Lovin' Us Some Lanvin Lunchboxes!
We haven't carried a lunch box in quite a while, but if we sported one today, what would it look like? Would we DIY it ourselves? Or enlist a superstar designer to create it? Our questions were answered as soon as we saw Lanvin's amazing "tulle" lunch box at The 3rd Annual Lunchbox Auction in New York City last week.
Unfortunately for us, this lunchbox has an unmentionable price tag, because it was made especially for an internet auction to benefit the Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa. A few other fashion-loving lunchboxes were super fab to dream about too, like Heatherette's, above, Gwenyth Paltrow's, Julia Stiles', and Rogan's.
Our highlight of the night, though, was when Celebuchef Mario Batali from Food Network's Molto Mario bought Michael Stipe's (R.E.M.'s frontman) lunchbox for $20,000! Alloygirl got a chance to talk to the charitable Iron Chef for a split-sec just after his major contribution?
Our Minute with Mario:
Why is it important to you to give back to the community?
You know, it's not even about giving back to my community. I think someone who makes their money in the food business has an obligation to make sure that everyone gets fed. And the pleasure that I derive from feeding people isn't always because they've paid for it, it's because I can do it. And participating in a place and at a time when America is perhaps the richest country of all time and the fact that we have hungry people is a pathetic misunderstanding of what a country can and should be about?
What ways do you think we can help hunger?
I think what all teens should do, and what my children are doing now, is once a month, we're going to a soup kitchen and we're helping serve. And I think when you see that people are hungry and these aren't just weirdos or disenfranchised people, but they are working people who have jobs and still can't make ends meet. To see the face of hunger, which looks very much like your friends and your family, is to understand how you can effectively make change. All teens once or twice a year or month should donate a considerable amount of time and energy helping someone or teaching someone something.
Too many girls these days have issues with food. What's your take?
I think food issues are predominantly due to a lack in self-esteem. Somehow, they're not feeling good about themselves. Everyone should know that every shape and size has a place in society. You've gotta live your life and enjoy it and feel good about yourself! And when you help other people, you will feel good about yourself.
Isn't Mario so nice? We think he's sweeter than his perfect panna cotta! So, which lunchbox would you carry? Let's hear your take on these trend-setters who are making a difference.
Posted on: Wed Dec 17, 2008