How can fashion empower women? In many ways of course, and one of fashion’s biggest names is throwing its support behind women in a really tangible way. Luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter (founded and run by a woman, we might add) is launching a capsule collection by a number of leading international designers for International Women’s Day on Sunday March 8.
Net-a-Porter will donate 20 per cent of profits generated from sales from the collection on March 8 to the UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality. Designers involved include Anya Hindmarch, Anna Sui, Bella Freud and Smythson among others.
Each piece commissioned for the collection is a symbol of female power, with the designers involved entwining their personal politics and belief systems into their signature style. For some, it was seen as chance to be heard.
For designer Bella Freud, clothes became her placard, “I will always support the Sisterhood – this jumper is my protest poster,” she said of her ‘solidarite feminine’ jumper.
For Chinti and Parker, the message was that femininity and feminism can exist as one,
“A pink garland of intarsia stars, symbolising unity and strength, are knitted alongside hearts, which represent compassion and femininity. We wanted to create a piece that was symbolic and empowering, with a timeless and global appeal,” said the designers behind the label.
Smythson wants women to capture their true feelings, and be total #girlboss.
Meanwhile Edie Parker’s clutch put women front and centre,
“This ‘Femme’ clutch transforms a classic handbag into a stylish statement of identity. We are proud to wear the word as a badge of honor,” she said.
Net-a-Porter hopes that their message of empowering women, and striving for gender equality, becomes part of the conversation this International Women’s Day. To join in post a photo of yourself and what empowers you to social media with the hash tag, #empoweredby.
