In times of crisis, finding support within the fashion industry is crucial. When wildfires began to devastate Los Angeles last Tuesday, stylist Lana Jay Lackey took to Instagram, appealing to the brands she had worked with, asking for donations of unworn clothing for families who had lost everything. What began as a simple post quickly grew into the LA Clothing Drive, a well-organized volunteer initiative that rallied stylists, producers, indie and major brands, celebrities, and hundreds of community members across Los Angeles. For Lackey, it was a natural decision to use her work to help families regain a sense of identity. “That’s why we’re doing this, so people can put on an outfit or whatever and move on,” she said. As the fires continued to burn, the LA Clothing Drive expanded into a new warehouse to accommodate large shipments, prompting Lackey to take a moment during her lunch break to discuss the initiative’s progress and its needs.
Lackey explained that the LA Clothing Drive had just secured a large warehouse space, a donation that allowed them to move everything to a centralized location to handle the scale of the efforts.
When the fires began last week, Lackey and her husband were living in Venice Beach, just a short distance from the Palisades. On the morning of the fires, they noticed a large plume of smoke outside their window. “We hopped in the truck and drove towards the smoke, just to make sure everything was okay,” Lackey recalled. By the time they arrived, the first fire had already begun, and Lackey knew it would be serious. “I could physically see the mountain burning from my window,” she said. As the fires spread, Lackey learned that several of her friends had lost their homes. “It’s 12 minutes from me,” she said, describing the moment when one of her mentees informed her that her family had lost their house. “We went to bed that night, and I woke up to find out that six of my friends lost their homes in this area.”
Determined to help, Lackey and two fellow stylists quickly began reaching out to brands they had worked with, requesting donations of new, unworn clothing for families affected by the fires. Lackey, accustomed to handling large-scale projects for clients, drafted a list of items families would need, including tops, bottoms, shoes, socks, and underwear. The post received support from several influential figures, including Mel Ottenberg and Alastair Mckimm, who shared the initiative with their networks. Celebrity Charli XCX also saw the post, reposted it, and personally reached out to offer her help.
Initially, donations were sent to Lackey’s home, but it quickly became clear that the operation needed to scale. Rosco Production, a major production company, stepped in and offered support. They helped set up a dedicated email address for the initiative, named “LA Clothing Drive,” and began reaching out to families in need, sourcing contacts from GoFundMe pages in areas affected by the fires. As the fire continued to spread, the drive’s reach grew, now extending to places like Altadena.
The drive found families in need through a mix of direct outreach and GoFundMe lists. As of now, the drive has compiled a list of around 150 families, each needing specific sizes and items. The team has been diligently collecting this information to ensure the right clothing is sent to the right individuals.
Lackey shared that the response from volunteers has been overwhelming. More than 200 people have signed up to help, many of whom are local residents who were personally affected by the fires. The initiative, while not an official nonprofit, has turned into a large grassroots effort that brings together people from all walks of life. “It’s a huge local volunteer situation,” Lackey said. “It’s not an organization or a nonprofit, but it’s turned into just a really large community of people.”
The drive has received support from several independent designers, including Collina Strada, Réalisation Par, Hommegirls, Roome New York, and Tank Air. Lackey also noted that larger brands, including Supreme, Levi’s, Spanx, Stüssy, and Stella McCartney, have promised to contribute. “We’ve got our warehouse photo studio space donated to us,” she added, which has made it easier to organize the donations as they come in.
At present, Lackey emphasized that the drive is in need of children’s clothing, especially pajamas, and is hoping to partner with a children’s clothing company. Monetary donations are also being accepted to cover any gaps in the clothing list. “If we’re missing a size, we can shop it out immediately,” she explained. She also noted that while the operation has been relying heavily on donations for storage and organizational supplies, the demand for clothing remains high.
Lackey explained that once the clothing donations are sorted, the items will be shipped and then organized into customized boxes based on the families’ needs. A team of volunteers is helping to prepare and deliver these boxes directly to the affected families. The clothing is sorted into categories, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and socks, to ensure everything is organized and accessible.
Lackey reflected on the sense of community that has emerged through the drive. “It’s a team of stylists, producers, fashion industry assistants, and volunteers,” she said. “We’ve also been hearing about donation centers being flooded with donations.” The initiative’s success can be attributed to the support of the Los Angeles community, where people from all industries have come together to make a difference.
For Lackey, this effort holds deep personal meaning. As a stylist, she knows the importance of clothing in shaping one’s identity. “We’re trying to help people regain a sense of identity through clothes,” she said. “I just know that I love clothes so much. This is what I want to do. I want to spend my time helping get people something to wake up to and put on to start their day.”
Despite the ongoing challenges, Lackey expressed optimism for the future of the initiative. “I’ve been relying on people I’ve never met, and it’s working so beautifully,” she said. As the fires continue to affect the community, the LA Clothing Drive remains dedicated to helping families in need, one clothing donation at a time. Lackey is hopeful that the initiative will continue to grow and provide support to those affected by the devastation.
Lackey’s drive stands as a testament to the power of community and the fashion industry’s ability to make a difference in times of crisis. Through her efforts, the LA Clothing Drive has become a vital lifeline for families who have lost everything, giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives, one outfit at a time.
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