Uber girly British fashion label, Luella, has just lost funding. Worst part of the whole thing is that Spring 2010 orders will not be filled. You’ll be missed Luella Bartley.

When was the last time you heard of someone bringing philanthropy, commerce and fashion together to raise awareness and inspire change? In today’s economy, such altruists may be few and far between, but rest assured, that someone exists in Pankaj Shah, the founder and CEO of Tonic. With a heart of good intentions and luck in his back pocket, Shah stumbled into the fashion world, collaborating with designers Luella Bartley and Tara Subkoff on t-shirts promoting non-profit organizations and social good.

Though Shah pegs himself to be fashion-senseless, his overall worldly awareness mission recently snagged Donna Karan and her charity, The Urban Zen Foundation, for the most recent of Tonic’s collaborations. Starting today, a variety of eco-friendly t-shirts, sold exclusively on Tonic.com, go on sale to promote and support four main causes: Well Being, Save Our Planet, Preserving Cultures and Future For Our Children. 

10% of each shirt sold will go to both, The Urban Zen Foundation and The Tonic Foundation, helping the Karan and Shah’s teams take one step closer to change. Each shirt sells for $65 and is made of a bamboo, organic cotton blend. Help aid two amazing charities, support a designer on a mission and raise awareness. 

The first Fashion Indie reader to comment this post will win this exclusive Donna Karan Urban Zen Tee!

Luella Bartley’s inspiration for her Fall 2009 collection was unquestionably punk-rocking, elementary school army brats. Bartley did what she does best, sending dozens of short dresses and delicate suits down the runway. Unlike the clashing colors of the Luella spring collection, this season shows many more grays, blacks and golds, sprinkled with zippers, buttons, hooks, parachute pockets and shirt collars/ coat lapels to die for. Though the gold tights are a bit M.I.A circa 2007, they work with the collection, making the sparkly gold dresses, buttons, zippers, gloves and purses really stand out. 

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Luella Fall 2009

LINKAGE: Style

Earlier this month the blogs were buzzing with rumors that Luella Bartley was planning to dip her toes into the publishing world.

Now the plans seem more solid.  The debut issue of Luella (that was easy!) features Jourdan Dunn as covergirl, and is set to hit newsstands in spring.

Luella has been rumored to be working with a lot of youngsters in New York, and maybe some familiar names.

While I love Luella’s designs and don’t doubt she’s in touch with the trendsetters and tastemakers of the world (and did you know she started out as a journalist and fashion editor?) I can’t help but wonder why she’d get into the magazine world now, when so many are folding.

Even Daniel Saynt knows that.

Image and info from Catwalk Queen.

This spring, TONIC launched a new series of four limited edition t-shirts conceptualized by Luella Bartley. Each design in Bartley’s collection, created exclusively for TONIC’s ‘Every T Counts’ initiative, will help raise funds for the cause by which it was inspired. “I am so pleased to be part of this collaboration with TONIC,” said Bartley. “I love how the proceeds from the t-shirts go to all sorts of different causes from helping kids in Columbia with dental care to protecting coral reef in the Pacific. It’s a cool and original way to give back and I think the design reflects that.”

The collection of bamboo and cotton blend t-shirts, which retail for $45 each, will be sold exclusively on TONIC’s website (www.tonicgen.com); 30% of every sale will be donated to the t-shirt’s designated program. All four Luella Bartley designs will be available on white v-neck t-shirts for women and black crewneck t-shirts for men.