earthquake

International Cosmetics & Perfumes Donates Sales, Totes to Japanese Relief

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Charity

International Cosmetics & Perfumes Hanae Mori Tote Bag

In response to the devastation in earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear-ravaged Japan, New York-based International Cosmetics & Perfumes -- home to such brands as Creed and the Japanese inspired Hanae Mori -- has announced an expanding charitable campaign.

Earlier this week, ICP CEO Emmanuel Saujet announced that a portion of proceeds from both the sale of items at Creed's New York boutique and Hanae Mori web sales would go to benefit the American Red Cross' Japanese relief efforts. In addition, a part of future sales of the new Hanae Mori No. 3, available in June from retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Sephora, will also be donated for the same purpose.

The next day, ICP announced that 50 Hanae Mori reusable tote bags, originally intended as an in-store customer appreciation gift, would also be donated to the American Red Cross to assist Japanese displaced from their homes and belongings. And finally today, Creed declared that any winnings from the 2011 season of their official polo team would find their way to the American Red Cross as well.

Japan is a market that has long and enthusiastically embraced luxury goods, so let's hope that more brands follow ICP's lead and give back.

Tags: charity, creed, earthquake, hanae mori, ICP, international cosmetics perfumes, japan, tote bag, tsunami

Excuse to Go Drinking at The Four Seasons

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

Staying at one of the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts may not be in your budget for this week, but going for a drink at one probably is.

Here's an extra excuse to go: 20 North American Four Seasons properties are currently donating a percentage of their Chilean wine sales to earthquake victims in Chile. Through a partnership with the owners of Chile's Veramonte Winery and distributor Southern Wine & Spirits, Four Seasons will donate $10 per bottle and $2.50 per glass of wine sold to the Chilean Red Cross, now through April 18, 2010.

Properties like Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills are offering multiple vintages by the bottle and glass now through the end of the promotion. There has never been a better time to increase your knowledge about Chilean wine -- which, in case you didn't know, is really, really good. The whites are zingy and many of the reds are light-bodied enough to be enjoyed well into this warm, fabulous spring.

You can read more about the effects of the earthquake on Chile's wine industry here on WineSpectator.

Tags: chile, earthquake, four seasons, FourSeasons, hotel deals, wine

Big Givers Donate To Haiti

by Amanda Gordon (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

The response to the earthquake tragedy in Haiti was almost immediate, and just days afterward, millions of dollars have been raised, a lot of it through small donations of $5 or $10 transmitted through the humble text message. But there's another kind of giving that has emerged too: Single donations in much larger amounts, from the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde, Tiger Woods, Madonna. Hopefully the list will grow and grow.

Why is it so gratifying though to hear about celebrities making donations? Perhaps because by doing so, they're doing something we've already done, something that thousands of ordinary people are doing. A crisis reminds us that we're all vulnerable, we're all responsible for helping. And that's what it is going to take to bury the dead, take care of the living, and rebuild Haiti.

So when George Clooney asks for your donation tonight, during the Hope for Haiti telethon he is hosting on MTV, you won't just be saying "yes" to an incredibly magnetic movie star, you'll be joining a community of people wanting to help. It's as simple as that. Celebrities undeniably bring some glamour and sparkle to the task of fundraising, and that's okay. It is after all a difficult and serious business. We're lucky to have them.

Check out the gallery below for a look at the amounts donated so far.

Gallery: Haiti's Big Givers

Tags: angelina jolie, AngelinaJolie, ben stiller, BenStiller, brad pitt, BradPitt, brangelina, celebrity donations, CelebrityDonations, donations, earthquake, haiti, yankees

Pisco 7.9 Liquor Not Such A Good Idea After All

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

This man is holding what, if you could get your hands on it, is a pretty rare bottle of liquor. Earlier this week Peru's Minister of Production, Rafael Rey, announced a limited edition bottle of Pisco, a popular Peruvian liquor, that would be given as a token of the Peruvian Government's appreciation to those who helped Peru in the wake of the huge earthquake that hit on August 15. There were to be 1,000 bottles of Pisco made with a label denoting it as Pisco 7.9 (the quake was originally thought to be a 7.9 on the Richter scale, it's now been moved up to an 8). The label also thanked the foreigners for their help in Peru's time of need. The government has since retracted the name, decided that it was not appropriate. Production of the liquor will continue but under a new name which has not yet been revealed.

Source

Tags: earthquake, liquor, peru, pisco