Holt Renfrew’s H Project and Oceana Canada Celebrate Our Oceans with Special Guests

Press Release Date: June 29, 2020

Oceana Ambassadors Cobie Smulders and January Jones, along with Oceana Senior Advisor Alexandra Cousteau to Participate in Digital Event

TORONTO, ON: Holt Renfrew and Oceana Canada today announced an upcoming digital event that will take place June 30 at 5 p.m. EST with Oceana supporters and ambassadors Cobie Smulders and January Jones, and Oceana Senior Advisor, explorer, and granddaughter of marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Alexandra Cousteau in celebration of World Oceans Month. Each of the three women have submitted original videos, describing why ocean conservation is so important. Further to the celebrity video, at 5 p.m. Alexandra Weston, Divisional Vice President, Brand & Creative Strategy and Josh Laughren, Oceana Canada’s Executive Director will discuss the importance of ocean conservation and answer select audience questions on Holt Renfrew and Oceana Canada’s Instagram Live. 

Early this year, Holt Renfrew’s H Project announced its sixth ‘Uncrate’ program, Uncrate Oceans. The goal for this year’s program is to bring awareness to ocean conservation by curating an assortment of brands that use eco-friendly materials and/or give back to Oceana Canada, a charity focused on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. The Uncrate Oceans curation is comprised of ready-to-wear, activewear, accessories, jewellery, homeware and more than 45 brands from around the world. 

“The world’s oceans connect us all, they feed life on this plant, they feed us, and we are slowly destroying them,” says Alexandra Weston, Divisional Vice President, Brand & Creative Strategy. “We want to bring to the forefront some of the issues our oceans are facing, while also addressing how we can help lessen our impact as consumers and support conservation through our shopping habits.” Weston adds, “We’re excited to have launched Uncrate Oceans with Oceana Canada as our wonderful partners.” 

“Our oceans are facing unprecedented global threats from climate change, pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction, and the need to protect and restore abundance to our oceans has never been more urgent,” says Josh Laughren, Oceana Canada’s Executive Director. “We’re so grateful for the leadership and support of Holt Renfrew, Alexandra Cousteau, January Jones and Cobie Smulders to help us address these issues and ensure future generations inherit healthy oceans full of life.”

The ‘Uncrate’ initiative was created in 2014 by Alexandra Weston, where she and her team explore a different region of the world, and now, most recently, environmental causes and celebrate them by showcasing a curated selection of the best of local artisan work, designers, and socially responsible product that highlight the celebrated region or cause. 

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About H Project 

Since 2013, Holt Renfrew has been consciously curating an assortment of products that are beautifully designed, passionately purposeful, and have unique stories—this curation is H Project. H Project has a dedicated shop space within Holt Renfrew stores and online. H Project does the work for customers by selecting products from around the world with compelling narratives, that support local cultures and communities, that have minimal impact on the environment, and/or positively impact the world by donating to charities. H Project is also a platform for larger awareness and charitable campaigns bringing to light some of the world’s most important issues. H Project is led by Alexandra Weston, Holt Renfrew’s Divisional Vice President, Brand & Creative Strategy. In this role, she focuses on developing dynamic programs to build the brand’s culture and reputation. For more information visit H Project online at www.holtrenfrew.com/hproject

About Oceana Canada

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Learn more at www.oceana.ca.

About Holt Renfrew

Holt Renfrew is considered Canada’s specialty fashion retailer. Founded in Quebec City in 1837, Holt Renfrew is renowned for unparalleled retail experiences and is Canada’s hub for the world’s best fashion and beauty brands. With seven stores across Canada, including four in the Greater Toronto Area, plus Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, customers can also experience Holt Renfrew’s offerings via holtrenfrew.com. Holt Renfrew was acquired by the Weston family in 1986 and continues to be privately- and Canadian-owned as part of the Selfridges Group of stores. Visit us at www.holtrenfrew.com

For more information contact:
 
Jennifer Daubney 
Director, Public Relations & Events, Holt Renfrew
Jennifer.Daubney@holtrenfrew.com

Tammy Thorne
Communications Manager, Oceana Canada
tthorne@oceana.ca