FYI: FASHION FOR HAITI

AMERICA’S FASHION INDUSTRY LAUNCHES “FASHION FOR HAITI”

CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE

Proceeds to Benefit Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

January 25, 2010—In response to the devastating January 12 earthquake in Haiti, the fashion industry has pulled together to organize a nation-wide effort to raise monies for the victims of the natural disaster. A $25 “Fashion for Haiti” T-shirt will go on sale February 12 at retailers across the country with proceeds benefitting the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which is raising funds for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those who are most in need of assistance.

“The tragedy in Haiti has affected everyone and most of us individually have given money for relief,” said Diane von Furstenberg, President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. “However, I think it is now important to send a message and create a channel for funding from fashion as an industry.”

“The total devastation of Haiti is unimaginable. I am always amazed by the strength, talent and compassion of our industry and now more than ever it is essential we come together and help make a difference.” said Ralph Lauren.

“The devastation in Haiti has touched us all deeply,” said Tory Burch. “Now more than ever is the time to ban together and help them get back on the road to recovery.”

“As we watch the story unfold in Haiti, it is our obligation to act,” said Andrew Rosen, President & CEO of Theory. “We must move quickly to raise the much needed money and support for the relief efforts that are beginning now, and that will be required in the months and years to come.”

The initiative will move forward with the support of the fashion industry, including the entire CFDA membership, and carries the endorsement of fashion leaders Tory Burch, Kevin Carrigan, Francisco Costa, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Andrew Rosen, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Anna Wintour, Italo Zucchelli, among many others.

The “Fashion for Haiti” T-shirt logo was designed by Peter Arnell, who in 2001 created the now iconic mended heart logo for the “Fashion for America” fundraiser, organized by the CFDA and Vogue magazine, which raised $2 million after 9/11 for the Twin Towers Fund.
The black and lime green logo features the tagline “Hope Help Heal Haiti” underneath a block design of “To Haiti With Love,” with a map of the nation standing in for the word “Haiti.” The sleeve will be marked with the “Fashion for Haiti” slogan and the inside collar will have “CFDA” printed on it.

Coordinated by the CFDA, the short sleeve T-shirt will be manufactured by Theory under the “Fashion for Haiti” label. It will be available in women’s and men’s styles at retailers nationwide as well as online at www.cfda.com.

Information on how to order T-shirts can be placed by contacting fashionforhaiti@cfda.com. 
(via CFDA Facebook)

Thanks to Coco Rocha for letting us all know!

SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER.

Oh, September. 

Alas, the month the fashion world avidly awaits has finally come around. Of course this means that my favorite five-pound fashion read will hit the stands. For the fashion world, our year starts this month, so it's important to start off on the right stiletto. Not to mention with the documentary "The September Issue" out in theaters we can now look into the chronicling of the legendary Editor-In-Chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour and her team of fashion disciples working to plan and create the iconic "fashion bible". If you haven't heard of the long-awaited documentary yet, check out the trailer below.

WHEN BEAUTY INTERSECTS POWER: FIRST LADY GRACES MARCH VOGUE COVER

This March, First Lady Michelle Obama has graced the cover of the renowned Vogue magazine, making her the second First Lady to ever be featured on a Vogue cover, the other being Hillary Clinton. First ladies have been photographed for Vogue in the past, the first being Lou Hoover, wife of Herbert Hoover, but although they made the magazine, very few have had the honor of gracing the cover. The story going along with the cover is brilliantly written by Vogue editor, Andre Leon Talley.

Taken by infamous celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, Michelle Obama is pictured in the cover photograph stretched across a comfortable-looking beige sofa in the Hay-Adams Hotel where the Obama family stayed the few days prior to the inauguration of Barack Obama. Michelle looks exquisite, pictured in a magenta Jason Wu dress, this same designer being the one who designed her gown for the historic inaugural ball.
Inside the magazine, another photograph portraits the First Lady in her very own professional atmosphere, featuring her in a black Narciso Rodriquez dress with the White House peering in from the far window. The article was meant to take a look into her new lifestyle, and the adjustments that the Obama family have made to make way for the flood of changes that have washed into their lives. Michelle talks of finding a new church in the area, as well as getting the Obama girls adjusted at school and in the white house. The article takes a look into Michelle Obama's own dreams, goals, and aspirations, as well as her own personal wardrobe which, might I add, is fabulously stylish and as sophisticated as the leather-bound books on her mahogany shelving units. Even the hard-to-impress and highly judgmental Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Anna Wintour, wrote how impressed she was by the inauguration dress designed by Isabel Toledo, and the aforementioned custom-made ball gown designed by Jason Wu. Personally, the Narciso Rodriguez camel coat she so stylishly adorned at the Lincoln Memorial opening ceremony was what caught my eye!

Vogue has always and persists to be the nation's premier mainstream magazine for fashion. Putting a woman of colour on the cover, and a First Lady at that, really gives insight into how the editors of the renowned mag view the new administration. The ideals behind how beauty can intersect with power, even politics if you will, brings new light into the fashion world, and maneuvres the ideals of how power can be beauty. And how a south side Chicago-born black woman with curves can be fabulously portrayed of a symbol of beauty for all women to idolize.

"Change was the clarion call of Barack Obama's election campaign," writes Vogue's editor, Anna Wintour, "though I don't think any of us at Vogue initially realized that would include the difference that was going to be made by First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe. It wasn't just that her choices projected a simpler, streamlined, more modern attitude, rejecting the ridiculous idea that the only way for a First Lady to dress is in the dreaded White House standard-issue uniform - the boxy, anonymous suit that always managed to look as appealing, and as comfortable, as armor. Instead, we have a woman who is happy in newer, less obvious designer choices like Wu and Toledo. . . . It's inspiring to see our First Lady so serene and secure in her personal style."