Growing up in the glittery town of Los
Angeles, CA and the nouveau rich
Orange County, California, I saw a lot
of things, especially controversial and
unethical things. I would watch my
friend’s fathers drive off to work in
their Ferraris and not come home at
night. I would hear from my girlfriends
how their mothers bought the latest
Gucci Bag for $10,000. I’d watch my
peers and colleagues spend $1000s on
entertainment, fashion, food, and fun.
However, when the offering plates were
passed around at church, no one would
contribute. If donations were asked for
from the student body, the students
harnessed, like a trained horse, and the
power can be used for social impact.
Instead of a boring fundraising event,
how about calling the event a night of
scandal and donating 10% or more of
that scandalous money to an AIDS
research fund. Instead of having sad
photos of children and women on the
street, how about using happy photos
showing them being educated in 100%
funded schools. How about a black tie
event like a casino night where all
gambling proceeds go to a charity of
your choice. And last but not least,
since I am scandalous, how about a
lingerie
Not only luxury, but the power of fashion,
entertainment, food, culture, sex, art, beauty...
would whisper, “I’m saving my last $20
for the club entry, not for leukemia
research.” I would see my friend’s
mothers (formerly ex-lingerie models)
pass by the poor in the streets clutching
their hand bags for dear life and
looking fabulous, but with total
disregard and disdain for anything
outside of their orbital sphere.
Growing up like this, an outsider would
assume I only saw bad things.
However, that’s where you are wrong.
I like to find opportunities in strange
places; the type of person that tries to
see the glass half full and overflowing.
I learned the power of luxury. Not only
luxury, but the power of fashion,
entertainment, food, culture, sex, art,
beauty, cosmetic procedures, glamour,
fun, excess, etc. These industries are
powerful! The power of this can be
fashion show where 10% or more of the
proceeds go to breast cancer research
or a women’s domestic violence shelter.
People say this stuff has been done. OK,
but then why treat it so scandalously?
Why don’t more people do it? Why
believe that luxury cannot be combined
with having a good heart? More non-
profit models need to be run in a fun
and scandalous manner to generate
revenue for social impact. Because let’s
be honest, we are humans and we like
nice things. Instead of shunning this
side we should use it for social good
because there is nothing wrong with
that. If I one day own a scandalous
fashion company that makes women
feel sexy and strong I hope to donate
half of it to a charity of my choice.
#socialimpactthroughluxury