NEW YORK, May 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries
of Greater NY and Northern NJ (Goodwill NYNJ) hosted its
fourth annual Goodwill Evening of Treasures event to celebrate
sustainable fashion and the power of work. Legendary designer
June Ambrose hosted the event at 10
Hudson Yards; New York, NY 10001,
on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from
6-8 p.m. Designers and brands
Busayo Olupona, Jack Carlson of Rowing Blazers, Chris Echevarria of Blackstock & Weber, Zero
Waste Daniel and Bibhu Mohapatra
presented one-of-a kind outfits they upcycled using merchandise
donated to Goodwill stores and that they donated to be
auctioned.
Bidding for the upcycled outfits to benefit Goodwill's Mission
Services will go live starting today, May
3rd and will be open for two weeks. Register to check the
outfits and bid at the auction site
Goodwill NYNJ honored David
Coquillette with the Visionary Leadership award in
recognition of his twenty years of service on Goodwill NYNJ's Board
of Directors, and Google with the Corporate Leadership award for
their longstanding support of our mission work at the event.
Tequila Lamar, NYC Outreach Lead,
Education for Social Impact, accepted the award on behalf of
Google.
"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of Google in the
New York City metro region. Google
is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the communities
where our employees live and work, which is why we proudly support
organizations like Goodwill. Across the U.S., Google partners with
Goodwill to help job-seekers find meaningful career opportunities.
Since 2017, Goodwill's offering of Google's digital skills programs
has resulted in 400,000 Americans being placed into well-paying
jobs," said Tequila Lamar, NYC
Outreach Lead, Education for Social Impact. "In New York, we have
supported Goodwill's Bridge to Tech program through funding,
in-kind support, and volunteer engagement. Googlers have personally
provided one-on-one resume assistance to Bridge to Tech alumni. In
addition, Google and Goodwill NYNJ have fostered a nearly
two-decade long partnership through annual collection drives, which
have now evolved into permanent collections at our Meatpacking
District campus in NYC."
Revenue from the Goodwill Evening of Treasures, Goodwill stores
and online site ShopGoodwill helps support Goodwill
NYNJ's programs that provide job placement, training, on-the-job
coaching, and retention services for individuals with disabilities
or mental health diagnoses, and adults who are underemployed or
unemployed seeking employment.
In 2023, Goodwill NYNJ provided employment services for more
than 9,000 people who are under- or unemployed, more than half of
them people with disabilities. Goodwill NYNJ connects people to
jobs outside its stores with employers such as hospitals and health
care centers, tech and accounting firms, warehousing and
manufacturing sectors, grocery stores and pharmacies, and NYC
agencies. Persons like Tony, a Queens
resident with a developmental disability who came to Goodwill two
decades ago seeking help to get a job. Goodwill connected him to a
job that he loves in Trader Joe's. Or Dunstan, a Bronx resident in his late 30s, who came to
Goodwill unemployed and without hope for a career beyond a future
of 'odd jobs'. Goodwill provided him training at our Bridge To
Tech program helped him increase his math and literacy skills
to qualify for advance tech training, and an understanding of
navigating the tech industry. The Goodwill team helped him
enhance the soft skills needed to start a new career and learned
new IT skills. After receiving his Google IT certification, he
secured a job as Asset Manager at Baruch
College. Or David Ponce, a
single father who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. He had never
held a formal job, so our team supported him through the process of
identifying his skills/interests, identifying and applying for
jobs, and conducting mock interviews to give him confidence for the
real thing. When David got a call to interview with American Eagle,
our Job Developer accompanied him to the interview and waited
outside for moral support. American Eagle was so impressed with
David they hired him on the spot! Employment has given David a
steady income, increased confidence and independence, which support
his wellness.
Meet Tony, Dunstan and David in this video
June Ambrose joined the 2024
Goodwill's Evening of Treasures as Host. June is the designer &
creative director who has pioneered the visual aesthetic language
which came to define hip hop imagery and culture. The role she
inhabits within the fashion arena is a result of her own audacious
self-making, professional moxie, and an unsurpassed mastery of
visual storytelling and creative branding. June brought tremendous
experience to the celebration and conversation with the five
designers featured in this year's Evening of Treasures fashion
show. June led a panel discussion about their upcycled creations
with designers Busayo Olupona,
Jack Carlson, Chris Echevarria, Zero Waste Daniel, and
Bibhu Mohapatra.
