Giving Compass' Take:

• Stacey Boyd is the founder and CEO of Olivela, an online retailer that partners with luxury brands that donate 20 percent of the proceeds toward a cause that is advancing girls' education. 

• What is unique about Olivela's model of charitable giving?

• Read about other clothing brands that are combining fashion and philanthropy. 

A hot new luxury retailer is using its partnerships with high-end designers to educate and change the lives of girls worldwide.

Founded online in June 2017, San Francisco-based Olivela takes the notion of retail philanthropy to a new level. Selling apparel, jewelry, accessories and beauty from such luxury brands as Valentino, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo, and Dolce & Gabbana to name a few, the retailer donates 20% of each purchase to charity partners dedicated to supporting education for girls.

“We launched with a dozen luxury brands, and now feature 225 of the world’s best brands,” said Stacy Boyd, founder and CEO. “Our partnership with the brands is what makes all of this possible.”

What’s more, Olivela lets shoppers directly connect with the end result by doing the math for each piece of merchandise on the site. A $395 metallic pleated skirt from Marc Jacobs, for example, pays for 10 days of school for Syrian refugees (provided through partner Care), while a $3,890 Max Mara cost provides for 113 days of school.

Olivela is not Boyd’s first foray into retail. A parent and former school principal, she parlayed her career in education to launch a number of successful ventures. These include the Academy of Pacific Rim, a charter public school in Boston, as well as Project Achieve, an educational information management system startup. She also launched Schoola, an online retailer that sells gently-worn clothing to support schools in need.

To date, Boyd added, Olivela has provided over 41,000 days of school to at-risk girls through all four charities.

Read the full article about using luxury fashion for charity by Deena M. Amato-Mccoy at Chain Store Age