06:00, 25 November 2024
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
The Smiley® brand has put giving back at the heart of its next collaboration with the sustainable blanket company Sackcloth & Ashes, whose success directly supports those experiencing homelessness.
The trademark Smiley® icon, which has been an icon of joy and hope since 1972, will be embroidered onto the high-quality, chemical-free blankets of Sackcloth & Ashes.
What’s special about this collaboration is Sackcloth & Ashes’ commitment to giving back. They offer a “buy one, give one” model, which means that for every blanket purchased, another is donated to a homeless shelter across the United States. Where possible, they aim to donate the blanket to a shelter near the purchaser’s address. This means that when a blanket is bought, the support is felt by the local community. Since their founding in 2013, hundreds of thousands of blankets have been donated.
The new collection, called Bloom, will feature four unique blankets adorned with floral designs and the familiar Smiley® icon. These have all been designed by US-born author and artist Morgan Harper Nichols, and will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Italy from the 23rd of November online.
Besides the “buy one, give one” philosophy of Sackcloth & Ashes, what makes us cheer at this partnership is the company’s manufacturing process. They use a blend of recycled fabrics, acrylic, polyester, wool, and other fibres, gathered from donated clothing, factory scraps and landfill, to produce their blankets. Not only are they giving back, but they’re not taking from the planet while they do so.
Janet Martin, Chief Product Officer for Lifestyle and Consumer Products at The Smiley Company, said: “We are lucky at Smiley® that we can create products that make a difference in many different ways, from products that spread joy, products that make the world a better place, and products that help people.
“This collaboration with Sackcloth & Ashes and Morgan Harper Nichols is all three. We’re thrilled to see this go live and know that this beautiful product will be enjoyed by so many.”
And while gifting a warm blanket is one way that we can support those suffering from homelessness, founder and CEO Bob Dalton reminds us that it’s not the only one.
“In addition to buying blankets, people can support our mission by spreading awareness about homelessness, volunteering at local shelters, or donating directly to organisations working on housing, mental health, and rehabilitation services,” he said in an interview with Smiley News. “You can visit loveyourcity.org to view grassroots organisations in your city,” he added, for those based in the US.
Bob continued: “Our long-term plan includes not only reaching the milestone of one million blankets donated, but also expanding our product line to include complementary items for home and travel.
“This expansion will enable us to support more people in need and give customers more options for contributing to our mission. Additionally, we’re exploring ways to support other aspects of homelessness and support to Native communities, potentially moving more manufacturing to the USA and providing more local workforce opportunities.”
You can support the work of Sackcloth & Ashes on the Smiley® website from the 23rd November, when a limited run of the four blanket designs will go live on sale.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Love Your City. This is a nonprofit foundation designed to connect people with nonprofits that are making a difference in their local communities. Find out more.
Crisis. This is a national charity for single homeless people. Serving year-round services for education, employment, housing, and well-being. Learn more here.
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). This is a global environmental NGO dedicated to transforming flawed product and food systems, promoting circular living to benefit the climate, nature, and people. Support them here.