Goodwill is the original disruptor. It created one of the first
sustainable fashion enterprises nearly 110 years ago. Pollution is
a problem in the fashion industry. The council for textile
recycling said that more than 70 pounds of textiles per US citizen
are going into landfills annually.
Goodwill NYNJ's environmental impact: In 2023, Goodwill NYNJ
helped find new homes for more than 37 million pounds of pre-loved
clothing and home goods, equivalent to the weight of 83 Statues of
Liberty, successfully diverting them
from the landfills, and saving nearly 55k metric tons of CO2 from polluting the
atmosphere.
"Goodwill's Evening of Treasures is a celebration of the power
of work & sustainable fashion. It is a night where fashion
meets mission. We believe in a world where no talent is left on the
sidelines, and we know that there is power in work for everyone
regardless of disability, mental health, or previous education,"
said Katy Gaul-Stigge, Goodwill NYNJ
President and CEO. "Thanks to June
Ambrose for hosting and designers Busayo Olupona, Jack
Carlson, Chris Echevarria,
Zero Waste Daniel, and Bibhu
Mohapatra for their upcycled designs using Goodwill
merchandise to support our mission and to prove that reusing and
upcycling is the future of responsible fashion."
About Goodwill NYNJ: Goodwill Industries of
Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates retail stores
throughout the region powered by donations of clothing and
household items. Goodwill NYNJ translates those donations into
workforce development services for people with disabilities and the
unemployed, and job training leading to employment. Goodwill NYNJ's
services build better lives for thousands of New York City
Metropolitan Area residents and their families. For more than 108
years, the agency's mission has been to empower individuals with
disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence
through the power of work. Learn more about Goodwill NYNJ at
http://www.goodwillnynj.org; follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillNYNJ;
and find us on Facebook or Instagram @GoodwillNYNJ.
"Participating in the Goodwill NYNJ Evening of Treasures was a
no brainer. I am an avid, proud goodwill shopper. Obsessed
actually! I have an unhealthy relationship with the book sections
of Goodwill Stores. I have locations that I guard with
secrecy. I have been known to go up the island of Manhattan from Brooklyn to shop at my favorite Goodwill. And
more importantly, I am honored to contribute in a small way to
support the incredible mission of Goodwill NYNJ, to give
purpose through the provision of employment is such a gift and what
nobler mission there is than to recognize and nurture human
potential," said Busayo Olupona.
"It's an honor to be tapped by Goodwill, and I've had so much
fun working on this project with my mentee and CFDA Scholar at
Parsons, Léo Guarin-Peters. We wanted to lean into the twisted,
tongue-in-cheek take on American prep that Rowing Blazers is known
for. We found a lot to work with at Goodwill (specifically, the
Union Sq. location at 14th Street and the Chelsea location at 25th
Street). We created two looks, based on our colorful, slightly
subversive take on the classics: one more spring/summer and one
more fall/winter. We're excited to share these with the world,"
said Jack Carlson.
"I love adding value to previously-worn, and Thrifted items,
making upcycling about breathing new life into what already exists.
I also love shedding light on all the different types of businesses
that enhance the mission of zero waste and culture around labor. It
was a no brainer to make this piece for Goodwill's evening of
treasures," said Zero Waste Daniel.
"For the 'Evening of Treasures' event by Goodwill NYNJ, we
embarked on a special project that embodies our brand's mission of
sustainability and community support. Salvaging four previously
loved clothing items from the brink of disposal, we meticulously
crafted a one-of-a-kind couture dress, symbolizing the
transformative power of repurposing. Our aim extends beyond
fashion; it's about fostering a culture of sustainability and
empowerment. As we navigate a post-Covid landscape, our brand has
pivoted to prioritize quality over quantity, emphasizing
craftsmanship and ethical practices. Through initiatives like this,
we not only create beautiful garments but also pave the way for
employment opportunities and encourage acceptance of sustainable
processes within our community. This dress, a testament to our
commitment, will be auctioned off, with proceeds reinvested to
further our mission and support those in need," said Bibhu Mohapatra.
About June Ambrose:
Over the course of three decades, June
Ambrose — designer & creative director — has pioneered
the visual aesthetic language which came to define hip hop imagery
and culture. The role she inhabits within the fashion arena is a
result of her own audacious self-making, professional moxie, and an
unsurpassed mastery of visual storytelling and creative branding.
She not only melded the genre but also made it an undeniable
commercial juggernaut, ushering entertainers onto the global stage
and into the stratosphere.
