NYCityMama Joins The Hanes Comfort Crew and What That Means

NYCityMama is now a proud member of the Hanes Comfort Crew!

I know, you are wondering what that all means. I honestly didn’t really know myself until I was asked to join and then invited to attend a retreat with the other Comfort Crew Members at Disney this past week.

Here, I had the opportunity to learn through company representatives, as well as through other bloggers who have had a partnership with Hanes through this program for a few years now, what it all meant and how it can be a significant opportunity for both the company as well as our readers, who are consumers of the products they provide.

As a travel blogger, I see this opportunity as a wonderful way to provide feedback and insight on the things that most traveling families look for, want and need from products such as theirs when looking to outfit themselves and their little ones for the many adventures we take on, whether it be on the way to school, on a road trip to grandma’s house or on a plane trip to Italy.

As an advocate for family travel in comfort to places near or far I am delighted to learn more about what Hanes is doing to provide not only comfortable products, but also high quality items, resistant to wear, tear and time.

And though I have been impressed with what I have seen from the Hanes product lines so far (brands under the Hanes umbrella are: Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, L’eggs, Just My Size, Barely There and Wonderbra), I walked away totally inspired by the company’s commitment to social causes.

As someone who lost both her mother and grandmother to cancer, I was delighted to hear about Hanes new partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Hanes has already donated $1,000,000 to breast cancer charities between 2009-2011, with $100,000 being donated to the NBCF alone. In addition to this, it donates 10% of the retail price from t-shirts customers design and buy through the Hanes Pink Design-A-T-Shirt site.

When it comes to the environment, Hanes is leading the way in energy management and environmental responsibility with steps like reducing the use of water and CO2 emissions, and  by increasing the use of clean, renewable resources, and EcoSmart polyester fibers in their products.

They also have become a leader in the apparel industry with their partnership with Box Tops. Through their program Hanes4Education, schools can order printed T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts purchased in bulk through suppliers (individually purchased Hanes products such as underwear, socks and T-shirts do not qualify). Through the purchase ofHanes Imagewear products and its partnership with Box Tops for Education schools across the United States can earn valuable Box Tops when they order Hanes products for their class shirts, school uniforms and school events. The exclusive partnership is open to the more than 69,000 U.S. schools participating in the Box Tops for Education program and includes all Hanes T-shirt styles as well as polo shirts and sweatshirt.

Box Tops for Education is a nationwide fundraising program for K-8 schools that encourages students to collect Box Tops off a variety of products from breakfast cereals to office supplies, and now appaeral through Hanes. Box Tops coordinators at each of the 69,000 participating schools send in the Box Tops and receive cash for their schools.

But being a Comfort Crew Member isn’t about regurgitating press releases and talking points for the company. And though we understand that this is a business after all, and we have a role in providing insights that could possibly lead to more profitable measures for the company, I am excited about our role to help the company address and provide information, as well as answer questions on the issues that are important to us, as consumers and parents. Questions such as the one asked by Jyl from Mom It Forward, regarding Hanes’ role in making sure that child labor laws are not violated in their production centers, which Hanes agreed to share more information on regarding the steps they take on an international level to make sure no such laws are violated. Or issues such as those raised by Simon of Inc Slingers, who wanted to make sure that cancer awareness was not something that just targeted women, but men as well. And then issues discussed by Roxana and Ana of Spanglish Baby and myself, regarding our Latino community as consumers and as an audience.

I’m a pretty tough cookie to crack. My being a jaded New Yorker makes me difficult to impress. Yet, after meeting the representatives of Hanes and my fellow Comfort Crew Members I am left feeling not only impressed, but also excited and inspired. Yes, I am delighted from having spent a few wonderful days in Disney, which of course was incredible, but I most happy because I will have a chance to share those things which are important to me as a resident of the world and as a responsible and conscious consumer.

How can I not be excited when given the opportunity to be a part of something that can help others both on a personal and social level? And so, for the next year, expect to hear more about what we are doing to both influence and inform this great company through our individual experiences and passions. And feel free to chime in the discussions as well!

Other Comfort Crew Members for 2011 are:

Ana & Roxana of SpanglishBaby

Audrey of Mom Generations

Dany of Fab Chic and Fit

Jennifer of The Dirty T Shirt

Jyl of Mom It Forward

Katja of Skimbaco Lifestyle

Malise of Carolina Mama

Nichelle of Style Mom

Renee of Cutie Booty Cakes

Ronnie & Lamar of Black and Married with Kids

Simon of Inc Slingers

Vera of I’m Not Obsessed

My thanks to Hanes for our wonderful Disney experience this past week, which was the first for my husband and youngest boys. The details on THAT adventure and tips on how to make your Disney experience with kids in tow as positive and happy as possible is coming up next!

Disclosure: This is not a paid post. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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