Keds (The Footwear Brand) Has Pledged To Raise £30K For Women For Women International
-
George Taylor
- 15th September 2021
- 7 minute read
Keds (the iconic American sneaker brand), – has announced their pledge to raise £30,000 for Women For Women International.
The donation will be sourced from the proceeds of three specially-designed sneakers designed to celebrate the strength and diversity of women. This unique three-style collection (Keds Champion Sneaker Ladies, Double Decker Rainbow People, and Triple Up Rainbow People) features unique, custom designs.
The Rainbow people print was designed by a female artist named Elizabeth Olwen, which illustrates the beauty of female diversity, the power of unity, and strength of women coming together. Elizabeth’s work is driven by the desire to leave something beautiful behind with every step she takes, – a perfect sentiment for this new partnership.
Women for Women International (UK Charity Reg: 1115109) invests where inequality is the greatest, by helping women who are forgotten: survivors of war and conflict.
That organisation helps women in: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Women learn skills to rebuild their families and communities through Women for Women International’s ‘Stronger Women, Stronger Nations’ programme.
They form support networks, learn vocational skills to earn an income and save money, and gain knowledge and resources about health and their rights. Since 1993, the organisation has invested in over 519,000 women, supporting them to use their voices to create a ripple effect which makes the world a more equal, peaceful, and prosperous place.
The fashion designer, Savannah Miller, – has been a long-term supporter, and a dedicated Ambassador for Women for Women International. Savannah has spoken about what the collection means to her:
“I’m delighted to stand alongside Keds to support their incredible pledge in aid of Women for Women International. As a dedicated Ambassador, it means a lot to me to step out in these amazing styles, – knowing that they are helping women survivors of war get back on their feet. I particularly love the meaning behind the sneakers’ design: they represent the power and beauty of women uplifting and supporting one another.”
“I hope that through this campaign, we will inspire people to do exactly that: to take action and support women around the world who are often forgotten – the women survivors of war and conflict,” said Savannah. “Supporting women is what we’re all about at Keds. We exist to support women as they step out in life every day, and a big part of that is helping those in need,” she added.
Ever since the creation of the iconic Keds Champion “sneaker” back in 1916 (the first sneaker made for women), Keds has held the firm belief that when we feel comfortable inside and out, we can leap forward and make our mark on the world.
Keds designs every product to support all women, – to give them the versatility, comfort, and the style(s) they need to confidently live as their truest selves. Wolverine Worldwide, the parent company of Keds, strives to balance social and environmental standards with innovative business solutions.
Keds redefined footwear launched with the introduction of their Champion sneaker. The iconic design was one of the first options to provide women with accessible, fashionable footwear and ignited a style revolution. For more than 100 years, Keds has been worn by iconic women, such as Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, and Yoko Ono.
In 2015, Keds introduced the Ladies First Since 1916 platform in over 80 global markets, and they launched a powerful new era in their history. Celebrating their centennial year in 2016, the Keds brand looked forward to another century of designing innovative collections, championing female empowerment and putting Ladies First.
Wolverine Worldwide recognizes the importance of responsibly-sourced materials, and they’re committed to working with supply chain business partners that are dedicated to safe, humane, and ethical working conditions that complies with international labour standards. You can see here for more information about Wolverine Worldwide’s Sustainability here.
“We’re passionate about this very important work: providing women who are living in the world’s most dangerous places with social and economic skills to transform their lives. I hope that by shining a light on this organization, Keds encourages women around the world to link arms and lift each other up,” said Bornie Del Priore, the President at Keds.
“Keds’ commitment to helping women feel their best, by giving them the confidence to step up to new challenges is exactly what makes them the perfect partner for Women for Women International. Through our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, women survivors of war learn the skills they need to rebuild their families and communities,” said Sara Bowcutt, the Managing Director at Women for Women International – UK.
You can find out more about Keds here: https://www.keds.co.uk