Some of the biggest celebrities from the world of fashion, music and style will be joining H&M and Designers Against AIDS (DAA) for Fashion Against AIDS, to help fight the disease and raise youth awareness. Katy Perry, Dita

Estelle for H&M

Von Teese, N.E.R.D and Yoko Ono are among the artists who will collaborate with H&M on designs for T-shirts, T-shirt dresses, vests and bodies. 25% of the sales price will be donated to youth HIV/AIDS awareness projects. The collection, in 100% organic cotton, for both guys and girls will go on sale in H&M’s youth DIVIDED department from May 28 2009.

“The designs have a real 80’s feel to them, there’s lot

s of white, bright colours and graffiti-like prints. Girls can wear the pieces with mini’s, or worn denim and big jewellery, while boys can team them with coloured jeans or rolled-up chinos – it all adds to that 80s feeling. 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.” Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M head of design.

“H&M and Fashion Against AIDS are so important to us because we could never reach so many young people on our own. AIDS is still very much a subject that’s vitally important today. People build their attitude towards their sex lives when they’re very young, so it’s important for them to realize that safe sex is a vital part of that as early as possible.” Ninette Murk, founder, Designers Against AIDS.

Tokio Hotel for H&M

For this year’s Fashion Against AIDS collection, the message is loud and clear, with bold slogans and colours as vibrant as the summer. “PROTECTION IS POWER”

Katy Perry for H&M

reads the print from RÓISÍN MURPHY across a T-shirt, wrapped around the front and back of a body, while N.E.R.D uses a clever graphic to shout out “USE YOUR BRAIN” on coloured vests and T-shirts. ESTELLE’s contribution has the slogan “LIFE IS TOO SHORT – HAVE SEX BE SAFE” printed on a vest next to a sassy silhouette of an empowered woman, while KATY PERRY’s clever safe sex message is “IT’S WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS” on both a body and a cap-sleeved Tee. CYNDI LAUPER’s 80’s feeling design has the words “GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE SAFE SEX” as if scribbled in pink lipstick on a black vest, while YOKO ONO repeats the words “IMAGINE PEACE” in languages from around the world on coloured T-shirts. ROBYN’s feisty statement is “Protect your body” on a T-shirt with printed diamonds, while DITA VON TEESE, already a champion of AIDS causes, offers an alluring image of her iconic red lips and arched brow on a

Dita von Teese for H&M

cute cap-sleeved Tee.

“It’s an honor to be asked to take part in this brilliant project. Every little thing that we do as individuals can add up to something that makes a major impact in the fight against HIV. With the purchase of these stylish t-shirts, you can be a part of something that makes a huge difference in this pandemic, while looking super-chic!” Dita Von Teese.

Forwomenonline.com