by Rea Gierran
MANILA – Inspired by the vision to help reduce poverty through social entrepreneurship, Boardwalk, the 25 year-old lifestyle company launches Share, a new fashion and lifestyle sub-brand with a social development platform. Share will help men and women from economically-challenged communities to gain a stable source of income.
“Help other people first, wealth and happiness comes after that,” Ivan Madera, President and Executive Director of Share says. This is a milestone for the young sociopreneur who admits to have been inspired by his parents’ teaching that good things in life don’t come easy.
Share enables consumers with a social conscience to enjoy fashionable items while contributing 25 percent of what they pay to a business starter program developed by Share Foundation in partnership with Boardwalk Charity Foundation Incorporated. The program is designed to provide training and capital to Filipinos who hope to have a chance to do business.
Brand ambassadors Alden Richards, Janine Gutierrez, Matteo Guidicelli graced the event and shared their stories on how the simple act of purchasing a shirt can make a difference in people’s lives. Rags2Riches President and Co-Founder Reese Fernandez-Ruiz also attended the event recounting the ups and downs of her journey as a young social entrepreneur.
Emphasizing that Share is a fashion-forward brand, the Walk to Share event also features Filipino fashion designer Avel Bacudio as the very first Sharecreator. Named as Asia’s most influential designer in 2014, Bacudio showcases his capsule collection Share x Avel, the first of Share’s collaboration series which will also feture co-creations with other Filipino designers in the future.
Share Brand Manager Anil Ratanchandani says they’re looking forward to more local and international designers collaborating with them in the years to come. Ratanchandani notes that the new line’s name underscores its bigger goal to promote inclusive growth. “We believe there are so many simple ways to do your share in bringing about inclusive progress in the Philippines – you can do that with the simple act of sharing.”
