Double Happiness
Double Happiness
“We want to empower and support women all over the world”, explains Dorothee Ingwersen, Olsen’s head of communications. Olsen is an international brand with a unique philosophy. The concepts of friendship and emotional strength play a very special role for Olsen. Fashion is perceived as a positive, authentic lifestyle. “And for us it goes without saying that we want make a contribution to society by sharing our core competence in fashion. By providing manpower and know-how we hope to make a positive and lasting contribution to globalisation.”
The actress Christina Plate is the sponsor of these Olsen projects. Sustainability is a key aim in all Olsen’s textile projects.
Our project in Vietnam 2009
Together with the children’s aid organisation Plan International, Olsen started “The Double Happiness” project. In 2009 a small collection was designed and produced in collaboration with rice farmers in Vietnam.
The Double Happiness Collection 2009 focused on embroidery, a craft which has a long tradition in Vietnam However, despite its rich cultural heritage, embroidery is gradually disappearing from everyday life. Step by step, the rice farmers of Van Ly relearned the art of embroidery from scratch, supported by Olsen and Plan International. With beautiful hand embroidery and much loving care, the women of Van Ly embroidered pieces for the new Olsen collection.
The project gives the women of Van Ly a second source of income, meaning that they are no longer forced to leave their village to seek work elsewhere. Their children can go to school. For the village of Van Ly, this is a small economic miracle.
For Olsen, the idea behind the project is to share expertise, to “donate” the company’s skills and expertise, to pass them on and help women set up their own, independent business which will generate income.
The project was so successful that the rice farmers of Van Ly have received follow-up orders from other companies and are now standing firmly on their own feet.
Collection 2009
The key design in the collection is the Chinese character for “Double Happiness”, which stands for friendship and partnership. And for a better world.
This symbol will also be featured in the next Double Happiness Collection 2010.
Double Happiness 2010
Double Happiness
The key design in the collection is the Chinese character for “Double Happiness”, which stands for friendship and partnership. And for a better world.
This symbol will also be featured in the next Double Happiness Collection 2010.