Lingerie Miami sponsored by Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences
Lingerie Miami sponsored by Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences

NEW YORK, Sep 8, 2008 / FW/ — “A woman is never truly dressed without beautiful lingerie.  It is the foundation of every confident and sexy woman.  Lingerie Miami, helping to empower women this way, is brilliant.” – Joe Corre, Co-Founder Agent Provacateur

“Philanthropy Just Got Sexy,” is the tag line for Renata M. Black’s newest micro-finance venture in partnership with the luxury lingerie industry.  Mrs. Black, the founder of 7Bar Global, announced Saturday evening at Downtown Cipriani the launch of “Lingerie Miami.”  Her vision is to empower women living in poverty around the world, and to expand the luxury lingerie industry to the American market.  The event was sponsored by Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences of South Beach, where the newest Cipriani location is soon to open.

The location of the event was ideal for an intimate double-cause, philanthropy and lingerie.  The slogan of the night was “party with a purpose, cocktail with a conscience,” and that it was. Also present at the event was the woman who first inspired Mrs. Black to go after her goals, Chithra.  Chithra is a 39 year-old widow, mother of three who works as a sculptor.

The heart-felt and empowering speech by Renata M. Black gave everyone in attendance a sense of both the emotion and purpose behind such a creative philanthropic venture.  Mrs. Black started her vision after she set out around the globe in search of her purpose in life.  Upon traveling to India and getting to know some local women, she was asked about money and wealth in America.

Further into her conversation, she was asked by a woman, “I know you have money, I don’t want it, but I want you to teach me how to make it myself?”  It was this experience that immediately showed her the impact she could have on not only their lives, but the lives of all impoverished women around the world by simply expanding the success of American industry abroad.  After this she came back to America and researched microfinance.  Her desire to help women globally as well as her love of lingerie and the need for luxury lingerie in America meshed into the perfect microfinance venture- Lingerie Miami.

7Bar Global is the international arm of the 61 year-old 501 (c)(3) philanthropic organization, the 7Bar Foundation.  Uniting the forces of the most influential women, Renata Black and Lingerie Miami launched “the Circle of 7,” an alliance of America’s most influential female CEOs.  As with Lingerie Miami, the US will serve as the launch for the Circle of 7.  Similar groups will accompany Lingerie Paris, Lingerie London, Lingerie New York, and so on.

Beginning in February 2009, the finest of the fashion industry will pull together to assist in empowering women out of poverty through microfinance projects.  Supported by former supermodel Rachel Hunter,  models will walk to raise funds for women in their own countries.

With a stunning bay-front view of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Miami Lingerie is a celebration of femininity featuring international luxury lingerie label Agent Provacateur; Fifi Chachnil and Carine Gilson, along side fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and the renowned corsetiere-to-the-stars Mr. Pearl.

An exclusive preview of the Agent Provacateur “Season of the Witch” fall campaign may be viewed at www.agentprovocateur.com/.

[Lindsay McCallum]