American luxury department store chain Bloomingdale’s has announced the launch of a new social purpose initiative called ‘b the change’. The leading retailer has partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) of the State University of New York to establish the Bloomingdale’s x FIT Sustainable Innovation Fund, a collaborative endeavour that will curate the philanthropic and sustainability-centred efforts for the new b the change platform.

“As we celebrate our milestone anniversary, we are not only commemorating the past 150 years, but also looking ahead to our next era,” Bloomingdale’s chairman and CEO Tony Spring said in a press release. “We believe we have a responsibility to our colleagues, our customers, and our community to help build a more equitable, sustainable future for everyone. We are excited to have had the chance to partner with FIT to bring b the change to life with new programmes and initiatives that will help shape the future of our industry. Together, we are working toward a more inclusive, diverse culture and making our philanthropic efforts even more meaningful.”

US’ Bloomingdale’s has announced the launch of a new social purpose initiative called ‘b the change’. The retailer has partnered with FIT of the State University of New York to establish the Bloomingdale’s x FIT Sustainable Innovation Fund, which will curate the philanthropic and sustainability-centred efforts for the b the change platform.

The new platform has three distinct pillars that inform the charitable initiatives, educational programmes, and operational innovations dedicated to these commitments: b sustainable is for protecting the planet for the next generation by conserving resources and reducing environmental impact; b inclusive is for building a more equitable future where all voices are heard and amplified; and b the future is for investing in the youth of today through mental health advocacy and equitable educational resources.

Bloomingdale’s and FIT have come together to develop this new philanthropic initiative that will highlight and celebrate sustainability and the next generation of creative industry leaders. At the core of b the change, the Bloomingdale’s x FIT Sustainable Innovation Fund will create new spaces and resources that support teaching and learning, research, and activities dedicated to sustainability for students, faculty, alumni, industry partners, and the public.

“FIT is honoured to be part of this new initiative created by Bloomingdale’s,” explained FIT president, Dr. Joyce F. Brown. “Partnering with Bloomingdale’s will promote and enhance the strong, active, and highly visible commitment that FIT has made to sustainability innovation. In collaboration with their leadership, we want to demonstrate that sustainability is possible for a large institution and ultimately provide a model for other organisations. Like Bloomingdale’s, we recognise that sustainability is not an isolated goal; it extends into related areas such as corporate social responsibility, ethics, and fair trade.”

With a mission to engage the fashion and retail communities in the development of sustainable projects, the Bloomingdale’s x FIT Sustainable Innovation Fund will help both partnering institutions achieve their shared goals to bring people across the industry together with programmes that spark new ideas and lead to the development of viable solutions, added the release.

The funds raised through this collaborative initiative will support a variety of commitment-driven efforts including educational and mentorship programmes, innovation labs, sustainable fashion showcases, and more.

As part of its commitment to cultivating a more inclusive, sustainable future, Bloomingdale’s is committed to raising $2 million for its philanthropic partners through in-store and online events throughout the year. In honour of the launch of b the change and the Bloomingdale’s x FIT Sustainable Innovation Fund, shoppers can support the cause and donate by rounding up their purchase to the nearest dollar in store or making a donation online at checkout throughout the month of September.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)