COLLECT

& Derek Blasberg

FEB Issue 003  UPDATED -blasberg1.jpg

COLLECT, A WOMEN-LED ALTRUISTIC ETHICALLY PRODUCED FASHION BRAND, TOOK INITIATIVE THIS PAST FALL AND CREATED AN ARTISTIC COLLABORATION WITH DEREK BLASBERG, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND HEAD OF FASHION AND BEAUTY AT YOUTUBE TO BENEFIT ONE OF THEIR FAVOURITE CHARITIES, NEW YORK’S CITYMEALS ON WHEELS. BLASBERG CREATED A PLAYFUL, GRAFFITI-INSPIRED ORIGINAL DESIGN WHICH WAS IMPOSED ON COLLECT’S PERUVIAN WOVEN PIMA COTTON T-SHIRT WHERE 50% OF SALES WILL GO TO CITYMEALS.


Each year, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday, and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbours. As the designated emergency responder for the city’s elderly, Citymeals has been working on the frontlines and has delivered more than 2 million meals since the start of the pandemic. Last fiscal year, Citymeals delivered 2.6 million meals – a 26% increase entirely due to Covid-19. The vital mission of this long-standing non-profit is dear to the hearts of COLLECT founder Stacey Alvarez and Derek Blasberg, a proud board member.

Derek - When did you begin working with Citymeals on Wheels?

“The first time I delivered with Citymeals was in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. New York was hurting and I was honoured to be a part of Citymeals’ efforts to give back to this city that I love so much,” Blasberg shared.

Derek – How did this collaboration come about with COLLECT?

“Since I joined the Board of Directors a few years ago, I’ve told Citymeals I’ll do anything they ever ask of me. I didn’t expect them to employ my art skills (or lack thereof !), but it was a thrill to collaborate with the organization on this T-shirt,” said Blasberg.

Stacey – Partnering with artists has always been a priority of COLLECT, how did this come to be?

“We know art to inspire individuals to think with agency and to feel an artist’s work authentically, these collaborations have created clothes that are collectible, an extension of your voice that speaks to your interior, that continually inspires by wearing your heart on your chest and contributing to the community via philanthropy,” says Alvarez

Derek – How did this collaboration come about with COLLECT?

“Since I joined the Board of Directors a few years ago, I’ve told Citymeals I’ll do anything they ever ask of me. I didn’t expect them to employ my art skills (or lack thereof !), but it was a thrill to collaborate with the organization on this T-shirt,” said Blasberg.

Stacey – Partnering with artists has always been a priority of COLLECT, how did this come to be?

“We know art to inspire individuals to think with agency and to feel an artist’s work authentically, these collaborations have created clothes that are collectible, an extension of your voice that speaks to your interior, that continually inspires by wearing your heart on your chest and contributing to the community via philanthropy,” says Alvarez


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