Camilla and Marc launch cancer research campaign, Dolce & Gabbana’s T-shirt for bushfire recovery, and Coronavirus cancels more fashion events
The slogan T-shirt is on the rise ... and two new examples from the fashion world are set to make a big difference. Also, VAMFF kicks off in Melbourne.
Buzz has noted with some interest the recent rise of the slogan T-shirt, whether for political or fundraising purposes. This week, two new examples have been announced with very specific remits.
Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman of Camilla and Marc have launched a campaign dubbed Ovaries: Talk About Them. They chose to open up about the sudden loss of their mother 26 years ago from ovarian cancer following a late diagnosis. As a form of cancer with minimal warning signs and no early detection test, it is a silent killer that claims the lives of three Australian women every day. Some 300,000 are diagnosed every year.
“There is a social taboo that exists when it comes to the word ovaries and a general lack of awareness about this type of cancer,” says Freeman-Topper. “Our campaign aims to help women talk more openly with their partners, sisters, friends, wives, brothers and mothers about their ovaries and about this disease. The more dialogue we can create, the more awareness we can raise, the more funding we can harness, the closer we come to a cure.”
They have created two T-shirts to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research UNSW Sydney, and the studies of associate professor Caroline Ford, whose team is working towards an early detection test. One features the words Power and Solidarity ($140), the second has artwork by Perth artist Rina Freiberg ($160).
“The key to changing the statistics is research and awareness,” says Ford. “Proceeds from this campaign will be directed towards my lab’s efforts to develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer. We have already made good progress, but this will give our research a significant boost.”
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Bushfire relief, Italian style
As Buzz has noted previously, many in the fashion industry contributed to the recovery efforts of the recent and devastating bushfires that affected so much of the country. This week, Italian powerhouse Dolce & Gabbana has joined in with a fundraising T-shirt.
Under the banner #DGLovesAustralia, the T-shirt features the native Australian waratah, chosen as a symbol of resilience and strength, given its ability to regenerate after bushfires.
The company has partnered with the not-for-profit Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, which since 2006 has brought together investment from government, business and philanthropy to support projects in remote and rural Australia, and is supporting disaster-affected communities.
In a statement to The Australian, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana say: “These environmental damages and their long-term impact touches and affects us deeply, and in the face of the fires throughout Australia we felt it was right to give a sign of support.” The limited-edition tee will soon be available in the coming week at world.dolcegabbana.com, as well as in selected Australian stores (price tbc).
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Time to get festive
The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival is now officially underway. The festival, one of the largest consumer fashion events in the world, will see a plethora of catwalk, cultural and industry events take place across Melbourne in the next 10 days.
Highlights include the Grand Showcase catwalk, featuring Toni Maticevski; Design Within Country and Indigenous Fashion Storytelling Session focusing on indigenous design; the International Women’s Day breakfast, hosted by Marie Claire editor Nicky Briger with panellists including Yael Stone and Asher Keddie; and open factory tours from brands including Arnsdorf and Nobody Denim.
Buzz will be hosting the second Australian Fashion Summit on March 13, a day-long seminar covering industry issues and subjects including sustainability, cultural collaborations and rethinking business models. Headline speakers include Copenhagen Fashion Summit founder Eva Kruse, expat US In Style editor Laura Brown, and comedian Celeste Barber. For more information and tickets, see vamff.com.au.