Designer celebrates Hilton program with luxe slippers

Chinese-born and New York-based fashion designer Vivi­enne Tam has designed luxurious-looking Year of the Dragon bedroom slippers in hues of blue to mark the first anniversary of Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ Huan­ying program for Chinese travelers.

"To give travelers a sense of comfort, I was inspired by the Chinese Water Dragon when creating these slippers exclusively for Hilton Hotels & Resorts," Tam, an internationally acclaimed designer, said in a statement.

"The Water Dragon bestows optimism, harmony and fulfillment, which are feelings we often seek when traveling. Although we may cross many oceans, home is the harmony within. I’m pleased to provide Chinese travelers staying with Hilton a warm welcome on their journeys."

In case it has slipped anyone’s mind, this is the Year of the Dragon.

And just in case ocean-crossing travel is not in the budget at the moment, one needn’t be a Chinese visitor, or even a guest at a selected Hilton property, to slip one’s toesies into the dragon-emblazoned slippers.

Made of soft terry cloth, plush cushioning at the toe and with a textured sole, the slippers are available for purchase in women’s and men’s sizes on www.hiltontohome.com for $28 while supplies last.

For those feeling lucky, Hilton’s Twitter and Weibo social media channels are staging giveaways of the slippers. Otherwise, an online discount program may cause the slippers and other Hilton signature items to run out sooner than expected.

Shoppers at www.hiltontohome.com can save 20 percent on the slippers and other purchases (with some restrictions) through Sept. 30 by entering code VTHILTON.

Hilton’s HHonors members, as well as those in Hilton’s Facebook, Twitter and Weibo online communities, also can save 20 percent on regular-priced merchandise at www.vivi­ennetam.com between Wednesday and Sept. 15, when the purchases are shipped to U.S. addresses.

The Huanying program takes its name from the Chinese word for "welcome" and is available in 23 countries at 70 Hilton properties including Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hilton Waikiki Beach and Hilton Wai­ko­loa Village.

HOLIDAY CHEER

OK, it’s not even Labor Day, but you know very well that Christmas will be here in about 15 minutes.

Two Oahu retail centers are planning for Christmas shopping season by getting the word out about their annual Festival of Giving fundraising opportunities for nonprofits.

Here’s how it works: Participating community groups get tickets, or so-called savings passports to sell, for $10. The groups keep all the money, and the passport buyers get exclusive discounts, gifts with purchase, special prizes and other such goodies to use while shopping.

An informational meeting for interested public and private schools and 501(c)(3) organizations will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday for the Windward Mall Festival of Giving in November. Groups planning to attend are asked to RSVP via email to AnaRenee.Terrado@am.jll.com.

The Kaneohe event will run Nov. 9-11, but the deadline for participants’ paperwork is Sept. 17. Tickets will be distributed toward the end of September allowing up to seven weeks for fundraising sales.

Marketing Manager Alexandra Kirley can provide more information at 235-1143 or, preferably, via email at Alexandra.Kirley@am.jll.com.

Ward Centers’ event will take place Nov. 2-4. The informational meeting for nonprofit organizations, schools and clubs will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 30.

Last year, 100 participating groups raised more than $157,000.

There is no deadline for the Ward Centers Festival of Giving, and nonprofits can apply up until the event. The contact point for more information is Heidi Kuia at 791-2989 or Heidi.kuia@howardhughes.com.

———

Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.