Some trends are good (think boomerang lunches at our kids’ schools). Some trends are pure evil (think leggings on anyone older than six). My favourite type of trend is one that benefits the consumer and also benefits a good cause.
This is a great month for such trends. It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and marketers are pulling out all stops to not only tug at our proverbial heartstrings, but also open our wallets. The Pink Ribbon has become an international symbol of hope and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
Certain manufacturers, organizations and corporations have joined in the fight to raise awareness and support on-going breast cancer research, by partnering with breast cancer organizations, and developing or marketing items that are specially designed to denote the color pink. Products vary from small appliances, kitchen gadgets, mugs, pins, caps and other various items.
From the sale of these items, a portion is donated to a breast cancer information and resource or research organization, or to a national or private cancer foundation. The main goal of the campaign is to continue the research with the hope of finding a cure for breast cancer.
My mother will buy almost anything with a pink ribbon on it. She’s shopped for pink cashmere sweaters at Holt Renfew, bought my sisters and I matching Clinique Buttershine limited edition pink lipsticks and purchased t-shirts for herself.
One of my favourite pink ribbon items this season is Cashmere bathroom tissue’s couture collection of gorgeous gowns designed by some of Canada’s top designers and created out of toilet paper. This year’s collection features Pink Cashmere, the first coloured toilet paper introduced in Canada in over a decade.
During the month of October, post a message about your favourite pink ribbon item, or e-mail me directly at jennifer.hicks@rogers.com to have me feature the product in a future column. Watch for more ways to make a cool purchase and help find a cure for cancer.