Montblanc has unveiled a new collection called Signature For Good to reinforce its long-term commitment to childrenʼs education and UNICEF.
The 2013 Signature For Good special edition of writing instruments, jewellery pieces and leather accessories all feature an unusual brick design symbolising the joint effort of building a better future for all children and their communities by improving access to education, including the construction of schools.
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 US$1.5 million to UNICEFʼs education programmes, through the Schools for Africa and Asia initiatives, and programmes in Latin America.
With a heritage rooted in the culture of writing, Montblanc has taken an active role in supporting UNICEFʼs efforts to enable more children to learn how to read and write, with several global initiatives together raising over US$5 million 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 US$1.5 million.
Distinctive detailing
For this new collection, the design of the Meisterstück pen has been revisited with distinctive detailing.
Available as a Classique fountain pen, rollerball and ballpoint pen and in the bolder LeGrand size, the black
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 UNICEFʼs blue colour.
Other pieces include handcrafted leather wallets, cardholders, a pen pouch and notebook with blue lining decorated with the symbolic brick design. The leather is Italian full-grain printed calfskin.
The distinctive pattern on the leather is a series of diagonal lines. Cufflinks 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. This is 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”, the company said.
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Signature For Good: For every piece sold between 1 March 2013 and 31 March 2014, Montblanc will donate part of its proceeds to UNICEFʼs education programmes | |
Product owner can monitor progress
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.
Montblanc International CEO Lutz Bethge said: “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.”
US Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl M Stern added: “Thanks to our partnership with Montblanc and the vital contribution to UNICEFʼs 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 UNICEFʼs work with vulnerable children around the world.”
Montblanc will donate 10% of the retail price excluding VAT/sales tax to support UNICEFʼs education programmes.
The Montblanc Signature For Good collection is available from March 2013 in Montblanc boutiques worldwide.
About the Montblanc/UNICEF partnership
Montblanc has supported UNICEF since 2004. With a heritage rooted in the culture of writing, Montblanc shares UNICEFʼs commitment to ensure all children have access to a proper education to learn how to read and to write. Montblanc has raised over US$5 million for UNICEFʼs education programmes worldwide.
The Sign Up for the Right to Write and the Power to Write global fundraising initiatives were launched in 2004 and 2007, respectively. In 2009, Montblanc renewed its commitment to UNICEFʼs work to build a better future for children through access to quality education funded with proceeds from the Signature for Good initiative.
This campaign will run again throughout 2013, with part of the proceeds raised from the sale of the new Signature For Good collection going towards vulnerable children supported by the Schools for Africa and School for Asia initiatives, as well as UNICEF education programmes in Latin America.
