'Red' - Bono, Gap and Armani

[Lena]

Consciousness Laundry?
of course all those mega brands are killing the environment and are responsible for the dramatic situation in Africa
of course Bono is a clown, very eager to help the Africans but not very keen on doing the right thing and let the Irish people profit from his new found 'humanitarian' wealth (he's moving headquarters to Holland to escape taxes..)
but
the amazing rise of interest in 'ethical consuming' might profit in both laundrying some industrialists consciousness while helping few kids in Africa,
hence i'm cool with this.

most of all i salut the new consumer trend in spending consciously, it may actually end up as just another marketing trap but .. while orphan kids die like flies for luck of medicine, i'd say, the end justifies the means

 

[Kimkhuu]

Well said Lena!

Bono is indeed a clown...

 

[lemeray]

I think I'm the only one, but I have never thought of Bono as the saint he makes himself to be...talking about how people should give money to the charity while himself owning mansions.

I agree, he is probably one of the richest people. He could save Africa and still have enought money to live....

 

[softgrey]

^ It was... but wasn't that the point?

totally...
my point is that it is great that it is getting so much mainstream attention...
reaching out to the masses and trying to open their eyes...
and their wallets...

thanks for posting the ads lena...
they are HUGE billboards all around town...
and they look GREAT!...imo...

*i chris rock...

 

[LostInNJ]

This isn't a fashion label, but it seems Apple has also joined in on the cause...here is a picture of the Product Red Nano, which they donate only $10 to the cause for each one sold, but I guess something is better than nothing...there is more info at www.apple.com which is also the source for the photo

 

[LostInNJ]

In addition to Apple, I found the official Product Red website if anyone is interested...http://www.joinred.com...Converse and Motorola are also involved.

 

[softgrey]

thanks lost......


red is cool...




B)

 

[Erin]

I think the phones are nice... $79.99 for the phone with a plan... but I won't be switching to Motorola any time soon.

I'm a little peeved, though, because I checked out Armani and Gap's websites and they don't have the shirts I saw on the show up on their sites.

 

[jun3machina]

kudos to both lena and kimkhuu! and karma too!

kimkhuu~ thats the first thing i thought of as soon as i heard that this was being brought to the masses by GAP! i am appaled and disgusted, and i dont care that they are giving half the profits to charity. these actors, musicians, etc, have tons of money they could easily deliver to these countries without having to outsource manufacturing of TRENDY clothing lines to make change!

while i admire you lena for what you said, i just see the increased demand of this "global awareness" trend through inhumane marketing practises, only making more underaged people working in these factories to produce even more products for next to nothing. while i can see a positive point trying to be made by looking towards the "half full" side of the glass, with unethical standards being ignored and increased, i really see this as merely a larger proliferation of horrible manufacturing processes we continue to ignore. so in my own personal view, the glass is much more than half empty in this trend.

 

[Diorling]

IS THE RED RAZR AVAILABLE!?! I saw it a few months ago but it was only available for UK service, OMG I need that...Right now *orders*

 

[lmelanie]

I wasn't aware of this fact when I first heard about the project. But reading this thread it really does make me think twice about supporting this..My first instict was to run out and buy a shirt but of course that is what they want...

I'm just really glad that I took a look at this thread before considering supporting this..

its really such a double edge sword because I want to support the cause just not the companies behind it.

kudos to both lena and kimkhuu! and karma too!

kimkhuu~ thats the first thing i thought of as soon as i heard that this was being brought to the masses by GAP! i am appaled and disgusted, and i dont care that they are giving half the profits to charity. these actors, musicians, etc, have tons of money they could easily deliver to these countries without having to outsource manufacturing of TRENDY clothing lines to make change!

while i admire you lena for what you said, i just see the increased demand of this "global awareness" trend through inhumane marketing practises, only making more underaged people working in these factories to produce even more products for next to nothing. while i can see a positive point trying to be made by looking towards the "half full" side of the glass, with unethical standards being ignored and increased, i really see this as merely a larger proliferation of horrible manufacturing processes we continue to ignore. so in my own personal view, the glass is much more than half empty in this trend.

