Kelly Rutherford moves FASHION FORWARD at Mercado Global’s annual NYC benefit, raising funds for sustainable fashion, on Oct 1, 2014

[Debbie Rodriguez]

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Kelly Rutherford moves FASHION FORWARD at Mercado Global’s annual benefit, raising funds for sustainable fashion.

6:30-7:30 pm: VIP reception, moderated conversation with special guests
and meet-and-greet
7:30-10 pm: Cocktails, farm-fresh fare, live music, and an exclusive raffle

On Oct 1st, actress Kelly Rutherford, former “Gossip Girl” star & advocate for women and girls, will be honored at Mercado Global’s fourth annual benefit, Fashion Forward, at Hôtel Americano in NY. FASHION FORWARD will raise funds and awareness to support Mercado Global’s proven model to engage retail partners in the fashion industry to incorporate sustainable sourcing practices and to economically empower Guatemalan women artisans by connecting them to sales channels internationally. Rodolfo de Rothschild, human rights and education advocate, serves as Honorary Chair. FASHION FORWARD 2014 will gather many special guests, and key figures in NY’s business, fashion, government, and philanthropic circles. The event will also feature a discussion with leaders in ethical fashion, including Sass Brown, eco fashion writer and Acting Assistant Dean for School of Art and Design, FIT; Soraya Darabi, Co-founder of Zady; Anh-Thu Nguyen of We See Beauty & MAKE Colour; and Ruth DeGolia, Executive Director & Founder, Mercado Global. The event will showcase Mercado Global’s Spring/Summer ’15 collection, inspired by the traditional belt that adorns the women’s dress of the Chipiacul region in Guatemala.

About Mercado Global

Since 2004, Mercado Global has grown from a small nonprofit into an internationally-recognized brand and social enterprise with a network connecting over 400 rural Mayan women artisans with unprecedented fair wage opportunities, education and skills training, and market access through major international retailers. The organization has continued to grow its sales each year since its founding by developing strategic retail partnerships with key sales partners, including Anthropologie, Calypso St. Barth, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Holt Renfrew, Levi Strauss & Co, Lucky Brand, MAKE, Nordstrom, and Ron Herman. www.mercadoglobal.org