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Louboutin sees pink for charity

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Updated Nov. 12, 2010 at 1:06 p.m.

Christian Louboutin has designed a shoe with a sole purpose: 100% of proceeds will go to microfinance through the Grameen Foundation -- Louboutin’s charity of choice -- which works to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by providing business opportunities and relevant news and information via mobile phone technology to people living in rural and poverty-stricken areas all over the world.

Tthe Grameen Foundation provides capital for loans that are made to individuals, sometimes with no collateral and in amounts as small as $50, to help in efforts such as buying chickens for an egg-selling business. ‘Fighting global poverty takes a collective effort,’ said Alex Counts, president and chief executive of the Grameen Foundation, which was established in part with seed money from 2006 Nobel Peace laurate Muhammad Yunus, who was a founding foundation board member. ‘We applaud Christian Louboutin for supporting and helping to build greater awareness for microfinance.’

Yunus’ book ‘Creating a World without Poverty’ was what moved Louboutin to enter into this partnership. ‘I am pleased to help Grameen,’ said Louboutin. ‘Its founder, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is someone I deeply admire. He took a simple idea, which he developed into a worldwide success with the deepest optimism and sincerity.’

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The heel, named ‘Peace of Shoe,’ is a silk peep-toe platform trimmed with hand-stitched embroidered Indian ribbon. Only 33 have been made in the limited edition, with a different color available in each of three cities where they are being sold: Champagne in New York, lavender in Miami and pink in Hollywood. The pink Hollywood Peace of Shoe will be sold at Louboutin’s West Hollywood store for $1,495.

The pink heel was revealed for the first time at an official launch party Nov. 9 at the West Hollywood store. It was hosted by Grameen Foundation board member Susan McCaw and Emily Lynch of Christian Louboutin. Guests included Anya Sarre of Entertainment Tonight, actresses Yeardley Smith, Ariana Delawari, Yasmine Delawari Johnson and Michelle Trachtenberg, and Hunter Cross, Jay Freberg and Ben Cornwell. -- Raha Lewis

Upper photo: The pink Peace of Shoe. Credit: Christian Louboutin

Lower photo: At the launch party, from left, Ben Cornwell, Yeardley Smith, Hunter Cross, Jay Freberg. Credit: Cyn Yen

Correction: A previous version said incorrectly said that Muhammad Yunus founded the Grameen Foundation. He founded the Grameen Bank and provided a seed grant that sparked the foundation’s creation, but was not the sole founder.

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