H&M’s FAA Unisex Collection

Back in February I let you guys in on the pieces of the newest H&M and Designers Against Aids (DAA) collaboration. The biggest question then was “who is going to be the new face(s) of the Fashion Against Aids campaign”? And here you have it! It seems like there were a lot of stars from the music and film bizz that were queuing up to support this already traditional initiative to help spread the message of save sex and HIV/AIDS prevention to young people around the globe. Nothing beats good publicity like a little charity, right?

Selma Blair, Penn Badgley, Keri Hilson, Akon, Nikki Reed, Scissor Sisters, The Misshapes and for me unfamiliar faces Sky Ferreira, Ginnifer Goodwin and Shiloh Fernandez, are among the celebrities involved in this year’s FAA collection, which for 2011 is a unisex range. Whatever their ulterior motives might be, they are still doing it, so thumbs up for that! The taboo around HIV/AIDS needs to be broken because there are still too many people who believe it’s an “African problem” and that it can never happen to them. That is just plain ignorance. This can happen to you or anyone you know, through unsafe sex, drug abuse or even worse, trough infested blood during a blood transfusion at a hospital. There’s still no cure, so the only thing you can do is protect yourself as good as possible!

“I think it’s really fitting that this collection is androgynous in style since the disease affects both men and women. It’s a universal thing and we are all in this together. It’s a disease that can be avoided and it’s especially tragic when our ignorance keeps us from safety.” Selma Blair.

“I’ve had a lot of friends who’ve been in the situation where their friends and family have been affected by HIV. As I travel the world, I see how much HIV affects people. It’s not like we have a cure for HIV, we only have prevention. Make sure you are protected so that you don’t ever have to worry about it. Ever.” Akon.

“Artists are an essential part of our campaigns, as they are role models for so many young people. Celebrities help to spread the message by speaking out about HIV/AIDS prevention. We’re asking them to help spread the safe sex message on social media: Twitter, Facebook, their own websites and at their concerts too.” Ninette Murk, founder and creative director, DAA.

When the stars come together for H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS campaign, it really shows this year’s unisex collection at its best. Selma Blair wears a stylish Spring coat over a slogan T-shirt, while Penn Badgley wears an essential hoodie over his T-shirt. Shiloh Fernandez sports a khaki nylon parka, T-shirt and jeans; Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters wears her peach version of the trench as a dress. Singer Keri Hilson has a cool slogan jumpsuit. It’s all so versatile, and all helps spreading the message about HIV/AIDS prevention.

The collection is available in H&M’s Divided department and online from April 26, with 25% of sales donated to the charity Designers Against AIDS (DAA) and various other international HIV/AIDS prevention projects. The FAA campaigns have so far raised more than 41 million Swedish krona.

Do you ever wonder where all that money goes? So do I! Together with the press and other bloggers, I’ve had the chance to go and visit the first International HIV/AIDS Awareness Education Center in Deurne (Belgium), that was built thanks to the funds collected by the past Fashion Against Aids collections. There, we had an exclusive preview of the new FAA collection.

 

The International HIV/AIDS Awareness Education Center

Founder Ninette Murk being interviewed by Afrodite from The Fashion Folio.

The training center in Antwerp, Belgium is meant to host students from all over the world to teach them how to set up effective and creative HIV prevention and awareness campaigns, using the pop culture methodology DAA stands for. The students will be taking this knowledge home, to build up equally successful campaigns in their countries of origin – sharing and spreading their knowledge and experience among their peers.

The whole house is just so colorful and inspiring, it just breathes creativity! I also loved this mouse t-shirt, which was probably the result of one of their workshops.

I wish Ninette Murk and DAA the best of luck in achieving their goals with this wonderful project!

For more info visit
www.designersagainstaids.com