SAPPHIRE WHISPER

Lilly Pulitzer Launches Limited Edition 'Pandamonium' Print to Benefit World Wildlife Fund

NEW YORK, Jan. 22  

 
IT'S PANDAMONIUM!!! Literally. 

So the word is out about Lilly Pulitzer's first ever black and white print (with shots of shocking pink, of course).  In November, the Palm Beach designer kicked off a year of "Lilly Loves Green," with signature, conversational prints raising funds and awareness for great green causes.

The Spring 2010 collection, "Protective Prints" was inspired by endangered species from across the globe, from the American crocodile and Florida panther to the Australian Koala.  The focal point of this collection is a bold, graphic black and white panda print, inspired by the World Wildlife Fund's iconic panda logo.  The limited edition print is appropriately named: "Pandamonium"!

The Pandamonium collection will hit Lilly Pulitzer stores this February, and includes a women's shift dress, a little Lilly shift dress, a men's blazer and pant, and a beach tote in two sizes.  The collection retails from $68 for the small tote to $398 for the men's blazer, and 10% of the proceeds from this collection will directly benefit the World Wildlife Fund.

The not so fashionable part... pandas remain among the world's most threatened animals.  There are less than 2,500 left in the wild.  The panda is creating quite a stir domestically, as the National Zoo in Washington, DC must send their Great Panda, Tai Shan, back to China this February.  Under the Zoo's panda loan agreement, any cub born at the zoo must be returned to China for breeding. The zoo hopes they can translate the attention Tai Shan has generated into awareness for the tragically endangered panda population.

Since the 1950s, Lilly Pulitzer prints have a history of commenting on cultural trends and landmark events.  Past Pulitzer prints have depicted the bicentennial, the opening of Disney World, and even the streaker craze!  Lilly Pulitzer returns to prints that send a message, with Pandamonium.  The collection itself is also green, utilizing 100% cotton, recycled garment labels, and low impact dye.

The Pandamonium will begin on Monday, January 25th at 6am, when the designer will launch a special pre-order of the collection on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/lillypulitzer Lilly Pulitzer has never repeated a print in fifty years.  Lilly fans and WWF supporters are advised to get this one before it's gone

PALM BEACH, Fla. Nov. 4

Beginning this November, Lilly Pulitzer is launching a year-long "Lilly Loves Green" campaign. Following the brand's 50th Anniversary "Jubilee", the launch of Lilly Pulitzer's year of green comes perfectly timed with America Recycles Week, which runs from November 8th to the 15th.  Lilly has never repeated a print in 50 years, and this time their signature prints will raise funding and awareness for important green causes.  Looking back over 50 years, what really makes people smile are the old Lillys.  Not wrinkled and old.  But worn and loved and just eeking good stories. They have a memory of a vacation to somewhere sunburnt and wonderful.  A mom saved them for her children.  Or a cousin wore them, passed them to a neighbor who is packing and saving them for a sister.  They're meant to be recycled!

Fortunately people have been recycling Lilly Pulitzer for years, whether passing it along to future generations to enjoy, or searching consignment stores for pieces they know will last for decades.  So Lilly Pulitzer is introducing a capsule of items that are just that...the "Originals" collection.  Launching in tandem with America Recycles Week, they embody everything that's treasured about Lilly and will be here for generations to come, in the hopes that wearers will enjoy them to the fullest and then pass them along.  In other words... Reduce. Reuse. Re-Lilly.

The Lilly Pulitzer Resort collection features one print called "In the Slim", inspired by an iconic Slim Aarons fashion photograph taken in 1964 for the pages of Town & Country.  Modern day "Originals" Kick and Kyra Kennedy, daughters of Bobby Kennedy Jr., carry on the family tradition by modeling "Originals" styles in Lilly Pulitzer's Resort campaign.  They are following in the footsteps of "original" Lilly fans, Jackie, Kathleen and her mother, Rose Kennedy.  The Kennedy gals even donated all of their modeling fees to family-founded Riverkeeper Foundation, an organization dedicated to keeping the Hudson River as green as possible.

Beyond being "sustainable" in concept, the collection itself is also eco-friendly:  All hangtags and in-garment labels are made of 100% recycled material. The collection is officially endorsed by Cotton Inc., and the dye process in which the garments are printed is internationally certified as using low-impact dye, eliminating any harmful byproducts. The common recycling statistics are out.  An aluminum can take 500 years to break down.  A glass bottle can take 1000.  Did you know Americans throw out an average of 68lbs of clothing a year?

Lilly Pulitzer is enlisting its customers to help recycle clothing, by donating it to a very worthy cause.  Someone in need of something special...and Lilly's got just the group!  Meet The Princess Project.  A 100% volunteer effort and non-profit organization solely devoted to putting smiles on girls' faces.  They provide free dresses and accessories to high school girls who could not otherwise afford them to wear to one of the most memorable nights in a girl's life...prom. Lilly Pulitzer is inviting customers nationwide to dive into their closets to recycle for mother earth and an incredibly good cause...

Between November 8th and 15th, customers are asked to donate "gently worn" special occasion dresses (old prom, bridesmaid and other one-hit wonders in the closets!) to help make memories for some deserving young girls!  The giving goes both ways...for every dress donated, customers receive a $10 credit towards your next "Originals" purchase.  Bring dresses to your favorite participating Lilly Pulitzer store or send to [Lilly Pulitzer for The Princess Project 800 Third Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406]  Lilly Pulitzer will be packaging and sending all donations from its headquarters (affectionately known as the Pink Palace) and stores  to The Princess Palace!

If that weren't enough to kick off a year of eco-chic activity...what's pink, printed...and "green" all over?  Lilly Pulitzer's new electric car!  Many are out there zipping around in traffic-stopping Lilly Jeep Wranglers, but the folks at Lilly Pulitzer couldn't very well spend a year loving green and great causes that support our environment, without offering a new form of transportation that fit the bill.  It's affectionately referred to as an E-LILLY by Tomberlin Automotive Group. It's 100% road worthy, charges with any standard 110v household outlet, and travels for over 30 miles on a single charge.  The E-Lilly can be customized with just about anything you want...2-seat, 4-seat, golf bag, trunk and more... even a monogram, and will deliver just in time for the holidays!  Prices start at $12,995 for the standard E-LILLY.  However, if purchased before December 31, 2009, the buyer is eligible for a tax credit from the federal government!

The Lilly Loves Green campaign has just begun, stay tuned for future seasons raising awareness for endangered species, buying local and more.