Katy Perry Designs for H&M - and Fights AIDS
By David Jenison |
Monday, June 8, 2009 4:49 PM ET
Katy Perry knows she won't contract AIDS by kissing a girl, but she's still fighting for a cure.
For its second Fashion Against AIDS campaign, Swedish uber-retailer H&M recruited the pop starlet and other top artists to design clothing to benefit AIDS awareness groups. Perry crafted a stylish bodysuit that features the safe-sex message "It's what's on the outside that counts." (You know. Like protection.) The bodysuits retail for $14.90 in the store's DIVIDED department, and like all items in the campaign, 25% of the retail price goes to organizations like Designers Against AIDS.
N.E.R.D. used a clever design which says "Use Your Brain" on their tees, while Yoko Ono's shirts feature "Imagine Peace" written in several different languages. The new campaign line – also featuring designs by Estelle, Tokio Hotel and Marilyn Manson ex- Dita Von Teese – debuted in stores last week.
"The designs have a real '80s feel to them, there's lots of white, bright colors and graffiti-like prints," remarks Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M's head of design. "Girls can wear the pieces with mini's or worn denim and big jewelry, while boys can team them with colored jeans."
Naturally, they make their Fashion Against AIDS items with 100 percent organic cotton.
Johansson concludes, "Fighting AIDS is always of great importance, and H&M is overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and the commitment from each and every celebrity involved in this collection."
Photo by Mike Ruiz
Covering entertainment since the early '90s, David Jenison has conducted over 1,000 interview features that range from roving through Havana with the Happy Mondays to upending the Mayor of Hermosa Beach's house with Pennywise.