 

[Diorling]

Damn the Razr isn't out yet and niether is the red AmEx, come on! My impulse is wearing off...Okay, it's gone.

 

[ultramarine]

Very very urban ... not bad ... I like what Ms Garner wore!

 

[tangerine]

I think the promo shots look great; I did a double take at Christy Turlington when I walked past the GAP store this evening. I also like the shirt Jennifer Garner is wearing. It's a really strong campaign I think.

I doubt I will buy anything unless they have started cutting their men's stuff a little smaller; I pretty much go to AA and H&M for everything I used to buy at the GAP because of GAP's boxy fits.

The GAP is not going away; I think it is better that they give money to worthy causes while running their sweatshops, than not.

 

[cygnenoir]

From what I understand, the Converse and Gap products are being made in Africa in fair wage/non-child labor factories. Buying the products helps the people of Africa indirectly through jobs and directly through donations.

Of course, that's probably not true of all Gap and Converse products.

I'm trying not to be cynical about this campaign. Say what you want about Bono and his crazy ego, but I believe that he is really trying to make a difference in the world and for that I respect him.

 

[LostInNJ]

kudos to both lena and kimkhuu! and karma too!

kimkhuu~ thats the first thing i thought of as soon as i heard that this was being brought to the masses by GAP! i am appaled and disgusted, and i dont care that they are giving half the profits to charity. these actors, musicians, etc, have tons of money they could easily deliver to these countries without having to outsource manufacturing of TRENDY clothing lines to make change!

while i admire you lena for what you said, i just see the increased demand of this "global awareness" trend through inhumane marketing practises, only making more underaged people working in these factories to produce even more products for next to nothing. while i can see a positive point trying to be made by looking towards the "half full" side of the glass, with unethical standards being ignored and increased, i really see this as merely a larger proliferation of horrible manufacturing processes we continue to ignore. so in my own personal view, the glass is much more than half empty in this trend.

If you look at things that way, then I'm more than sure that there is no company out there that runs its business 100% ethically. You can't fault a company for trying to do good. You say that it is an "inhumane marketing practice", but how else would this get people's attention? It isn't as if people weren't aware of the situation in the first place...Yes, it is sad that it takes celebrities and clothing to make people do something, but that is the reality of the world we live in today. As for saying the clothes will be made by underage children, do you have any solid information, that is recent, to back that up?

We can't fault these actors for promoting something that in the end, does more good than harm. Yes, they make millions and could support entire nations, but then does that mean we get off scot free, because they have millions? No, everyone should do their part, and these brands coming together is only another effective way to raise awareness and money.

 

[Erin]

We can't fault these actors for promoting something that in the end, does more good than harm. Yes, they make millions and could support entire nations, but then does that mean we get off scot free, because they have millions? No, everyone should do their part, and these brands coming together is only another effective way to raise awareness and money.

I agree. I don't see how this is campaign is doing HARM? It IS better than nothing. Not only is it raising money, but is is raising AWARENESS... and I think that's the first step. I just don't understand how this campaign could be a negative one...? What if Bono wasn't behind it, or the celebrities? Would it THEN be okay? And instead of being upset at these rich celebrities for not giving their wealth to the cause, but how about those rich celebrities who aren't giving their wealth to the cause AND aren't lending their time to the cause? How about that?

 

[darkintragedy]

I bought 3 shirts (white, red, gray), a striped shirt, a tote, 2 bracelets, and 2 zip -up jackets.

The jackets fit a little big, even though they were size xs.

 

[adi]

i bought that red ipod today, loving it already
the only problem with this campaign is, that all the products aren't available for people outside us or uk.. for example the converse shoes. i would like purchase pair, but it seems to be impossible. i was also thinking about the red razr.. i really hope that they expand this campaign..

 

[shoefanatic]

Are the jackets unisex, that is what a SA told me. I think that as long as the labor is fair what does it hurt. Hopefully, Bono is putting his money where his mouth is though. However I don't need to know how much he donates of his own money. I don't like people to tell me how to spend mine so I can't tell someone how to spend theirs. I do like the concept.