Ian Saude to donate portion of online sales to Himalayan Children's Fund

Known for his line of premium quality cashmere wraps, throws and blankets, accessories designer Ian Saudē announced that he will donate a portion of the on-line sales for his new Diamond Ombre and popular Demeter wraps, as well as his luxe Travel Blankets, to benefit the Himalayan Children’s Fund and other educational charities in Nepal.

The Diamond Ombre stole is woven from super-fine cashmere yarn that is ‘dip-dyed’ by hand to achieve subtle, variegated color effects in bright summery hues. Since each yarn lot is hand-dyed, every piece is individual and unique. It is available as a web-exclusive in Pink, Indian Orange, Sunshine and Azul (28” x 78”; $195).

Feather light Demeter is an all-season wrap woven from the finest cashmere into a subtle herringbone shadow-stripe. With its buttery texture that’s warm but breathable, it’s perfect as a stole in summer to stave off air-conditioning or an evening breeze. It comes in a variety of summer shades including celery, light coral, juicy orange, chrysalis, sea spray and lilac (28” x 78”; $295).

Saudē, who lived in Nepal for more than a decade, expressed his commitment to supporting economic and social development in the country, which has recently emerged from a 12-year civil war. Saudē expressed concern over Nepal’s current situation. “Right now the effective unemployment rate in Nepal is over 50%, homes and business experience 18 hour/day power cuts, even in the capital city of Katmandu, and much of Nepal’s fragile infrastructure, which was destroyed during the 12-year insurgency, has yet to be rebuilt. Life cannot function as normal.”

Nepal is one of the poorest and hungriest countries in Asia, and has the lowest literacy rate for children. Saudē elaborates, “Nepalis need jobs and income right now, but many businesses there are struggling to provide jobs in a very inhospitable environment. I want these people to feed their families, and I want to see their children succeed in ways their parents never could. To have a meaningful democracy, you must have educated, well-intentioned leaders and an intelligent electorate, who is capable of identifying and promoting them. The first steps to achieving those goals are jobs and education.”

In response, Saudē has chosen several Nepalese hand-loomed items from his line to provide extra help to educational charities working in Nepal and to build awareness about the problems there, while showcasing the finest Nepalese products. Being landlocked, lightweight luxury products like cashmere are one of Nepal’s few viable exports. Most of Saudē’s line of cashmere throws, blankets, scarves and wraps are hand-loomed in Nepal using fibers from Mongolia and the Tibetan Plateau. Yarns are mostly hand-dyed and are generally comprised of long staple fibers around 15microns - significantly more refined than the 18-19 micron short fiber yarns that can legally be labeled "cashmere" in the United States.

“Cashmere is one of the ultimate feel-good accessories,” Saudē muses, “and now that they can also benefit children in need, there is even more reason to feel-good about wearing them.”

A favorite among celebrities, recent Academy Award™ winner Penelope Cruz as well as nominees Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, among others, all have Saudē’s scarves.

The designer identified The Himalayan Children’s Fund (HCF) “as one of the most worthy charities working with children in Nepal.” HCF is a small US-based nonprofit that provides food, clothing, basic medical care, and educational opportunities to poor and vulnerable children in the Himalayan region via a Buddhist organization working on the ground in Nepal.

“I have seen the work of this organization first hand and have witnessed the difference good teachers and a supportive environment can have in these children’s lives. HCF works with all kinds of children, even buying children out of indentured servitude to give them freedom and a better life. I want to support organizations like these, who deliver relief right to the source, without wasting money on bureaucracy.”

Ian Saudē began his design career on a trip to the Himalayas to study Buddhist philosophy, where he subsequently lived for almost 14 years. Working closely with artisans and craftspeople throughout the Himalayas and elsewhere in Asia, Ian brings a wealth of expertise and insight to creating products that showcase his unique aesthetic sensibility, while subtly referencing both Eastern and Western artistic traditions in a way that is thoroughly contemporary. He also designs a chic line of fine jewelry and has collaborated on cashmere accessories for top European fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, Lanvin, Zegna, Agnona and others.
www.iansaude.com