H&M’s new line launching April 26 will do more than make the company’s usual style statement. The global fashion brand is bringing back its Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) campaign for a fifth year to spread the message about safer sex and HIV/AIDS prevention to young people around the world.
Although the disease makes few headlines today, an estimated 6,000 young people become infected with HIV every day. That’s one in every 14 seconds. H&M and the FAA campaign are working – with your help – to change that.
The newest Fashion Against AIDS line – with 25 percent of all proceeds benefiting AIDS awareness organizations – will be available online and in around 300 H&M Divided departments from April 26.
This year’s collection is full of vivid prints and bright hues drawing from global ethnic styles that are as perfect for summer as they are for highlighting the important issue they stand for.
“I love this year’s Fashion Against AIDS collection,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design for H&M. “It brings together so many global styles that send not only a powerful fashion message, but also help spread the word about HIV/AIDS awareness.”
Click through our style gallery to see the 2012 collection and how H&M designers used African prints to trim blousons and bustiers, and incorporated graphic black and white Maori prints into the designs of leggings and crop-tops. The FAA line includes the usual accessories from hats and sneakers to jewellery, but also expect some additional pieces including iPhone cases.
“It’s great that the collection includes the work of artists and illustrators from many different countries," says Johansson, "helping us to raise funds for these vital youth HIV/AIDS charities.”
The money raised from the 2012 FAA line will fund work by Designers Against AIDS (DAA), MTV Staying Alive Foundation, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and YouthAIDS. To date, the H&M Fashion Against AIDS campaign has raised approximately US$ 6.6 million.
Click onto the H&M website to get details for all of their Hong Kong store locations.
This article was sponsored by H&M.
