Sanny Diaries: July 2015

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Battle of the Birkin Bag

Jane Birkin, courtesy of Today.com

British actress and singer Jane Birkin, the namesake behind one of the most iconic and sought-after handbags in the world (waiting lists have been known to be up to six years long in the past!), have asked Hermès to remove her name from their crocodile bag.

Birkin's request to the Parisian luxury house came after she saw a graphic PETA video documenting the cruel and inhumane methods of killing reptiles at crocodile farms Padenga in Zimbabwe and Lone Star Alligator Farm in Winnie, Texas (a subsidiary of Padenga since September 21, 2012).

This 2014 fuchsia Birkin 35 with 18K white gold and diamond hardware was sold
last month for a record HK$1.17 million (US$222,928) at Christie's in Hong Kong

"Having been alerted to the cruel practices reserved for crocodiles during their slaughter to make Hermès handbags carrying my name... I have asked Hermès to debaptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place." - Jane Birkin

Warning: The cervical dislocation in this video is gruesome!

Hermès responded to Jane with this statement:

"Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast. [...] An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video. Any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned. [...] Hermès specifies that this farm does not belong to them and that the crocodile skins supplied are not used for the fabrication of Birkin bags. Hermès imposes on its partners the highest standards in the ethical treatment of crocodiles."

Animal welfare?! Freedom from pain, injury, fear, and distress?! Complete lies!

How did Jane Birkin become the muse of this Hermès bag? It was 1981 when Jane sat next to Hermès' CEO, Jean-Louis Dumas, on a flight from Paris to London. When Jane placed her straw bag into the overhead compartment, the contents of her bag fell to the floor. She then commented to Dumas on how it was a challenge to find a leather weekend bag she liked. Subsequently, Dumas created a supple black leather bag for her in 1984, called it the Birkin bag, and a star was born!

This has been the biggest, most controversial news involving the fashion industry in a long time - it's potentially game-changing! Unfortunate that this news comes in such terrible context, but at the very least, it has generated worldwide awareness for the ethical treatment of crocodiles, alligators, and hopefully other animals killed for this industry as well. Moreover, this event pushes leading luxury manufacturers to be more consciously aware of their business practices and hopefully this will trickle down to other retailers to follow suit. So companies beware! More than ever, this is a conscious consumers' market and people today are resourceful and LOUD!

Nearly eight years ago while at FIDM, I wrote a paper on corporate social responsibility (CSR). I argued that,

"CSR is gradually transforming from merely a corporate responsibility into a business necessity."

The time is now and in the case of Hermès, the audience has reached the top of the luxury handbag chain. The notion of companies reexamining their business practices to ensure social responsibility is no longer a corporate discretion. Companies who fail to adopt socially responsible business models risk lasting damaging exposure.

Take action and write to Hermès here. Over 69 thousand people have already done so, including myself!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Happy National Lipstick Day!

In honor of National Lipstick Day today, I thought it would be fitting to write about my two all-time favorite lipsticks from Shiseido (above) and Clé de Peau Beauté (below).

For Day...

Shiseido Shimmering Rouge in 'Stiletto'

I like a pretty pink, but I'm really particular about this color. It cannot be a peachy-pink. Rather, it has to be a lavender pink, but still more pink than purple, if that makes sense. In the case of Shiseido, my favorite lipcolor is no. PK407, called 'Stiletto' - How appropriately named, combining two things I love: the color pink and shoes... think Christian Louboutin So Kate in Rosette! This is the most flattering pink that does not look too Barbie-doll. As the name suggests, it is a shimmering lipstick so it contains shimmer, but they are micro-fine shimmer that adds iridescence to the lipcolor and are never gritty. This would be my everyday lipstick, but I run through tubes of these like madness, given its ounces below, making Clé de Peau Beauté a better deal!
Shiseido Shimmering Rouge, 0.07 oz.: $25.00

For Night...

CDPB Extra Rick Lipstick in 'Dark Red'

I love a deep red. It cannot have any coral tones in it. It has to be a blue-red, and the darker the shade, the better! Unfortunately, my beloved R1 lipstick from Clé de Peau Beauté called 'Black Baccara' (inspired by the black baccara rose) has been discontinued. This Vitamin A Acetate lipstick adds a rich layer of color and intense moisture with each application, like Loro Piana cashmere for your lips! Luckily, when I bought mine, I bought two. My cardinal rule of shopping: if you absolutely LOVE it, buy a second one! That should last me a while until I find a worthy replacement.
CDPB Extra Rich Lipstick, 0.14 oz.: $65.00*
^{*Refill $40, lipstick holder $25 (It's gorgeous!)}

Monday, July 27, 2015

Russell Jew's 1st Annual 29th Bday!

One of my closest friends of 14 years recently turned the big three-oh, and to celebrate this milestone, we had a party last Friday night at the Drake.

I don't remember how exactly we became friends, but I remember we met in Mr. Tanisawa's math class at Westmoor. I sat right behind him and observed how he would not remain in his seat for more than five minutes without making his rounds around the classroom starting conversations with everyone. That was Russell, then and now, a real people-person. The teacher eventually gave him the nickname, "Wandering Jew."

Before I knew it, we became best friends. I remember leaving school every day in his old Caddy; it was his parents' wedding car. Russell was also my shopping companion. He is one guy who never complained about too much shopping, even through all those semi-annual sales! He also gave me my first Chanel item - Chanel Chance (I have kept the empty bottle and box in pristine condition after all these years). One time we were walking through the cosmetics department in Nordstrom Stonestown, we passed by the Chanel counter, and I briefly mentioned that it was my favorite fragrance. It was Chanel Chance's debut year and I instantly fell in love with the scent, the color, and all of its marketing, but for whatever reason, I did not think of treating myself to it. Months later, he surprised me with my very own bottle for my birthday. I did not expect him to remember or to have even paid attention to my fleeting comment! He is truly one of the most thoughtful and generous person I know.

So when I asked Russell what he wanted to do for this birthday this year, he said he booked the entire second floor of the Drake and wanted to spend time with all his friends. I really wanted to make this the most memorable birthday for him. I helped him with the catering, sourcing the vendor and placing the order, but what makes something memorable and special? Personalization! Without his knowledge and only a week to put together a stylish Sanny-type-of-soirée, I designed a golden 20-pound birthday cake, ordered 150 adorable caricature cookies of his best smile, and had his photo and birthday messages printed onto colorful classic M&M chocolates. #OnlyforRussell!

As he called it his "1st Annual 29th Birthday,"
here are some highlights from the event: