Honoring Service with Style: Kiyonna Donates Over 300 Gowns to Operation Deploy Your Dress
This Veterans Day, we’re honored to celebrate and support our military community in a very special way. At Kiyonna, our mission has always been to make every woman feel beautiful and confident. We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD) through a donation of over 300 gowns, helping servicewomen, military spouses, and military dependents attend military balls and formal events with elegance and pride.
About Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD)
Founded in Texas in 2015, ODYD started as a dress swap among military spouses to help alleviate the financial burden of attending formal military functions. Today, ODYD has expanded to thirteen brick-and-mortar shops worldwide. Since its founding, ODYD has gifted more than 20,000 dresses to military families across the United States and Germany, helping them save an estimated $2 million. Managed entirely by military spouse volunteers, ODYD is a unique organization that builds a bridge between civilian and military communities, embodying patriotism and camaraderie.
Kiyonna’s Commitment to Supporting Military Families
At Kiyonna, we’re committed to making every woman look and feel beautiful, no matter the occasion. As Kim Khanbeigi, our Founder & CEO, said, “Since 1996, we’ve been so grateful to make memories with our customers, one dress at a time. From the elegant mother of the bride, the beautiful bride herself, the best-dressed wedding guest, the daughter choosing the perfect dress for a parent’s celebration of life, to the curvy woman who just wants to look amazing in the everyday maxi getting her Starbucks. Each dress we create is a piece of someone’s cherished moments, and we’re happy to add Military Ball to the list. When we heard about ODYD, we knew it was an opportunity we could use to serve those who serve so selflessly for us. To be able to share this moment with military service women and spouses is nothing but an honor for us.”
This donation not only aligns with our mission but also with the values we hold dear. The gowns we design are made for real women with real stories, and we’re honored to share them with women who embody strength and resilience. For our team, this donation is deeply personal and meaningful. Our Shipping & Warehouse Manager, Tony Ardolino, stated, “Growing up in a family with members who fought and died for this country makes giving back to the military in any way very meaningful.”
The Importance of Sustainability and Giving Back
At Kiyonna, we also value sustainability, and donating dresses to ODYD offers another layer of impact. By giving these gowns a second life, we can reduce waste and contribute to a worthwhile cause. As Zacary Powell, our Product Development Manager, explained, “I’m glad we can donate and give these clothes a second life. It makes me happy knowing that these clothes will go to someone who might need them rather than sitting in a landfill.”
A Salute to Our Heroes and Their Families
This Veterans Day, as we reflect on the sacrifices made by military families, we’re proud to stand with ODYD in helping servicewomen and military spouses attend their special events with pride. Military balls are steeped in tradition, etiquette, and honor, but the financial burden can often be a barrier. By donating these 300 gowns, we hope to lighten that burden and allow these women to embrace the joy and dignity of such celebrations. This gesture is just one small way we can say thank you to those who give so much to protect and serve our country.
To all who serve, and to their families who stand by them, thank you. Supporting you isn’t just an honor; it’s at the heart of what we do.