Aritzia has been a long standing community partner of Dress for Success Vancouver for the last decade. They were our Title Sponsor for our IMPACT fundraiser in May 2016. We interviewed their Director of Communications, Corinne Kepper who shares Aritzia’s social innovation initiatives.
What is your position within Aritzia?
I am Aritzia’s Director of Corporate Communications. One of the best parts of my role is having the opportunity to develop our community giving programs. Aritzia is focused on supporting causes that empower women and girls in the communities where we live and work. Our relationship with Dress for Success Vancouver is a great example of this!
Monique Badun and Corinne Kepper and at 2015 Board Celebration
Why did Aritzia choose Dress for Success Vancouver to support?
Aritzia is committed to supporting causes that empower women and girls in the communities where we live and work.
Aritzia is a Vancouver based women’s fashion design and retail company. We actively promote skill and career development, particularly among young women, across our organization. In fact, 89% of our team members are women, including many women entering the job market for the first time. In
addition, the majority of our management team, right up to our executive leaders, including our President & COO, Jennifer Wong.
That is why Aritzia is committed to supporting causes that empower women and girls in the communities where we live and work. The incredible work that Dress for Success Vancouver does to empower women in our community is a perfect fit.
What is your role, and Aritzia’s role, in supporting Dress for Success Vancouver?
Two of the classic outfits Aritzia team members donated in our recent Dress For Success Clothing Drive
I look for opportunities within Aritzia’s organization to support Dress for Success Vancouver using the giving tools that we have available. Aritzia supports DFS Vancouver with a combination of volunteerism, seasonal interview-appropriate product, and financial sponsorship for events such as Impact 360.
We actively promote Aritzia’s support of Dress For Success Vancouver to our team members. This year our Support Office team held a Dress For Success Vancouver clothing drive and donated personal clothing items in addition to the product that we donate as an organization.
How does DFSV’s mission speak to you personally?
Aritzia’s product is beautifully designed and displayed.
As a working mom, I understand the unexpected, and complex, situations that evolve in life. Sometimes you can find yourself in a very different set of circumstances than you had otherwise planned for yourself. I feel very proud knowing that Aritzia’s contributions can make a difference in the lives of women who need a bit of support to achieve their goals and build a better life for themselves and their children.
What is your favourite part of working with Dress for Success Vancouver?
At Aritzia, we understand the boost to confidence and self esteem that a high quality, well selected outfit can create. We all have days where we need to feel our best, and particularly in an interview situation, our preparation and the way that we present ourselves can provide the “little extra” that we need to succeed.
Do you have any advice for women starting as clients or PWG members?
You are connected to a fabulous organization. Take advantage of the services provided as you move towards achieving your goals.
If you could compress DFSV’s programs into one sentence or one word, what would it be?
Innovative with Impact! (and a truly fabulous group of women and men making it happen!)
Members of the Aritzia team enjoying Impact 360!