KnollTextiles Collaborates with goods for good

October 31, 2014

NEW YORK, New York, October 31, 2014 – For its second collaboration with non-profit goods for good (GFG), KnollTextiles and Ultrasuede® present fabric bracelets decorated with Swarovski crystals for the Bracelets for Good Project. All sales proceeds from the bracelets will benefit goods for good, which helps develop sustainable community enterprises in Malawi. The limited-edition bracelets will be available online at goodsforgood.org and www.knolltextiles.com/bracelets until the end of 2014. 100% of the revenue will be invested into GFG’s small businesses in Africa, which include a Knoll-sponsored tailoring co-op in a village called “Bright Vision.” The businesses finance nutritional and educational opportunities for orphans, create jobs for local adults, and boost rural economies.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dorothy Cosonas, KnollTextiles Creative Director said: “I love the idea of supporting women in communities in Africa, and helping them to create their own industries. I’m pleased that we can play a part in this project. The bracelets are beautifully crafted, and we have such a great partner this year in Ultrasuede.”

Melissa Kushner Founder and Executive Director of goods for good said: "This collaboration with KnollTextiles epitomizes one of our core values, partnership. Since sponsoring one of our community enterprises in 2012, KnollTextiles has been a committed partner of goods for good, helping us transform orphan care in new and innovative ways. We're thrilled to launch this beautiful line of bracelets that will help us build more community enterprises and help more orphaned children in Southern Africa."

Helen Brier, sales and marketing director for Ultrasuede® said: "Corporate social responsibility is a priority for the entire team behind the Ultrasuede® brand of high performance materials. We love supporting socially aware programs like goods for good, and appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with likeminded partners, including KnollTextiles.”

The 2012 goods for good project, which became known as the KnollTextiles Tote Bag Project, sent fabrics to a community in Malawi with the set goal of increasing their marketable tailoring skills. Six tailors, none of which had a steady income upon entering the program, now have more marketable skills to pursue work. Some of the money earned from the project was reinvested in the community center to the support 3,000 orphans and vulnerable children that go to the Bright Vision community center for services that provide them with food, medicine, education, and the opportunity to achieve.

goods for good

There are over one million orphans in Malawi. Billions of dollars in aid go to Africa each year to address problems like this one, yet Malawi’s children continue to suffer. goods for good (“GFG”) has developed a transformative program to address the orphan crisis and break the cycle of poverty. It’s not a handout. It’s called Community Enterprise.

GFG makes a one-time investment of $25,000 to build a community enterprise. Each business finances critical orphan care programs and reaps recurring economic and social benefits for Malawi’s communities. GFG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with offices in Lilongwe, Malawi and New York, US. Join them at www.goodsforgood.org.

Ultrasuede®

At the height of his career in the ‘70s, American fashion designer Halston recognized that women wished to free themselves of conventions big and small. Capturing the spirit of times, he launched the iconic tailored shirtdress made from Ultrasuede®, a machine-washable design.

Originally developed in Japan after an extensive period of research and development, Ultrasuede® is recognized as the original ultra-microfiber fabric. With unparalleled attributes in the areas of color density, durablity and ease of care, it is the only branded material of its kind, specified by leading designers from many industries, including fashion apparel and home furnishings.

Today, Ultrasuede® is responsibly engineered, made with 100 percent recycled raw material, reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption by 80 percent in the manufacturing process.

Parent company Toray Industries is a 2008 United Nations Humanitarian Award recipient.

For additional information regarding all of the Ultrasuede® brand products, please visit www.ultrasuede.com.

KnollTextiles

KnollTextiles is currently under the creative direction of Dorothy Cosonas who combines clean, clear color with modern, elegant patterns and textures. Influenced by a passion for fine art and international fashion, Cosonas is the recipient of numerous awards, including Gold at Best of NeoCon. Her work was a major part of KnollTextiles 2011 retrospective exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center and has been accepted into the permanent collection of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

World Monuments Fund began preserving modern sites in the 1980s, when it helped restore seminal modern murals in and around Mexico City following a devastating earthquake. Later, it led the restoration of Brancusi’s Endless Column ensemble, in Romania, and the successful battle to save Edward Durell Stone’s A. Conger Goodyear House, on Long Island, in the United States.

Founded by Florence Knoll in 1947, KnollTextiles is a division of Knoll, Inc., and maintains a marketing and design studio at 1330 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Intended for commercial application and cross over residential use, the KnollTextiles collection is available for purchase on the website, www.knolltextiles.com. Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/knolltextiles.

Media Contacts

Donna Peters
718 230-8032
[email protected]