I know it’s a special time, and along with my warm ‘Happy Easter!’ wishes, hoping you’re getting plenty of love, peace and smiles, I’d like to take this opportunity and bring awareness to a very special campaign: Born Free Africa!
Fashion is giving a helping hand in raising awareness (and, hopefully, more) about preventing the mother-to-baby HIV transmission! Designers (23 women designers who are also mothers), models (women models who are also mothers) and more fashion luminaries (fashion magazines editors, retailers) have joined the Born Free Africa movement: will you?
Did you know that there’s a way to prevent the infection of 686 from the daily total of 700 children being born with HIV? The vast majority of these unhappy occurrences are located in Africa and the main goal of BFA is to try and prevent (all) these infections by 2015. A big task, but every little step counts. Until now, simple logo tshirts were available for $30 each (men or women) but from April 23rd, a new, extended fashion collection will be launched and its campaign looks just as simple and beautiful as one would expect.
So far we only got a glimpse at few of the models representing the Born Free Africa initiative: Doutzen Kroes, Karolina Kurkova and Sasha Pivovarova, all photographed by Patrick Demarchelier. Doutzen, who is now pregnant with her and husband Sunnery James second child, posed with their son, Phyllon, in matching outfits by Chloe (the blouse) and Tory Burch (the tote).
Karolina Kurkova and her son, Tobin were photographed wearing Celine (the bag) and Versace (the tee) but the behind the scenes pictures show they appear together in at least another set of photographs, wearing yet more matching designer outfits. I will update this story as soon as more visual materials are available.
See also: Famous Models with their children out and about!
Sasha Pivovarova and her daughter, Mia, posed for Patrick Demarchelier in matching outfits designed by Victoria Beckham for Born Free. I’m certain Liya Kebede’s photos will appear soon – she might have modeled her own designs, so far we only have a sketch of her Born Free outfits.
There’s no word yet about the price range of the collection – but keep in mind that it’s a charitable one, so perhaps instead of piling up clothes from H&M designers collaborations, opt maybe for a single item from an authentic designer collection that only exists to help others. To help children. To help the world.
See also: Fashion designers contribute with their designs to charity auctions.
You’ll see some of the 23 designers involved in the video below: Liya Kebede, who is also a model, an actress, philanthropist and designer, founder of lemlem, an eco-conscious label that already collaborated with Jenna Lyons’ J.Crew in the past, we see also Anna Wintour who is wonderful at being the Supreme Ambassador of yet another charitable initiative, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Tory Burch, Jenna Lyons (from J.Crew), Stella McCartney all make a brief appearance to state their support for the Born Free initiative.
The wonderful Wangechi Mutu is the artist responsible for all the prints in the BFA campaign, as she’s considered to be the most relevant modern artist representing the African culture. Wangechi Mutu is a strong voice, an eclectic personality, a fascinating perspective and, obviously, a mother!
As a fashion spectator, I think any opportunity to express the creativity and the style inspiration is wonderful and deserves every bit of attention – designers, magazines (Vogue), retailers (Amazon, Shopbop) got involved and already support the Born Free Africa initiative. As a mother, not only the Born Free cause is something I feel fully supportive of (thus trying to spread the word any way I can), but also very touched to see mothers (designers and models alike) bond in such an amazing way to help improve the life of others any way they know and can! (if you want to know more about Born Free Africa, you can do so on the movement’s page; the special Born Free collection will be available in a couple of days)
3 comments
What a wonderful campaign. I am so touched by this. It brings tears to my eyes.
Happy Easter and Happy Passover for all readers.
Ah, hope you had a wonderful Easter, shame on me, didn’t notice your well wishes and article until late last night.
Indeed a nice campaign as far as I can see. Doutzen has been for years an ambassador for Dance For Life and has visited some projects in Africa countries. Dance For Life support the same mission.
Little Phyllon is such a cute mix of his handsome parents. :)
Oh, thank you Adriana! I’m getting head over heels for this campaign! Don’t know what gets me the most – the cause (which constantly brings me to tears) or the mothers-kiddos style conspiracy!
Leave a Comment