Designers against Aids F/W 07

[Scott]

Linen,how has it become a trend? The only designer I've seen doing something similar to this is Martin Margiela...

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

I would love to wear the "I wear a condom" t-shirt, but do you think it would be slightly strange ... I'm a girl

 

[freefashion]

Well, I'm all for magazines writing articles about it, but sadly, they don't. Or at least not enough. Or with the focus on Africa -which is highly needed, but which also gives people in 'civilised' countries a false feeling of safety. I could show you the press stories in print, on TV, radio and internet that were generated for DAA in the last 2 years (already over 1000), not least because of the associated designers, who drew their attention in the first place. A lot of those articles went a lot further than just writing about how nice the clothes (or the designers) were and they draw a lot of people to the DAA website (we have a stat counter which we check regularly and we have had visitors from more than 50 countires already). DAA and similar initiatives are becoming part of the curriculum of high school university students in Belgium and the Netherlands right now, we are associated with health organisations who work with young people and we just received our first subsidies from the Belgian Ministry of Health & Wellbeing. Plus compliments of Prof Peter Piot, the director of UNaids, who said DAA is a fantastic project and very effective towards young people as it's so close to their world (which is indeed centering around fashion, music, internet and sports). Some wear the t-shirts just because they think they're cool and we're fine with that. Other wear (or only buy) them to support DAA -and that's fine too. I'm 100% sure that it works and that it's still very much needed to be done -and not as a marketing stunt but out of passion and belief (I have two 'kids' aged 22 and 30 and it's a scary thought that they could die from love). It would be a lot easier for me to go back to my former job as a (very well-paid) fashion writer but I feel this is much more important. Even more so since changing the collection to organic cotton and Fair Trade production, which is a different (but also important) story altogether. I'm an old hippie with a good network- and I'm going to use it for worthwile issues. Amen;-)

 

[Scott]

well,there are the female versions...

 

[Whitelinen]

Linen,how has it become a trend? The only designer I've seen doing something similar to this is Martin Margiela...

It's become a trend to everything else than AIDS too --- for example breast cancer and animal rights (numerous designers and clothing shop chains have contributed to this during the last couple of years). When 9/11 happened, designers from NYC, for example Donna Karan, did "charity" clothes. Marc Jacobs has done this, chain shops have done this ... I can't remember names, but almost every designer seems to have done something to "promote" these causes. Then there's of course Vivienne Westwood and Katherine Hamnett, who use this kind of slogans all the time... Gucci had some kind of charity collection last Fall... Is this really the first time you are seeing designers doing charity clothing?

 

[Whitelinen]

Well, I'm all for magazines writing articles about it, but sadly, they don't. Or at least not enough. Or with the focus on Africa -which is highly needed, but which also gives people in 'civilised' countries a false feeling of safety. I could show you the press stories in print, on TV, radio and internet that were generated for DAA in the last 2 years (already over 1000), not least because of the associated designers, who drew their attention in the first place. A lot of those articles went a lot further than just writing about how nice the clothes (or the designers) were and they draw a lot of people to the DAA website (we have a stat counter which we check regularly and we have had visitors from more than 50 countires already). DAA and similar initiatives are becoming part of the curriculum of high school university students in Belgium and the Netherlands right now, we are associated with health organisations who work with young people and we just received our first subsidies from the Belgian Ministry of Health & Wellbeing. Plus compliments of Prof Peter Piot, the director of UNaids, who said DAA is a fantastic project and very effective towards young people as it's so close to their world (which is indeed centering around fashion, music, internet and sports). Some wear the t-shirts just because they think they're cool and we're fine with that. Other wear (or only buy) them to support DAA -and that's fine too. I'm 100% sure that it works and that it's still very much needed to be done -and not as a marketing stunt but out of passion and belief (I have two 'kids' aged 22 and 30 and it's a scary thought that they could die from love). It would be a lot easier for me to go back to my former job as a (very well-paid) fashion writer but I feel this is much more important. Even more so since changing the collection to organic cotton and Fair Trade production, which is a different (but also important) story altogether. I'm an old hippie with a good network- and I'm going to use it for worthwile issues. Amen;-)

Well, I am very glad if in this case it has made a change Then it's definetily for good. But in general no, I believe this is the first case which has made a difference through clothes then.

 

[Blondes]

I think this a great way to get through to young people. That it's has become a "trend", i.e. is being done for different causes, simply means that it reaches more people.

I think very few people buy this kind of shirt wihtout getting even a small part of the message involved. Yeah, it doesn't make them into super well informed activists, but it makes them at least slightly more aware. And the slightly adds up..

Every kid that sees a friend wiht a cool DAA t-shirt and goes online looking for it is one more kid that knows a bit more about AIDS.

Best of luck with the project to those here who are involved.

Edited to add: I would love to be able to see close up pctures of the designs in the ebay auctions. It's too bad one can't even make out exactly whats pictured on some of the shirts. The designs look very nice, I just like to see detail I'm going to buy something..

 

[xmodel citizen]

I would love to wear the "I wear a condom" t-shirt, but do you think it would be slightly strange ... I'm a girl

Haha me too! I actually might get one. It's just as strange as saying you wat a gay man to "do you daily" on your shirt

I couldn't make it to the Venetian, but I'll check out the site

 

[freefashion]

Hi 'Blondes', if you send me your email address (write via 'contact member' on eBay) I can mail you photos of the t-shirts that you think are interesting, it's a pity that they can't get large enough on eBay. And thanks for oyur kind words!

 

[xmodel citizen]

There doesn't seem to be an "I Use A Condom" version on EBay

 

[Scott]

ask miss freefashion.....i'm sure if you're indefinitely interested,she'll get all your info....if they're available,that is.

btw,ninette,have you got any more available of Christophe's and DEAD? once i get some cash,i would love to have one of each.

 

[xmodel citizen]

^ Yeah, I just have to wait until I get some money, which will take awhile. hopefully there will still be some left. Now I wish I had gone to the Venetian

 

[freefashion]

We recently switched from eBay to Dawanda and there are still quite a lot of designer T's (long- or short sleeved, at 20€ each) and other items for sale, you'll find the online store at: http://en.dawanda.com/shop/designersagainstaids
They ship worldwide and offer a lot of creatively designed stuff, some silly, some gorgeous. Worth a look!