Uniqlo T-shirts for BT charity fund

THE next time you shop at Uniqlo, get a customised Christmas T-shirt featuring illustrations by artist Peter Draw. The proceeds from your purchase will go towards helping The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BTBAF) which supports artistically gifted children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Clothing store Uniqlo has partnered Peter Draw (whose real name is Peter Zhuo) to create 10 original illustrations centred on the festive season.

Customers can pick a design of their choice and create their T-shirts at the Uniqlo Bugis+ store from now until the end of the year.

Peter Draw also mentored several children to create drawings that are on sale at Uniqlo's Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central. Proceeds from this sale will also go to BTBAF.

Launched on May 11, 2005, BTBAF has helped more than 8,000 disadvantaged children pursue various art forms, including the visual arts, theatre, music and dance.

Although not all the children continue to pursue the arts as they get older, BT believes the arts have a lasting impact on children's emotional, social and intellectual development.

The recent ChildAid concert, organised by The Business Times and The Straits Times, raised S$2.049 million for BTBAF and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which gives money for meals and school transport to needy children.

BTBAF is managed by the RICE Company, a registered charity and not-for-profit arts and culture organisation.

There are other events at Uniqlo this month, including the distribution of booklets that help children create their own Christmas tree ornaments, as well as shopping bags designed by four illustrators including Soh Ee Shaun and Adeline Tan.