Saturday, February 23, 2013 marked the official launch of Montblanc’s Signature For Good Collection with UNICEF, whereby Montblanc hopes to provide children access to quality education.
This collection reinforces Montblanc’s long-term commitment to children’s education and UNICEF.
To celebrate the launch of the collection, Montblanc hosted a pre-Oscar charity brunch with UNICEF at the Hotel Bel-Air. Academy award winner Hilary Swank made a special appearance to speak about the importance of the initiative and shed light on her recent visit to Ethiopia with Montblanc and UNICEF.
For every piece in the Signature For Good Collection sold between March 1, 2013 and March 1, 2014 Montblanc will donate part of its proceeds to raise at least $1.5 million to support the UNICEF education programs worldwide.
Additional celebrities who lent their support to the cause and attended the brunch were Emmy Rossum, Rosario Dawson (actress), UNICEF Ambassador Alyssa Milano, Louise Roe, Alan Arkin, Billy Zane, Jesse Metcalfe, Peter Fonda, Jesse Williams, Jane Seymour, Clemens Schick, Rachel Griffiths and many more.
Montblanc Signature For Good Collection includes a special edition of writing instruments, jewelry and leather accessories, all of which feature a unique brick design symbolizing the joint effort of building a better future for all children and their communities by improving access to quality education, including the construction of schools – brick by brick. For every piece in the “Signature for Good” Collection sold between 1 March 2013 and 31 March 2014, Montblanc will donate part of its proceeds to raise at least $1.5 million dollars to UNICEF’s education programmes, focusing on the most vulnerable children, through the Schools for Africa and Asia initiatives, and programmes in Latin America.
With a heritage deeply rooted in the culture of writing, Montblanc has always been committed to the support of education and literacy. For nearly a decade, Montblanc has taken an active role in supporting UNICEF’s efforts to enable more children to learn how to read and write, with several global initiatives together raising over $5 million dollars to date. With the new “Signature For Good” Collection, Montblanc is building on the success of the first “Signature For Good” initiative launched in 2009 and pledging to raise in 2013 at least $1.5 million dollars.
For this special Montblanc “Signature For Good” Collection, the design of the Meisterstuck has been revisited with unique detailing. Available as a Classique Fountain Pen, Rollerball, and Ballpoint Pen and in the bolder LeGrand size, the black precious resin writing instrument features a cap top ring designed with the symbolic rectangular brick pattern. The blue sapphire set in this ring is inspired by UNICEF’s blue colour and the work it accomplishes to improve children’s lives. Other pieces in the collection include handcrafted leather wallets, cardholders, a pen pouch and notebook with blue lining decorated with the symbolic brick design. The leather used by Montblanc for the Signature For Good Collection is Italian full-grain printed calfskin. The distinctive pattern on the leather is a series of diagonal lines. Cuff links with reversible surfaces of onyx and stainless steel, bracelets and key rings, all embellished with a sapphire, make up the jewellery selection.
Each writing instrument, leather item and jewellery piece features an individual serial number associated with a “brick,” a reference to the building and running of schools: indicating that the owner of the product has a symbolic share in the programme and is contributing to building better and brighter futures one brick at a time. By registering the number on the product at www.montblanc.com/signatureforgood, the owner of the piece can monitor the progress of the initiative and find out the many ways in which UNICEF is improving educational opportunities for children. Not just by building schools but also by transforming them into a safe and protective place where children can learn and play.
Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc International explains, “With 61 million children in the world not yet enrolled in school, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to empower these children with an education so they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape a better future for themselves and their communities. Our aim was to create a collection that not only appeals through its design, style and fine craftsmanship, but that has a greater purpose by enabling real change.”
For UNICEF, the ongoing relationship with Montblanc is a meaningful and important one. As Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF says, “Thanks to our partnership with Montblanc and the vital contribution to UNICEF’s work, UNICEF has provided more children a quality education that will significantly better their chances in life. The impact of their investment is truly noticeable and we are grateful for the contribution they make in raising global awareness for UNICEF’s work with vulnerable children around the world.”
