As the curtain falls on our journey with The Great Elephant Migration in Newport, we set our sights on the bustling Meatpacking District in New York. But before we venture onward, we’re taking a look back at our time in the seaside city and the unforgettable adventures we shared with our majestic elephants along the way.
The Kick-off Celebrations
On 4th July, we kicked off the celebrations as our herd of 100 elephants arrived in Newport for the first time. The launch event brought guests from across the worlds of art, fashion, conservation, and philanthropy in a colourful celebration of elephant conservation. The celebrations included a cocktail soiree, music, and speeches culminating in guests showering the herd with flower petals in a traditional Indian Puja ceremony - a beautiful tribute to a shared love for nature and Mother Earth.
A Royal Visit
On Thursday 25th July, a very familiar face popped into the Love Brand tent for a visit. Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York (or Fergie to you and me) dropped in to visit her elephant ‘Little Red’, who has a red-tinged varnish not too dissimilar to her hair. She is one of The Great Elephant Migration’s Matriarchs, supporters of The G.E.M who rally support for human-wildlife coexistence.
On visiting ‘Little Red’, Sarah wrote on Instagram: “Visiting my elephant, Little Red, was such a special treat. Little Red has travelled all the way from India to Rhode Island and so I have brought Little Red, the doll who survived the North Tower on 9/11 and who is the symbol of my charity Sarah’s Trust, from the UK to meet our dear elephant. Little Red represents hope, strength and resilience and so it is only fitting that these two very special reds bear the same name.”
On visiting ‘Little Red’, Sarah wrote on Instagram: “Visiting my elephant, Little Red, was such a special treat. Little Red has travelled all the way from India to Rhode Island and so I have brought Little Red, the doll who survived the North Tower on 9/11 and who is the symbol of my charity Sarah’s Trust, from the UK to meet our dear elephant. Little Red represents hope, strength and resilience and so it is only fitting that these two very special reds bear the same name.”
World Elephant Day World
World Elephant Day happened on August 12th, a day dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world's elephants, so of course we had to celebrate with the herd. Hosted by Edith McBean, Nick Mele, LOVE BRAND & Co. and Elephant Family USA, we enjoyed an evening of drinks as we watched the sunset over the shore behind the herd.
Sunsets, Smiles, and Special Moments
As we set off to New York we asked our team on the ground what their favourite memories of Newport and G.E.M have been.
“Greeted by the herd of elephants in the morning, we started our days in Newport with fresh sea air, sunshine, and conversations with customers about the migration and the amazing fundraising initiative. From following the elephants being made in India to finally seeing them in person as part of the herd was something truly special. After a day on our feet, there was nothing more satisfying than diving into the famous New England lobster rolls. We’d heard the hype, and Newport Chowder Company did not disappoint—those lobster rolls and chowder were next level, a real treat! Strolling along the sandy beach with the sunset painting the sky and waves shimmering in the golden light is now one of my favourite Newport summer memories!”
- Elle, Production Manager
“One memory that instantly brings a smile to my face is the day that our small team of four conquered the set-up of our beautiful Indian tent on the lawn of Salve Regina University. With the sun beating down on us and no instructions in sight, this proved to be the ultimate team-building experience. From ferrying countless poles across the lawn in game-show-esque style chaos to scaling ladders and swinging mallets, we could not have laughed more and the sense of achievement when the tent was finally up twelve hours later will be unmatched for a very long time.”
- Emily, Resort and Partnership Coordinator
We’ll be continuing to document The Great Elephant Migration as we set our sites on the Big Apple, so why not stick around and be part of the change?
