Company Background:
In 2010, I decided to build a bridge between my two passions, fashion and philanthropy. I had been in the fashion industry as a model and actress, since moving to NY in 2004 and I wanted to employ the influence and creativity of the fashion industry to make a difference in our world, on both a national and international scale. I began a fashion blog (www.cortneyrenee.com), wherein I covered philanthropic fashion brands (brands that have a give back built into their business model and fund a partner NGO or an internal NGO). In my research and networking I learned of ingenious social entrepreneurs pioneering new territory, and I realized they were on the cutting edge of social enterprise by employing fashion as a tool to effect global change. My mission continued to evolve and grow, and I began to offer professional modeling services to these start-ups and my fashion industry insight to help them enter the mainstream.
Now, a year later, I am hosting my 2nd evening of philanthropic fashion where we celebrate brands making a difference. I have professional models (many of them my friends) act as spokes models for the evening. Our first event, “Share the Love: An Evening of Philanthropic Fashion” saw 1,000 inspired and thrilled New Yorkers, and was a huge success. See my interview with the Green Stylist. Our next event, “Hampton’s Summer Preview Party: An Evening of Philanthropic Fashion” will be held May 23rd, 2011. Our major fashion sponsors include Peace Love World, Same Sky, Native Honey, and our non-profit partners include the Somaly Mam Foundation and Print4Change/Healing Haiti, and our corporate sponsors include the Body Shop, Equinox, and many more. I have also begun to offer fashion film production to brands to build their brand image online and give them new inventive ways to reach their target demographic. I look forward to seeing this division grow.
Bio:
Cortney Renee moved to NYC to attend The King’s College where she studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Her pursuit of modeling and acting provided appearances in Brides magazine and feature films and TV shows including How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, August, and Gossip Girl. Her passion for justice inspired involvement in the 2009 launch of Stop Child Trafficking Now. Her love for fashion and philanthropy birthed a brand which aims to promote ethical fashion. She currently resides in NYC where she endeavors to bring light to designers making a difference! Her long term hope is to inspire the fashion industry to make a creative and engaging world contribution. Her personal mission is to reflect true beauty, and her definition of “true beauty” is one that “come from a heart that lives to give back”. So she endeavors to reflect that in all things, both professionally and personally.
cortney@cortneyrenee.com
www.cortneyrenee.com
