Aerie, the women's lingerie and lifestyle retailer that has staked its mission on empowering women to love themselves as they are, is now taking its message of support one step further by pouring $400,000 into helping leaders make improvements in their own communities.
The company announced eight new #AerieREAL Role Models on Thursday along with 20 changemakers who will each receive $20,000 grants to benefit their work.
"We're doing so much at Aerie, and I think the fact that we're actually giving people the money, and also the investment of our energy, our time, and our platforms is something that no one else is doing," said Iskra Lawrence, a fashion model who was named an Aerie Role Model in 2016.
The company, which began shifting its brand messaging to encourage women to "love your real self — inside and out" in 2014 when it stopped airbrushing photos, is "standing for something," Jen Foyle, Aerie global brand president told Cheddar.
Among the new Role Models named this year are Tony-winner Ali Stroker, actress Lana Condor, and DJ Tiff McFierce.
"It's been really fun mentoring the girls," Lawrence said. "It is a community. It's not just the Role Models. We spread that community to our customers as well."
"We keep looking forward," Foyle said. "What can we do different? Because, like I said, our competition is now following. We have to lead and there's so much more to talk about."
Jessica Traver Ingram, CEO and co-founder of IntuiTap Medical, discusses developing the company's Ver Touch device, the crucial FDA approval it just won, and why innovation in spinal blocks and epidurals is long overdue.
Matt Stucky, Chief Portfolio Manager of Equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management chats why Nvidia has been unsteady leading up to its latest earnings results, plus what’s to come for the so-called ‘Magnificent 7.’
Walmart's revenue increased last quarter because customers kept coming back again and again. Are most shoppers buying and avoid the same products as you are?
NBA champion Kendrick Perkins and Edly founder Chris Ricciardi discuss working together to create Nilly, a new platform where fans can invest in name, image, and likeness deals of their favorite college athletes.
Off the back of their latest earnings results, Hungryroot CEO Ben McKean discusses how the company is bringing healthy food straight to customers' doors and how it's using A.I.
Jack Ablin, Cresset Capital founding partner and CIO, breaks down the current market, from all eyes on Nvidia’s earnings to what sectors he’s seen deliver excellent returns.
