awareness both through the messages

Beginning in April, H&M is launching a line to make you fashionably aware.  Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) is an extremely important initiative for H&M and this year the collection comes with a new twist...the collection is unisex!  Because the HIV/AIDS message is vital for both women and men, the sporty unisex collection is for everyone to wear in their own way.  H&M is donating 25% of sales to youth HIV/AIDS projects around the world.

“H&M’s FAA campaigns are extremely important, as it is essential to spread the message to young people worldwide to take care and have safe sex. The main message is -- life is beautiful, so keep it that way and be safe, both for yourself and your partner.  HIV is everywhere, not just in Africa, not just in the gay community – HIV concerns us all. If you’re old enough and wise enough to make love, you’re also old and wise enough to take care,” says Ninette Murk, founder and creative director, Designers Against AIDS (DAA).

With this new H&M collection, ladies can work that boyfriend look that is trending on the runways of New York this year.  Guys are able to be more stylish in the way they dress with this collection.  The starting point is shape and detail, with sporty T-shirts, blousons and parkas that can be personalized.  Sleeves can be rolled up or zipped off, waists can be belted and garments can be adapted from one item into another.  Comfort is key and H&M uses natural colors and pale pastels to confirm the use as a unisex collection.

This will be the fourth year of H&M’s FAA initiative, which aims to promote safe sex and HIV/AIDS awareness both through the messages found in the collection and through the advocacy of the organizations which benefit from the sales.  The money has been divided between Designers Against AIDS (DAA), YouthAids which focuses on its projects in Haiti and Russia to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in chronically affected areas, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.