Altogether, she worked as creative director and costume designer
on some 200 music videos, countless ad campaigns, global music
tours, photo shoots and red carpet appearances. Her work elevated
music videos as an art form and established artists as undeniable
cultural figures.
Her latest history-making partnership is with PUMA, where in
2020, she signed on as Creative Director, designing across multiple
categories, reconceptualizing what it means for women to be stylish
and active. As a consummate collaborator: visionary, and
tastemaker: June Ambrose's influence
is endemic to the very DNA of hip hop, fashion, and artistic visual
culture.
About Busayo Olupona:
Busayo Olupona is an attorney
turned Fashion Designer. She is the founder of Busayo, a
Brooklyn and Lagos based fashion brand that has
several parallel guiding principles - a complete obsession and
celebration with colorful prints and the amplification of
traditional Nigerian culture and creation of great jobs in
Nigeria. Busayo creates its
textiles in collaboration with Nigerian artisans. Manufactured in
Nigeria, Busayo is currently being
sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman
Marcus, Shopbop, Moda Operandi, and specialty boutiques
throughout the country. Her work has appeared on Saturday
Night Live, Really Love, Only Murders in the Building and Kids in
the Hall.
Busayo is a graduate of New York University
School of Law and the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.
About Jack Carlson:
Jack Carlson is a designer,
author, archaeologist, and former coxswain on the U.S. rowing team.
He is the founder of Rowing Blazers and led the revival of heritage
brands Warm & Wonderful, Arthur
Ashe, and Gyles & George. As a designer, Jack has
collaborated with a wide range of other brands, including Gucci,
Target, Seiko, Barbour, Umbro, FILA, Sperry, Noah, Tudor, J. Press, La Martina, Spalding, Globe-Trotter, Harry's Bar, Lands' End,
Zodiac, Eric Emanuel, Babar, Hunter,
Tracksmith, New Era, '47, J. Crew, SEGA, LeSportsac, Puma Hoops,
K-Swiss, Beams Plus, Ralph Lauren,
The Grateful Dead, and the NBA. His approach combines obsessive
historical research with a slightly subversive take on "the
classics."
Jack has received industry praise for his design work across
apparel, watches, footwear, luggage, and accessories, and he and
his work have been featured in Vogue, The New
York Times, Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial
Times, The New Yorker, The London
Times, Vanity Fair, Foreign Policy, Monocle, Antiquity, The
New England Classical Journal, Hypebeast, and GQ. Jack has designed
pieces that have been worn by Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Keith
Richards, Dwyane Wade,
Justin and Hailey Bieber,
Mindy Kaling, Chloë Sevigny,
Russell Westbrook, BTS, Tan France, B.J. Novak, Carmelo Anthony, Ashley
Graham, Lukas Gage,
Maude Apatow, Randall Park, Wayne
Diamond, Henry Eikenberry,
Millie Bobby Brown, Kit Connor, Joe
Locke, Seth Curry, Ziwe
Fumudoh, Jordan Clarkson,
Will Ferrell, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten
Matarazzo, Joe Keery,
Charles Melton, Chris Eubanks, Sebastian
Croft, Christian Pulisic,
Blanca Miro, Russell Tovey, Donovan
Mitchell, Whitney Peak,
Tom Daley, Madelaine Petsch, Toro y Moi, Ronny Chieng, Romeo
Beckham, Tracy Morgan,
Joey King, Cam Norrie, Bara Strycova, Devin Booker, Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals,
Kerri Walsh Jennings, Adam Scott, David
Byrne, Dax Shepard, Daya,
Hart Denton, Vic Mensa, Jules
LeBlanc, Asa Butterfield,
Mario Carbone, Thundercat, A$AP
Nast, Suki Waterhouse, Macklemore,
Pete Davidson, and Emily
Ratajkowski, among many other luminaries. He has also designed
uniforms and apparel for a wide variety of organizations, including
Harvard University, Cambridge University, the U.S. rugby team, and the
New Zealand and El Salvador
Olympic teams.
