Fashion industry heavyweights Diane Von Furstenberg and Anna Wintour have joined forces to fight against mother-to-child HIV transmission with a newly launched charity project, Bornfree.
Founded by John Megrue, CEO of Apax Partners US, and with the support of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), represented by its President, Diane Von Furstenberg, American Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour, and e-commerce site, Shopbop, Bornfree has the ambitious goal of eliminating mother-to-baby HIV transmissions by the end of 2015.
In 2012, 260,000 children worldwide were infected with HIV—either transmitted from their mothers at birth or via breast-feeding. Meanwhile, one medical pill per day can prevent 98% of HIV transmissions. Bornfree aims to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmissions by financing local HIV prevention centers and giving HIV-infected mothers free access to medicine.
Women entrepreneurs teamed up to design mother and child related clothes and accessories that will launch exclusively this Spring on Shopbop.com, with earnings going to the global health community dedicated to the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmissions. Diane Von Furstenberg already previewed her customized baby-bag and scarf with prints by Kenyan artist, Wangechi Mutu.
Joining Furstenberg and Wintour’s noble cause are Miuccia Prada, Victoria Beckham, Isabel Marant, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Gisele Bündchen, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Isabel Marant, Phoebe Philo, Sarah Burton, Consuelo Castiglioni, Tory Burch, Alberta Ferretti, Liya Kebede, Clare Waight Keller, Jenna Lyons, Georgina Chapman, Keren Craig, Rachel Roy, and Ivanka Trump.
You, too, can help to fight mother-to-child HIV transmissions by donating and spreading the word via Bornfree’s social media.
—Elisabeta Tudor
