In 2021, Lafayette 148 New York invited Liu Lin and two graduates from School of Dream to pay a special visit to this school founded by Lafayette 148 In Shantou. “I have always been a big fan of Lafayette148, a high-end women‘s wear brand. After learning about Rongchang School of Dream and the many contributions the brand has made to education in The co-founder's hometown of Shantou, Guangdong province, I found myself attracted not only by their clothes, but also by the brand's mission of 'creating a better world for our next generation'. "
For us, simply creating beautiful clothes is not enough—there is a common thread of cultivating deep connections with the people and communities we touch. Of enriching the world through education. And safeguarding the precious resource that is our planet. To us, success means nothing if it’s not shared. Please read on to see a few of the ways we’re giving back.
SCHOOL OF
DREAMS
In 2007, our Co-Founder, Mr. Siu, had a dream. After establishing our state-of-the-art workshop and production facility in his hometown of Shantou, China, he made an extraordinary commitment to the children of his community. And the School of Dreams was born.
Fully funded by Lafayette 148 New York and a group of private investors, the school offers an exceptional, subsidized private education to its students. Founded upon an ethos of “nurturing the whole person,” the curriculum balances academic excellence with a rich array of athletic and artistic opportunities to nourish the mind, body and spirit. As the school flourishes, it carries Mr. Siu’s dream into the next generation.In 2020, with the support of private donations, Rongchang School of Dream was rebuilt on a new site – which was the last wish of Mr.Siu, Lafayette148’s co-founder. The new school building added more advanced infrastructure and multi-purpose classrooms such as music room, computer room, laboratory, art room and library.
SUSTAINABILITY
From our materials to our business model, to our work to mitigate our impact on the earth, we’re bonded by our belief in leaving a place better than we’ve found it.
At Lafayette 148, luxury has always been synonymous with extraordinary quality. To us, that means more than fine fabrics and meticulous craftsmanship, but responsible stewardship. Our Italian mill partners are considered some of the finest textile producers in the world, a distinction that rests not just on the quality of their yarns, but on their extraordinary commitment to sustainability — not as an afterthought, but as a core value.
The European Union has among the world’s strictest environmental and workers’ rights laws. Within the region, our partners have helped establish Made in Italy as the pinnacle of best practices. From their efforts to reduce chemicals and water usage to solar-powered production facilities, we are proud to be aligned with industry leaders who are paving a new way forward — one that is dedicated to preserving our planet for generations to come.
As a rare, vertically integrated fashion brand, we employ all the artisans who create our garments, ensuring an ethical, traceable, transparent production process. And we don’t believe in letting any of our luxurious materials go to waste. Our designers are constantly innovating new, creative ways to utilize excess materials. We’ve also expanded our recycling practices to include textile waste, partnering with local non-profits to give surplus fabric a second life.
Our homes near and far utilize energy-saving technologies, from bright, open-work spaces that minimize the need for artificial cooling to solar power and rainwater recycling. A model of environmentally conscious construction, our new headquarters in the Brooklyn Navy Yard is another giant step towards a sustainable future. And we’re exploring new ways to do more every day.
FASHION INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY
Nurturing up-and-coming talent gives us an opportunity to connect with the creators of tomorrow—and hold the door open for those that come after us.
Our Co-Founder and CEO, Deirdre Quinn, is a Trustee of the school and an active member of their Strategic Planning Committee. Our enduring friendship with FIT includes annual endowments and a longstanding internship program that has brought many gifted students into the Lafayette 148 New York family after graduating.
SUPPORTING
OUR CITY
Our home. Our Muse. Our heritage. New York is part of the very fiber of who we are. To the city that has given so much to us for over twenty years, we’re devoted to giving back.
We’ve partnered with an array of organizations that support New Yorkers. Our limited-edition mask collection supports City Harvest, an organization which helps feed families in need throughout NYC, many of whom are facing food insecurity for the very first time. This Spring, we donated more than $100,000 to the Brooklyn Hospital Center, to help support our doctors and nurses on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. We also partnered with the Brooklyn Navy Yard and The NYCEDC to make surgical gowns for area hospitals, both creating patterns and sewing the garments in our Brooklyn sample studio. The initiative produced hundreds of thousands of gowns to protect first responders.
We’re proud of our partnership with Custom Collaborative, a Harlem-based non-profit that empowers minority women from underprivileged backgrounds through training in fashion and entrepreneurship. Not only do we reduce fabric waste by donating excess materials to the organization, but we also host student tours and lead mentorship sessions around sustainable design. For years we’ve also worked with New York Cares to train our team for volunteer opportunities throughout the city, from mentoring to serving meals and revitalizing the NYC’s green spaces.
To us, giving back to our neighbors is a company-wide effort, one that includes everyone from our CEO to our newest hire. It’s a shared purpose that constantly propels us forward, and our journey is only just beginning.