A three-time member of the U.S. national rowing team, Jack won a
bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships and won both the Head
of the Charles and Henley Royal Regatta in 2013. In 2023, Jack
trekked to the South Pole with his seventy-two year old dad. Jack
has a doctorate in archaeology from Oxford and an undergraduate degree from the
School of Foreign Service at
Georgetown. He worked as a field archaeologist in
Italy and has written on a variety
of topics, from iron age weapons to the Arch of Constantine. His
interests include the visual and sartorial trappings of status and
power; the art and archaeology of the ancient world, especially the
Roman and Chinese empires; heraldry (the study of coats of arms);
vexillology (the study of flags); and the modern history of men's
clothing, from tailoring to sportswear and streetwear. Jack is a
Fellow of The Explorers Club, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal
Asiatic Society, and the Royal Numismatic Society; and a Life
Member of the Archaeological Institute of America, Oxford University Boat Club, and the I.B.F. at
Harry's Bar in Paris. Jack also
serves on the board of Row New York, a non-profit organization
dedicated to empowering young people through the sport of rowing
regardless of background or ability.
About Chris
Echevarria:
Chris Echevarria is among the
leaders of the modern menswear style movement, with a commitment to
recontextualizing 'Americana' through his products and brands;
Blackstock & Weber and Academy by Chris
Echevarria. Echevarria
created the modern day loafer boom through designing a fresh
silhouette that managed to fit comfortably within both street and
classic menswear aesthetics. He has brought an 'effortless
cool' to all of the companies he's done projects with including
JJJound, Kith, Bloomingdales, and J. Crew to name a few. Echevarria
has positioned himself at the forefront of a new era of American
fashion through exquisite storytelling and a penchant for
exceptional design.
Brand Descriptions:
Footwear and lifestyle brand Blackstock & Weber, founded by
Chris Echevarria is a vanguard of
what American style can be and can represent. B&W, as
some call it, has emerged on the radar of streetwear
aficionados and sharp-dressed menswear enthusiasts alike for the
brand's uniquely contemporary spin on the iconic loafer. ACADEMY,
Echevarria's latest endeavor, is a case study in American fashion.
Since launching the label in 2023, Echevarria has infused the many
existing parallels in his upbringing and education to highlight
pieces that have, and always will, stand the test of time. Through
ACADEMY, Echevarria transcends footwear offering signature
essentials, statement pieces, smart tailoring, bold outerwear and
iconic accessories reflective of quintessential American style.
About ZWDaniel:
Zero Waste Daniel is a New
York-based clothing designer and zero-waste lifestyle
pioneer who uses pre-consumer waste sourced from New York City's garment industry, as well as
other hard-to-recycle materials, to create his line of genderless
clothing and accessories that send nothing to landfills.
His story and brand first went viral in 2017 with more than 35
million views worldwide on NOW THIS, INSIDER, MASHABLE, and
BUZZFEED. Daniel continues to inspire change and make headlines by
growing the mission of ending waste culture and redefining the
meaning of "sustainable design" as a call to action for all who
wish to participate. As of 2023, his projects have been featured on
CNN, THE BBC, and GOOD MORNING AMERICA; as well as in global
publications such as FORBES, VOGUE, and THE NEW YORK TIMES.
"I don't make work that hurts people, or oppresses people, that
makes someone hate their body or their face, or that pollutes
someones water. I'm willing to work with what we've got, I don't
care how long it takes, I care that you look good. I care that it's
made here, that it's made fair." ZWDaniel.
About Bibhu Mohapatra:
"When I think about my work, it always goes back to this idea of
craft. Crafts that are ancient or dying or actively being
reinvented…those crafts speak to me."
Designer Bibhu Mohapatra moved to
the U.S. in 1996; his years growing up on the east coast of
India in Odisha formed the
expanding spirit of everything he sees and creates. His mother,
Shashikala, instilled in him at an early age a near obsession with
handwork and textiles and a deep appreciation for making clothes
that function and symbolize something powerful. "My memories of my
mother and her teaching me to sew are always very much a part of my
design process," he says. "And I'm always instilling those early
skills, influences, and experiences into various aspects of my
collections."
As the longtime design director for J.Mendel (before that he
spent a year designing at Halston), Bibhu spent a decade honing his
knack for strong tailoring balanced with wearable, expressive
design. "In fashion, it's important for me to always be aware of
that continuous interplay between elements and attitudes and how
those elements spark something functional and new." In 2008, after
years of working in other houses, Bibhu rented what he called "a
thinking box" on 73rd and Broadway. He painted the walls white and
filled the shelves with old and new books on painting, history,
architecture, and fashion while using an ancient gold-gilded mirror
he found in upstate New York as
the centerpiece of his new studio.
Contact: Jose Medellin |
jmedellin@goodwillnynj.org | (646) 238-9133 mobile
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SOURCE Goodwill NYNJ