What do Gucci Creative Director, Frida Giannini; Beyoncé “Bow Down” Knowles-Carter; and Salma Hayek Pinault all have in common (besides the obvious: daughters who will most likely be fashion-forward)? These mothers are also concerned about their intellectual empowerment and women’s welfare around the world and have come together to co-found Chime For Change, a Gucci initiative. The not-for-profit enterprise will launch with ten short films narrated by Hayek with music by Beyoncé. Focusing on education, health, and justice, the first film will tell the story of Nigerian democracy activist, Hafsat Abiola. But more than just raising awareness, Chime for Change will encourage people around the world to support girls’ and women’s projects. “This is the emergency and the opportunity of today,” said Giannini. “We have reached a significant moment in the history of girls’ and women’s empowerment and now is the time for change. I think it is essential for girls and women to see and celebrate what is possible. I hope that through ‘Chime’ we can help the voices calling for change to become so loud that they cannot be ignored.”
For the past seven years, Gucci has collaborated with UNICEF in support of girls’ education and has founded two women’s film awards, the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award with the Tribeca Film Institute and the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema with the Venice Film Festival. It also supports Kering’s (PPR) Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity and Rights. Also on board are Sarah Brown, Arianna Huffington, John Legend, François-Henri Pinault, Jada Pinkett Smith, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
On June 1st, a global concert event led by Beyoncé will occur in London in support of girl’s and women’s issues. Learn how you can get involved at www.chimeforchange.org.
