TOeven fashion takes the field for take a stand against the Russian-Ukrainian war and to concretely help the populations victims of the conflict. In addition to the Ferragni sisters, Silvia Venturini Fendi, Donatella Versace and Balenciaga also expressed themselves on social media. Among the first to publicly take a position of King Giorgio with his silent show during Milan fashion week. But also concrete help through donations from: Gucci, Valentino and the LVMH group.
Fashion for Ukraine
There have been many (even overseas) to criticize the brands that have paraded at Milan Fashion Week without having changed their plans in the slightest. Except for Giorgio Armani (who walked without music) and Elisabetta Franchi (who commented from backstage) almost nothing was done. Lack of time, certainly, no one could expect such a capitulation. To be honest, the demonstrations were off the catwalks. And especially on Saturday, they replaced the usual street style. Outside Dolce & Gabbana, from Max Mara, Prada, to Armani.
Milan Fashion Week, some protesters outside the Max Mara fashion show.
An official statement came right away from Carlo Capasa, President of the National Chamber of Fashionin the last days of Milan Fashion Week, «Italy sells around 1.2 billion euros in luxury goods to Russian customers every year”. On an economic level, this relationship it involves more than 11 thousand companies and the concern is evident, given that this conflict, in addition to breaking hearts, risks creating serious economic damage (also) to the world of Made in Italy fashion.
And the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has already begun to impact the fashion & luxury sector. After the collapse of stocks on the stock market that occurred at the outbreak of the conflict last week, Europe, exhausted by two years of pandemic, is preparing to face the economic consequences on several fronts. Yet, fashion does not stop, quite the contrary. On the eve of the Parisian fashion week is Ralph Toledano, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, to explain: «The ability to express oneself creatively is based on the principle of freedom. And the role of fashion is to contribute to individual and collective emancipation in our societies “. This is why the games must not be stopped. But support must certainly be given.
Protesters at Milan Fashion Week outside the Giorgio Armani fashion show.
The solidarity of the big brands
And so it is happening. From Silvia Venturini Fendi, Donatella Versace, Olivier Rousteing, Massimo Giorgetti and Alessandro Dell’Acqua. There have been many stylists who have expressed their solidarity on social media. There are also many initiatives already launched in support. Gucci, for example, he communicated his position on the Instagram account: «In the wake of a growing humanitarian crisis across Europe, Chime for Change, Gucci’s long-standing global campaign to bring together, unite and strengthen voices supporting equality gender, is donating $ 500,000 to UNHCRthe UN agency to provide emergency support to refugees fleeing violence in Ukraine ”.
Similar operation also for the maison Valentino who through Pierpaolo Piccioli supported the operation launched by the Italian Chamber of Fashion with a donation of 500,000 euros a UNHCR support for the reception of Ukrainian refugees. Also Prada joins with a donation and declares to have the health of colleagues and family members in Ukraine as a priority. The LVMH group, instead, he pledged to donate 5 million euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help the direct and indirect victims of the war.
On the other hand, both the Italian Chamber of Fashion and the L’Oréal group, which Otb Foundation, the foundation of the Renzo Rosso Group. «Fashion builds bridges, promotes the union between people and cultural exchange, spreads values of inclusion. In these days of international crisis it is important to remember how everyone can contribute to building a better world and a sustainable and supportive future. Our attention is turned to all the people who suffer ». So explained Carlo Capasa.
And if the National Chamber of Italian Fashion has allocated a large part of the proceeds accumulated in this fashion week just passed, the The Oréal Fund for Women has already donated one million euros. In addition, the French multinational has already distributed personal hygiene products to refugees and will donate another 300,000 in the coming weeks. Furthermore, the group is helping its 326 Ukrainian employees and their families with whom it is in constant contact and, for those who have decided to leave the country, it has started a support mechanism through its local organizations in neighboring areas.
Balenciaga in the front row
First brand in order of time to show its solidarity: Balenciaga, who instantly cleared the Instagram feed from each past post in favor of a new one with the image of the Ukrainian flag. Then, he undertook to “report and transmit information on the situation in Ukraine”. In addition, the parent company, Kering, said it will make a “significant donation” to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency.
There are many brands that have been moving in the last few hours. How Mango which itself has a real attack plan that provides for mentoring by local teams to all employees and their relatives who have left the country, legal and financial support to employees who remain in the country and assistance to Ukrainian and Russian employees at the Company’s headquarters. In addition, the Spanish brand made a donation of 100 thousand euros to the International Red Cross.
Meanwhile, more and more brands have said they have stopped processing online orders to Russian customers. On the site of Nike, we read that “at the moment the company cannot guarantee the delivery of goods to customers who place orders from Russia”. You can only make purchases in person in the stores. The group did the same Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, owned by Richemont. AND Adidas suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Association. We are sure that the demonstrations of solidarity will not be limited to these listed.
The Ferragni sisters
“War is more important than fashion week”. This is just one of the comments to latest posts in full fashion month by Valentina Ferragni on Instagram. Pure hate speech to which the influencer wanted to respond giving his reasons. “We are all close to Ukraine at the moment and through donations we are trying our best to help them. It is not through online criticism and hatred that these problems are emphasized and resolved. But through information and understanding ».
If one thing of this nonsense war Ukraine Russia it is certain, it is that it is not by fomenting hatred that peace is preached. Thus, almost simultaneously, Chiara Ferragni from Paris, with an appeal: “Make a difference for the Ukrainian population even with a small donation,” reads a video. “I have decided to support the concrete actions of @Italian Red Cross: support them too, every little gesture is a concrete help », he wrote, publishing the link in the bio and in the stories to be able to immediately access the donations.
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