities she had been committed to along the years.

1. Fighting AIDS

Ever since the red scarves campaign in 1988,  Agnès b is known for fighting against AIDS for more than 2 decades. Each year, the brand would release the representative red scarves which were made depending on the season in either wool or cotton material. The revenue from the products would be donated to various related associations and hospitals that the corporate has been sponsoring. In addition, the brand also encourages people to raise awareness of the disease by distributing free condoms in each of the Agnès b stores.

2.Charity

Other than committing to the AIDS cause, Agnès is also well known as a major sponsor to various non-profit organisations, which are either social, environmental or humanitarian oriented. For example, her participation in Unicef's annual event, Frimousses De Créateurs Pour L'UNICEF has been over a decade long. A specially designed doll by her would be exhibited and auctioned off at the exhibition almost every year to support the unfortunate children in Africa. Likewise, her brand had also sponsored the American Red Cross donation event by giving the profit from her iconic snap cardigan to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

3. Tara Expedition

Also an environmental conservationist,  Agnès and her son, Etienne Bourgois has been active sponsoring the programme Tara Expedition, which deals with world oceans and climate change studies since 2003. The founding of this programme aims to increase environmental awareness to the public and educate the younger generation to preserve our environment. Along with Agnès's devotion, the ice breaker, Tara has been exploring the world. In this year, they are preparing for the Mediterranean sea.  

4. b.Green

Aiming to be cleaner and respectful to the environment. Agnès transformed the enterprise into a full eco-friendly community in 2007. This adoption includes reduction in energy consumptions of plastic waste and the large-scale practice of recycling and using c.f.c-free products for gift wraps, gift boxes and a variety of potato starch made eco-shopping bags. All are specially designed by Agnès herself. Furthermore, b.green, a capsule collection consisting of products made of organic cotton were also released in Japan to promote the green ideology during 2009. 

We hope you enjoyed this long feature of Agnès b. Her achievements and certainly her social commitments are incredible which makes this selfless lady a role model to which we look up to. At last, we have to move on. See you next week for the new Closet Archive covering. Bye!

Image via Agnès b, Tara Expedition