We already love them both for their individual talents and their individual styles. In this issue we love them even more for what they are doing with regards to paying it forward and giving back to society and working with global fashion brands in doing so. One is working with a Gucci backed initiative and the other with Diesel and Studio Africa. We know one as King Bey and she’s here to takeover 2013 and we know the other as Solo a fashion icon of our time and one not scared to speak out!
Beyoncé, Frida Giannini, and Salma Hayek Pinault launched a new Gucci global campaign for female empowerment, Chime For Change. The initiative aims to raise funds and awareness in support of projects for girls and women around the world, through sharing “powerful stories” about inspiring females. The trio will work with an ‘Advisory Board’ of issues experts, advocates and global leaders, including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“I have always felt strongly about equal opportunity for women. Girls have to be taught from early on that they are strong and capable of being anything they want to be. It’s up to us to change the statistics for women around the world. I’m honoured to be in the company of women who live fearlessly and set an example for the next generation of young ladies.” Beyonce
Chime For Change serves to “convene, unite and strengthen voices speaking out for girls and women around the world and will focus on three key pillars: Education, Health and Justice”
“This is the emergency and the opportunity of today. 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.” Frida Giannini,
Through its partner Catapult, Chime for Change encourages people throughout the world to support girls’ and women’s projects in a personalized, individual way. Catapult enables citizen philanthropy and is the first crowd-funding platform dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women. Catapult connects CHIME FOR CHANGE community members directly to organizations and projects focused on the causes that matter most to them, and currently represents over 50 organizations in 38 countries.
A major announcement will be made in mid-March regarding a global event that promises to put girls’ and women’s issues on the world stage.
http://www.facebook.com/chimeforchange
“My love for African fashion, music and art runs deep to my core and has been a significant source of inspiration to me as an artist. I’m constantly being exposed to such innovative African talent so I’m excited that Diesel + Edun is celebrating that extraordinary creativity through Studio Africa and taking me along for the journey!”
In January 2012, DIESEL founder Renzo Rosso and EDUN founders Ali Hewson and Bono travelled to Uganda and Mali, where they shared their love of the continent and toured each other’s programs: DIESEL’s Only The Brave Foundation project in Dioro, Mali and EDUN’s Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI) in Uganda. The experience encouraged them to join forces to further apparel trade and development in Africa under the name DIESEL+EDUN.
Solange has been confirmed as an advocate for Studio Africa. Studio Africa, a celebration of the creativity of nine African artists featured in the campaign spanning fashion, film, music, literature and photography, launched with a series of global live events with Boiler Room. London, Tokyo and more cities will have their own launches. The Studio Africa designers will bring the spirit of a collection called Diesel+EDUN to life. Solange has lent her voice to support DIESEL+EDUN project.
http://www.diesel.com/diesel+edun
Photo Credit: Google Images
Chaud: The Magazine 
As always it’s great to see celebrities give back and or participate in relevant campaigns.
Kudos to Solange and Beyonce. I also like that the campaigns that they have chosen to get behind are things that we associate them with. i.e Beyonce is seen as a role model for girls and women so for her to participate in a campaign that speaks directly to that demographic is a great move. Solange is a well known creative and lover of all things Africa so in the same vein it’s great for her to speak to the people who look to her for what is cool to say, introduce people to the creativity and coolness of Africa. Love it.