Palisadian-Founded NakedCashmere Hosts ‘Spread the Love’ Luncheon

The Company Raised $200,000 to Support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

By JENNIKA INGRAM | Reporter 

NakedCashmere, a collection of cashmere apparel and accessories founded by Highlands residents Leslie and Bruce Gifford, has reached $200,000 in donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The company recently hosted a “Spread the Love” luncheon for doctors and patients in the Margie Peterson Breast Center at Providence St. John’s Health Center to celebrate the community.

In honor of the event, the center’s Director Dr. Janie Grumley and Clinical Programs Manager Rebecca Crane-Okada, as well as Dr. Naveed Wagle, associate professor of neurology at the John Wayne Cancer Center, gave special presentations and speeches.

Palisadian Dr. Ruth Sorotzkin at St. John’s Santa Monica Primary Care and Dr. Pamela Solomon, development director of the John Wayne Cancer Institute, helped NakedCashmere organize and put together the event.

“We contacted the people at St. John’s and they put together a really nice lunch,” Leslie shared with the Palisadian-Post. “I want to make it a monthly event. A little bit of love goes a long way.”

After lunch, everybody enjoyed each other’s company, exchanging stories and having the opportunity to ask doctors questions on a personal level outside of the doctor’s office environment, which was really special, Leslie explained.

“We found it very unique and amazing,” she said.

In order to make it extra special, NakedCashmere gave attendees who had gone through chemotherapy a LOVE blanket as a gift.

The take away was that there was “so much love, gratitude and awareness that day,” Leslie concluded.

In 2019, NakedCashmere partnered with model and philanthropist Carolyn Murphy to design an exclusive sweater, which was very impactful, Leslie said.

“Carolyn is iconic and real,” Leslie explained. “That is why it worked so well for us. She is authentic and would never promote something she was not passionate about.”

This year, NakedCashmere is adding a cashmere sock with a heart on it and a dog sweater to their collection.

“We have a dog sweater that is the cutest thing with a heart on it,” Leslie shared.

NakedCashmere donates to BCRF year-round, which is why the team is able to raise so much money, Gifford explained.

NakedCashmere’s fundraising efforts initially began three years ago with its staple product: a LOVE wrap. The line has since expanded to include a beanie, slippers, gloves, scarves and more.

“We’re finding people are buying them as a gift of kindness,” Gifford explained. “Even in these times of the coronavirus, orders come in. People are just sending them. And I’m seeing the notes: ‘Just to brighten your day,’ ‘Sending you lots of love.’ ‘Although I can’t hug you, here’s some love to wrap around yourself.’

“So it’s becoming like a cult thing, which is really fabulous,” Leslie added. “Especially in these times with what we are going through … It would give me so much joy if we keep spreading it and spreading it.”