Bel Esprit the international showroom of ethical fashion, will launch a sustainable business project to support the work of HEAL Africa during Nolcha Fashion Week, on February 11, 2010. The mission of Bel Esprit is to encourage and develop ethical practices in the fashion industry by helping designers connect with ecological and fair trade resources. The use of fair trade materials and labor has not only raised the living standards of the farmers and workers producing goods, but has helped entire communities as well, through reinvestment of profits to improve living conditions and education. Fair trade cooperatives and businesses have given disadvantaged and marginalized people, particularly women, economic security and survival. As more highly skilled fair wage and trade options become available, designers throughout the world will be able to source production and materials that respect the world and its inhabitants.

To further this goal, Bel Esprit will work with the organization HEAL Africa to develop fair trade cooperatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Donate Design to HEAL Africa (www.donate-design.org). HEAL Africa provides medical and surgical services to the victims of gender based violence suffered from the military conflict in the region, as well as treating obstetric fistula from complications in childbirth. HEAL Africa has established a network of safe houses that offer support, shelter, and provide education and teaching skills like learning to sew and make bread or soap, basic business skills, and bringing other opportunities. HEAL Africa has a training framework that can be developed further into sustainable businesses. With additional funding through micro loans and grants and industry support, this program has the potential to evolve into production cooperatives. Bel Esprit is committed to supporting this growth through fund-raising and consulting, matching international design companies to production cooperatives for manufacturing, and bringing finished product created by cooperatives to the international market. Donate Design to HEAL Africa is also joining with the United Nations Development Fund For Women’s global campaign Say NO to Violence Against Women. The Donate Design project and t-shirt contest will be an action in UNIFEM’s campaign with an action page on the Say NO website (www.saynotoviolence.org).

To launch the Donate Design program, Bel Esprit will open a global t-shirt contest during the Ethical Fashion Preview at Nolcha Fashion Week on February 11, 2010. The theme of the contest is “for those who dream of a beautiful world,” and is open to anyone who wishes to express their vision of a beautiful world in a t-shirt graphic. A panel of judges will select the winning designs. In addition to an individual winner, Bel Esprit will support corporate, media and retail sponsors who launch local contests in their city, state or country. The local and regional winners will be displayed on the Donate Design website and the “The Most Beautiful World Vision” will be selected by voters around the world. The winning designs will be announced at a gala fund-raiser featuring a fashion show of Bel Esprit designers, and will be produced for sale to benefit HEAL Africa’s training program.

Companies, media and retailers are welcome to participate in the Donate Design project and the local global t-shirt contest. More information about the project and contest is available on the Donate Design website, www.donate-design.org. For information about sponsorship opportunities and creating a local contest, contact Bel Esprit.

About Bel Esprit
Members of the Bel Esprit showroom exhibit their collections around the clock to buyers and fashion professionals around the world. Bel Esprit provides a menu of marketing, sales and distribution services to help designers reach their target audience, enter international markets and build their business. The Bel Esprit showroom and services are open to designers regardless of where they exhibit their collections. Bel Esprit markets, sells and distributes collections on behalf of all members of the showroom, and promotes the members’ exhibits at any trade show or fashion event worldwide. Group events and marketing campaigns as well as group exhibits at international trade shows are organized to promote the collections.

About Nolcha
Fashion Business Services is a leading operator of educational, event outlets, and business-to-business services devoted to fashion entrepreneurs and related retail businesses.

The Nolcha platform includes Nolcha.com, an online fashion portal delivering business education and services; Nolcha Fashion Week: New York, currently held during New York fashion week providing key exposure to press, buyers, and industry figures for emerging and independent fashion designers from all over the world to break into the New York fashion market, in both apparel and accessories; events during London Fashion Week with key partners and Independent Retail Week in New York and Chicago, an initiative to drive business and increase revenue for small fashion retail brands. www.nolcha.com | www.nolchafashionweek.com | www.independentretailweek.com

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