H&M Fashion Against AIDS

Celebrities Join Designers in Fighting the Spread of HIV/AIDS

Jun 2, 2009
Andree Lachapelle

H&M DIVIDED - A. Lachapelle

Major fashion retailer H&M has recruited celebrities from around the world to join Designers Against AIDS, adding a dash of style to AIDS awareness and fundraising.

Fashion, music and style celebrities – including the ever-glamorous Dita Von Teese – have agreed to collaborate with H&M in designing fashions meant to raise youth awareness about AIDS, HIV, and safe sex.

Fashion Retailer H&M:

H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) employs around 73,000 people in approximately 1,800 stores in 34 countries. The company's philosophy is to bring its customers fashion and quality at the best price possible. H&M carries a variety of fashions for women, men, teenaged girls and boys, and children.

Designers Against AIDS:

A non-profit organization, Designers Against AIDS (DAA) was launched in 2004 to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, especially in a younger cross-section of the general public. The organization uses celebrities and elements from pop culture – namely movies, music, fashion and design, the arts, and professional sports – to spread its message: ‘Prevention is the only cure for HIV/AIDS‘

The Fashion Against AIDS Collection:

The collection, in 100 percent organic cotton, is part of H&M's DIVIDED youth department and features fashions for both genders. Bold slogans and graphics adorn brightly-coloured t-shirts, t-shirt dresses, tank tops, and bodysuits.

"With the purchase of these stylish t-shirts, you can be a part of something that makes a huge difference in this pandemic, while looking super-chic!" Dita Von Teese in a May 5, 2009, H&M press release.

This year, 25 percent of sales prices will be donated to Designers Against AIDS; YouthAIDS; UNFPA; and MTV Staying Alive Foundation.

Celebrities Participating in Fashion Against AIDS:

Dita Von Teese

Burlesque performer and model Dita Von Teese, a champion of the cause, brings us shirts decorated with her oversized, stylized likeness, reminiscent of similar 1980s graphics of sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, complete with red lips and arched brows.

Katharine Hamnett

Fashion designer Katharine Hamnett brings us t-shirts emblazoned with big block letters and equally bold statements such as "Protect and Survive," and the simple admonition "Use One."

Yoko Ono

Artist and Lennon muse Yoko Ono's creations bring structure to chaos with columns of type repeating the words "Imagine Peace" in a variety of languages from around the world, on vibrant turquoise and coral coloured shirts.

Cyndi Lauper

The black tank top designed by 1980s pop icon Cyndi Lauper (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) captures that era's energy with the words "Girls Just Wanna Have Safe Sex" scrawled in magenta letters next to a tube of hot pink lipstick.

Katy Perry

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry (I Kissed a Girl) brings us a clever design featuring colourful hearts, lungs, and internal organs and the message: "It's What's on the Inside That Counts."

Estelle

British R&B singer-songwriter Estelle (Free) contributes to the project with shirts adorned with the empowering message "Life is Too Short – Have Sex Be Safe."

Other celebrities participating in H&M Fashion Against AIDS include Róisín Murphy; Moby; Pharrell Williams/N.E.R.D; Robyn; Yelle; Dangerous Muse; and Tokio Hotel.