New York-based designer V.K. Nagrani will be at Andrew Davis Menswear’s spring Trunk Show, Thursday, February 23, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. to unveil an exclusive, limited-edition sock he designed as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Nagrani is the founder of Ovadafut Hosiery Co., which manufactures luxury socks and underwear sold at select men’s retailers like Andrew Davis.
Andrew Davis is donating 50% of each sale of the Big Brothers Big Sisters sock to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“Even if you’re a small company, it doesn’t matter,” Nagrani said. “You still have a responsibility to help out and do something creative. We all need to do our part.”
Nagrani’s company has custom-designed items for many charities, including a pink sock for breast cancer awareness and a camouflage sock for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Nagrani said this year’s design, inspired by Andy Warhol’s pop art, features four blocks, each bearing the hand sign for one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ core values – confidence, competence, conscience and love.
Macey Dale, manager of Andrew Davis, hopes to see the socks fly off the shelves and he enlisted the help of Bloomington personalities who will be wearing the socks.
“Everybody wears socks, but, who would ever think that a simple pair of socks can make a huge difference in a child’s life, not just financially but also in raising awareness of such an amazing program,” said Tom Saccone, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.”
The cause is one that’s close to the designer’s heart. Nagrani, who worked as a substitute teacher when he started his company, knows first-hand the impact a strong role model can have on a child’s confidence, academic success and social development.
Macey Dale said Nagrani’s socks, which retail for $35 a pair, are popular with customers and Andrew Davis sells hundreds every year, including mailing customers in many states who can’t wait for the next design.
Research has shown involvement in the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs increases a child’s odds of succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative cycles.
Saccone said he hopes seeing men sporting the socks year-round will serve as a constant reminder to the community of the children served by the organization.
“If you think you’re too busy and you can’t mentor, you can buy these socks to support us, talk about us, advocate for us,” Saccone said. “We want to lift up and support more children in our community. Kids will find a model. We’ve got to ensure that they’ll find a positive role model. That’s what we’re all about.”
Life is filled with experiences that mold us. Edward Armah took his first humble steps into the world of fashion about ten years ago. While managing a fashion segment, In Style, at a local radio station in his native country Ghana, he developed an intense passion for the fashion industry.
