Major Consumer Brands Join Forces to Highlight Women’s Leadership Across Global Supply Chains for International Women’s Day

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., Nordstrom, UGG®, and Williams-Sonoma,
Inc. are proud to come together to raise the profile of women leaders
across global supply chains through the “This Is A Leader” campaign.
Launching today, this campaign celebrates exemplary female leadership
from supplier factories to corporate offices, and invites employees,
partners, consumers, and other stakeholders to join the conversation and
share what leadership means to them.


This celebration of women leaders is coordinated by Business for Social
Responsibility’s (BSR) HERproject, a collaboration that empowers
low-income women across global supply chains through workplace-based
programs on health, financial inclusion, and gender equality. The Estée
Lauder Companies, Inc., Nordstrom, UGG®, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. are
strategic HERproject partners and are implementing HERproject training
programs with their own key suppliers.


To celebrate International Women’s Day, leaders from The Estée Lauder
Companies, Inc., UGG®, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will speak at the “This
Is A Leader” campaign
event and discuss their vision for women’s leadership on 7 March
at NeueHouse in New York City. The event is open to media; to RSVP,
please email Dominic Kotas at dkotas@bsr.org.
The accompanying social media campaign begins today and will run through
March using the hashtag #ThisIsALeader.


Mandy Seidel, Vice President, Global Sourcing, Pottery Barn (of
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.), said: “Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is at the forefront
of the female-empowered workforce and we’re proud to partner with
HERproject to empower women working in factories where our products are
made. To date, we’ve provided education on health and financial literacy
to nearly 43,000 workers through our partnership with HERproject and by
2020, we’ve committed to impacting 100,000 factory workers through
HERproject and similar initiatives. We’re thrilled to be a part of the
“This is a Leader” campaign and support this diverse group of female
leaders from around the world.”


“Women in supply chains are often overlooked as examples of leadership,
but the contributions they make as leaders for their colleagues,
families, and communities, are enormous,” said Christine Svarer,
Director of HERproject. “They share with brand leaders a commitment to
driving positive change for people around them. We want to celebrate the
achievements of these women and catalyze more support for the impacts
they are having.”


Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship
and Sustainability, The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., said: “As a
company founded by a woman, it is critically important that we serve and
empower women as consumers, employees, and members of the global
communities where we do business. Supporting women in our own supply
chains is part of this mission, and of our work to help women worldwide
acquire the necessary skills and support to effect lasting change for
themselves and their communities. We are proud to launch our commitment
to HERproject and to join BSR, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., UGG®, and
Nordstrom in this campaign to celebrate women’s leadership.”


Andrea O’Donnell, President, Fashion Lifestyle, Deckers Brands
(UGG), said: “Now, more than ever, is the time to celebrate and
recognize the hard work of women in this industry. As we go into our
second year partnering with HERproject on this incredible initiative, we
are proud to continue making a contribution to growing support and
awareness of the women in the global supply chain.”


About Williams-Sonoma, Inc.


Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products
for the home. These products, representing distinct merchandise
strategies — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm,
PBteen, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham — are
marketed through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs and retail
stores. These brands are also part of The Key Rewards, our free-to-join
loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the
Williams-Sonoma family of brands. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico,
Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offer international shipping
to customers worldwide, and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate
stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico and South Korea, as
well as e-commerce websites in certain locations. In 2017, we acquired
Outward, Inc., a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home
furnishings and décor industry.


About HERproject


BSR’s HERproject is a collaborative initiative that strives to empower
low-income women working in global supply chains. Bringing together
global brands, their suppliers, and local NGOs, HERproject drives
impact for women and business via workplace-based interventions on
health, financial inclusion, and gender equality. Since its inception in
2007, HERproject has worked in more than 750 workplaces across 14
countries and has increased the well-being, confidence, and economic
potential of more than 850,000 women.


About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.


The
Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading
manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and
hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150
countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder,
Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger,
M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo
Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford,
Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le
Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian, BECCA and
Too Faced.


About UGG®


Founded in 1978 by an Australian surfer on the coast of California, UGG®
is a global lifestyle brand renowned for its iconic Classic boot. First
worn by Hollywood royalty, fashion editors and then the world, UGG®
designs and retails footwear, apparel, accessories and homewares with an
uncompromising attitude toward quality and craftsmanship. Delivering
more than $1 billion in annual sales, UGG® partners with the best
retailers globally and owns over 130 concept and outlet stores worldwide
in key markets including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Paris,
London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. For more information, please visit www.ugg.com.
@ugg @uggmens #ugglife


Contacts

Elise WangInvestor Relations and Corporate PR(415) 616-8571