Every year since 2015 Okaïdi has donated around 100 outfits to charities supporting disadvantaged children. In 2017 Dons Solidaires selected the charity La Passerelle to be the recipient of this donation.
The third Looking Good fashion show was held on 27 September at the Maison de Quartier Les Moulins in Lille. At this annual event, Okaïdi distributed clothing and accessories such as bags, scarves and sunglasses to 55 disadvantaged children whose families are supported by La Passerelle, a community grocery shop. It did this with the help of Dons Solidaires, a pioneering charity that encourages French businesses to donate surplus nonfood products. The hundred or so outfits were selected by 12 Okaïdi employees including designers, market managers and merchandisers.
The fun-filled day was an opportunity for children to take part in a fashion show for their families. Stylists, make-up artists, hairdressers and eight Okaïdi staff helped them choose their favourite outfits, do their make-up and strut their stuff on the catwalk!
After the show, all the participants (children, volunteers, Okaïdi staff and representatives from Dons Solidaires) shared an afternoon tea. The fledgling models also helped launch a bunch of balloons attached to the charity’s postcards. Lucky children whose cards were found and sent back to Dons Solidaires received an extra Okaïdi outfit!
The Okaïdi staff worked very hard to make this day a success and were rewarded by huge smiles from the children.
Watch a video of the event
About Dons Solidaires
Since 2004 Dons Solidaires has helped partner companies give a second life to their unsold nonfood products. The charity has built a community supply chain covering the whole of France and provides an innovative, free, general-interest service to companies, encouraging them to donate rather than destroy and share rather than waste. With its pioneering approach to product donation, in 2016 Dons Solidaires distributed products worth 30 million euros to almost 500 French charities helping 650,000 people. Because giving is all about being responsible, supporting the community and producing sustainably.
