Taunina Luxury Soft Toys Available At Barneys New York

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a modern-day fairytale come true, South African sustainable luxury brand Taunina is launching its line of decorative stuffed animals at Barneys New York's flagship store on Madison Avenue.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121112/DA11298)

"Barneys is a nine-story magical castle overflowing with beautiful, timeless and unique pieces of art; the perfect hideaway for our artists' enchanting creations," said Tracey Chiappini-Young, co-founder of Taunina. "We are delighted to offer our one-of-a-kind Taunina teddy bears and bunny rabbits to Barneys' discerning clientele, and to provide them and their children with the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for social good and protagonists for a better world," said Karen Jansen, who co-founded Taunina with Chiappini-Young.

Representing the intersection of art, commerce, and social consciousness, Taunina employs women from disadvantaged communities to lovingly handcraft its heirloom-quality decorative stuffed animals. Each is embellished with exquisite embroidery and sculpted with heritage fabrics from iconic textile houses such as Liberty of London.

The unique beauty of each Taunina treasure lies in how it establishes a lifetime connection between the artist and the purchaser, and transforms the life of the woman who made it. Customers are given special access to the online World of Taunina where they can watch their artist's story unfold, and the women of Taunina are provided with income security, thirty per cent of company profits and, most important, a strong sense of dignity and pride.

"Designed to last generations, (Taunina's soft toys) are an appealing alternative to the landfill-destined fate of many machine-produced disposable toys." House and Leisure, March 2012

"Chock-full of cuteness and charity." Glamour, September 2012

"(Taunina) opened my eyes to...socially conscious consumption." Marie Claire, October 2012

Taunina's soft toys retail for $250-$420 online (www.taunina.com), at Bundle NYC (128 Thompson Street), and at Barneys New York (660 Madison Avenue)
Info: www.taunina.com , +1 646 761 8621 / +27 21 461 7719, [email protected]
Videos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH99ch3a6i4; www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmrr4Z3wNfc
Twitter: @twitter.com/taunina
Facebook: www.facebook.com/taunina
High resolution images available upon request
Co-founders: South African Tracey Chiappini-Young and Brazilian-American Karen Jansen

Taunina is a sustainable luxury house synonymous with social impact and timeless artistry. The name Taunina is an anagram of the African word "tau", meaning "lion", and "NINA", an acronym for "No Income, No Assets". Taunina gives women who were once without income and assets the power to become lions of their own destinies.

CONTACT: Karen Jansen, +1-646-761-8621, [email protected]

SOURCE Taunina