DIFFA’s

2011 DINING BY DESIGN

LAUNCHES WITH COCKTAILS BY DESIGN

      The Exclusive Event Will Feature New York City’s

Finest Restaurants and Designers

New York, NY (March 8, 2011) – DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS  tour will run concurrently with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show from Thursday, March 17^th through Monday, March 21^st. The tour will launch with “COCKTAILS BY DESIGN” on Thursday, March 17^th from 6pm to 10pm located at Pier 94, 12^th Ave. at 55^th Street in New York City.  COCKTAILS BY DESIGN will bring together some of the most talented and celebrated individuals in the worlds of fashion, food, interior design, and architecture to create and celebrate spectacular, over-the-top dining environments.

For just $150.00 a ticket, guests will be able to view the amazing design installations while sampling culinary treats paired with delicious wine and cocktails from EFFEN Vodka. The menu for the evening will be provided by New York’s top restaurants including: Estiatorio Milos, Murray’s Cheese, ilili, Buddakan, Kittichai, Bar Boulud, North Square and Spice Market. Guests also have their choice of delicious menu items from one of NYC’s leading caterers, Canard, Inc., such as white truffle arancini, mini tacos stuffed with roast duck and mango-onion salsa and cracklings, and ahi tuna with cilantro cream.

“DIFFA is delighted to have such amazing designers and restaurants participating in DINING BY DESIGN’s kick-off event, COCKTAILS BY DESIGN,” said David Sheppard, Executive Director of DIFFA. “Their contributions bring us one step closer in the fight against AIDS and we could not be happier with the wonderful support we have received.”

In addition to the installations from renowned designers, DINING BY DESIGN will once again feature the Student Design Initiative. Participating design schools include: Fashion Institute of Technology with mentor Preston Bailey, Pratt Institute with mentor Alfredo Paredes, and New York School of Interior Design with mentor Philip Gorrivan. Design mentors guide their student team through the creative process from conception to execution, working within a strict budget.  The goal of the Student Design Initiative is to give the next generation of great designers the rare opportunity to work with some of the best design veterans in the business and participate in one of the industry’s most anticipated events.

Sponsors include EFFEN Vodka, Benjamin Moore, United Airlines, Merchandise Mart Properties, and the New York Design Center. Media sponsors include Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Manhattan magazine and ABC-7.

The schedule of events for DINING BY DESIGN New York is as follows:

COCKTAILS BY DESIGN
Thursday, March 17 6PM-10PM
Designers and guests mingle at Pier 94 during this dazzling preview of the amazing design installations, while sampling treats from NYC’s top restaurants paired with delicious wine and cocktails. Tickets are available for $150 per person.

PUBLIC TABLE VIEWING
Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20^th; 10AM-6PM Daily
Explore the latest in design trends as you view the amazing installations and shop the silent auction.

GALA DINNER
Monday, March 21; 6:30PM-11:00PM
Cocktails and table hopping are followed by an elegant seated VIP dinner accompanied by dancing and a silent auction loaded with hospitality experiences and luxury items.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.diffa.org or call 212-727-3100.

About DIFFA

DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. Since being founded in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide over $38 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide.  For more than 26 years, DIFFA has been one of the country’s largest supporters of both direct care for people living with AIDS and preventative education for those at risk.

For more information visit diffa.org.

To prep Colin Firth for the Oscars, I started with Kyoku for Men Razor Repair Balm, which contains witch hazel and aloe vera, to combat post-shave redness and calm his skin; it’s a great anti-inflammatory product, and I always keep it in my kit for emergencies!

Then, facialist Natalie Eleni applied the Kyoku for Men Eye Fuel to Colin’s Eyes using lymphatic drainage movements (using your ring finger, gently pat around the orbital bone in an outward motion towards the ear), which are great for re-energizing and de-puffing tired eyes.

Next, I applied the Oil Control Lotion down the T zone to absorb any excess oil and prevent Colin from looking greasy. It was very important to lightly matify his skin in specific areas to ensure that he stayed shine-free all night long. I then used Kyoku for Men Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 to refresh his skin and keep it looking healthy and rested.”

