
MILAN — La DoubleJ is the latest brand to collaborate with (RED), the nonprofit organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to raise money for the Global Fund to fight AIDS.
In the collaboration, J.J. Martin’s brand has developed the limited-edition Coupe Rose capsule collection, featuring its bestselling Better Than Your Boyfriend’s shirt with a red floral motif, matching shorts and silk scarf. Dropping on Thursday at the label’s online store, the pieces will retail at $790, $520 and $120, respectively. All proceeds will be donated to support (RED)’s mission.
Flanking the collection, a campaign was created to raise awareness about the tie-up and highlight the power of sisterhood in addressing health inequality. In the images, former colleagues and longtime friends Martin and Laura Brown — who’s chair of the (RED) Creative Council — are joined by supporters of both the brand and the organization, such as models Iman and Anne V, as well as actresses Busy Philipps, Lake Bell, Noma Dumezweni and Mickey Sumner. Other talents include entrepreneur Dee Poku; artist Angelica Hicks; chef Hong Thaimee; Mychal Bella-Bowman; Micaela Erlanger; Peyton Dix, and Marisol Thomas.
Iman starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
Martin said she was proud “to be partnering with (RED) by supporting and shining a light on the lifesaving work they brilliantly do.”
“And they have done a lot of these collaborations. This is their thing. But I’m pretty sure this is the first time they’ve done a big campaign,” added Martin. She recalled how, when Brown asked her about collaborating, she replied: “I want to do this but I want to go all in.…I’m doing two products, you’re getting all the proceeds and…let’s get a group of women who are interested in this concept of sisterhood and the idea of coming together, rousing for a cause, sharing their desire to care about more that’s in their own box — and so many of them said yes.
Lake Bell starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
“A project like this perfectly represents my goals at La DoubleJ, which is to not only offer women 100 percent Made in Italy product that makes them feel joyful and fabulous, but also gives them an opportunity to raise their vibration and expand their consciousness,” Martin said. “The fact that so many women eagerly came out to support and energize this co-creation is a beautiful reflection of the DoubleJ Sisterhood at work.”
Noma Dumezweni starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
“The collection is not only bright, beautifully made and supports the fight, it has also been pivotal in bringing together so many influential women to show solidarity and support for this critical fight, which is exactly the kind of heat and energy this work needs right now,” echoed Jennifer Lotito, president and chief operating officer of (RED), as she described La DoubleJ “a female-founded, female-led brand beloved by so many.”
To date, the charity and its partners have raised more than $785 million for the Global Fund, helping more than 325 million people. (RED) has been financing programs that deliver prevention, testing, treatment, counseling and care services in places where injustice has enabled pandemics to thrive.
The partnership with La DoubleJ comes as the fight against AIDS faces significant challenges and the progress to date is in jeopardy, (RED) said. According to the organization, recent withdrawals of funding, gender inequalities, discrimination, marginalization and gender-based violence put women and girls at an increased risk for HIV, representing 44 percent of all new infections.
Anne V starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
“What Laura and (RED) explained to me is that with the new administration in the U.S. a lot of government funding has been lost, as well as just attention. They are really trying to get the news and word out that AIDS is still very much a critical issue for many young women and girls, especially in Africa,” Martin said. “There are so many women out there who want to help out but feel overwhelmed with the number of issues and how to make change, so what I hope we’re doing is giving them a very easy portal to helping out.
“When we do collaborations, I’m always thinking how we can do something that makes an imprint and is more than just selling product,” Martin continued. “I don’t want to just buy a plate of dinner at a fancy party. I want La DoubleJ to be directly associated with change and really get closer to issues. That’s what this whole Sisterhood community is: it’s the sharing and the caring of issues, problems, resources, teachers, tools [and] techniques to raise our consciousness and bring us all together in a more unified field.”
J.J. Martin and Laura Brown starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
Since joining the organization last year, Brown also made her mission to continue putting (RED) at the forefront of global culture and impact. In particular, the founder of LB Media and the former editor in chief of InStyle is spearheading the charity’s efforts to propel itself back into the fashion conversation. She is supported by the other members of the (RED) Creative Council, which include Iman, designers Thebe Magugu and Sindiso Khumalo, stylist Karla Welch, photographers AB+DM as well as Inez & Vinoodh and costume designer Arianne Phillips, among other leaders across the creative industries.
Brands that have recently collaborated with (RED) encompass Magugu; jewelry and accessories designer Roxanne Assoulin; eyewear brand Ahlem; Paris-based shoe brand Nomasei, and menswear designer Savas. Previous (RED) partners range from the likes of Zimmermann and Veronica Beard to Louis Vuitton and Gap.
Mickey Sumner starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
To mark the organization’s 20th anniversary next year, Brown and Iman will chair the Discove(RED) Fashion Prize. This will aim to identify, fund and bring global retail opportunities for up to 10 emerging designers from across Africa. With signature items and/or capsule collections created by each, 50 percent of net profits will go back to each designer to foster sustainable business models, with the remaining 50 percent donated to the Global Fund. Curators will include Cynthia Erivo, Kiernan Shipka, Karabo Poppy Moletsane, alongside Magugu and Khumalo.
Angelica Hicks starring in the campaign promoting La DoubleJ’s collaboration with (RED).
AB+DM/Courtesy of La DoubleJ
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