Candy Harris on expanded Design for Humanity event and more

How did you get the idea for DFH in the first place?

I wanted to create an event that would help inspire young people to get involved with the world around them and hopefully motivate them to make a difference. When you’re young it’s easy to get the feeling that if you don’t have thousands of dollars to donate that your voice will get lost.

The idea behind DFH was to showcase various non-profits in a non-traditional way. We didn’t want it to be a lecture, we wanted it to be all about creativity and celebrating the good work that is being done by these groups. And for $30 you are getting a live concert, fashion show and art show - and more importantly are being exposed to some amazing organizations.

The idea evolved organically to focus on the fashion, music and art components as our creative release and each year we hope to push the envelope a bit further. We’re always searching for ways to keep the momentum going and continue to raise funds for the beneficiaries we support.

We introduced Billabong Runway last Spring, which takes 7-10 swimsuits straight off of our DFH catwalk into production, with $5 of every suit being donated to that year’s charity. It’s amazing what happens when you have a feel-good event on your hands.

It’s a labor of love for our company and a great opportunity to break the barriers of what is expected from a surf brand.

It has grown so much - did you ever expect your initial vision to turn into this?

The goal from the beginning was to “think big” so this year’s event is right on track. It’s a lot of additional work for our design teams and marketing staff so the growth of the event is due to the dedication of the teams of people that pull together to make it happen.

Within the past year the concept went global with Billabong Europe and Australia as well as Brazil hosting upcoming events of their own. I’m really proud of what we have accomplished with this event and feel blessed to have a job where I can actually be a part of something that makes a difference.

Do you have any advice for others who would like to start similar events?

I think innovation and creative energy is what makes events memorable. Find your own niche and create something unique.

And a nitty-gritty work question - can you share specifics on how you keep on top of so many details when you are putting on an event like this?

This event is a massive undertaking with a lot of different working parts. It is a big team effort with marketing and design and an amazing, talented staff that makes it happen.

Over 25 staff are involved in one-way or another, each in charge of a different component. From my events manager Amy, who is the queen of on-site logistical details, to our entire Marketing staff that manages the PR, web, in-store and grassroots push, it is a constant challenge every year to top the last. But without a doubt, this is the best DFH yet.