SAN FRANCISCO (February 22, 2011)– The Levi’s® brand announced it has been ranked first in the denim category by GoodGuide, an independent website that provides consumers with expert ratings and information about the health, environmental and social impact of products and companies. The original denim brand as well as the Dockers® brand, both ranked as one of the top five apparel brands overall, with a score of 7.4 out of 10.

Today GoodGuide launched its first-ever rating system for apparel companies, assessing 118 brands on a number of key metrics including overall environmental efforts, sustainable material use, integration of lifecycle approach to product design, management of supply chain, restricted substance program, and vigilance in monitoring manufacturers and working conditions, among other things.

“We don’t have nutrition labels on clothing yet, but GoodGuide is the first independent company to give consumers data to make informed comparisons about the clothes they purchase,” said Michael Kobori, Vice President of Social and Environmental Sustainability for Levi Strauss & Co. “We believe that increased transparency is the best way to empower consumers to support brands that are creating products in a thoughtful way.”

To view GoodGuide.com's comprehensive rating on apparel brands, please visit http://www.goodguide.com/categories/277459-apparel.

For more than two decades, Levi Strauss & Co. has been a leader on social and environmental issues. The company was the first apparel company to establish a comprehensive workplace code of conduct (Terms of Engagement) for manufacturing suppliers, setting standards and addressing the important issues of child labor, forced labor, disciplinary practices, working hours, wages and benefits, freedom of association, discrimination as well as health and safety. In the fall of 2010, LS&Co, along with H&M, led a global ban on the practice of sandblasting in the retail industry, a practice that when done incorrectly, can cause serious health issues for workers.

LS&Co.’s commitment to environmental leadership remains a priority. The company was the first to establish environmental requirements for suppliers, guidelines on water quality, and restrictions on the substances that can be used to make its clothes. To determine where even greater environmental improvements could be made, the company studied every stage in the life cycle of a typical pair of Levi’s® 501® jeans and discovered that the largest water impact comes from the cotton growing process and through the laundry habits of consumers after they leave our stores. As a company, LS&Co. is making strides in these key areas – from supporting more sustainable ways to grow cotton to monitoring how suppliers use water in the manufacturing process.

Most recently, the Levi’s® brand unveiled the “Care Tag for Our Planet” campaign, changing the global product care tags in Levi’s® jeans to include instructions about ways consumers can reduce the environmental impact of their clothes by washing less, washing in cold water, line drying and donating to Goodwill™ when no longer needed. Last month, the Levi’s® brand furthered its environmental efforts by launching Water

About the Levi’s® brand

The Levi’s® brand epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool. Since their invention by Levi Strauss in 1873, Levi’s® jeans have become the most recognizable and imitated clothing in the world – capturing the imagination and loyalty of people for generations. Today, the Levi’s® brand portfolio continues to evolve through a relentless pioneering and innovative spirit that is unparalleled in the apparel industry. Our range of leading jeanswear and accessories are available in more than 110 countries, allowing individuals around the world to express their personal style. For more information about the Levi’s® brand, its products and stores, please visit www.levi.com.

About the Dockers® brand

The Dockers® brand has embodied the spirit of khaki for more than twenty years. Quality? Always. Authenticity? Check. Dockers® makes khakis that do their job so you can do yours. They’re talking good-looking pants in a full range of fits, and the essential goods to go with them, for men and women. No compromises in quality. Just versatile, essential style. Day to night. Monday to Sunday. In over forty countries around the world. Wearing the pants has never looked so good. For information on the Dockers® brand and its products visit www.Dockers.com.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world’s largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear.  The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi’s®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and Denizen^TMbrands.  Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and franchised and company-owned stores.  As of November 28, 2010, the company operated 470 stores within 27 countries.  Levi Strauss & Co.’s reported fiscal 2010 net revenues were $4.4 billion.  For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.