This Jan. 25, 2010 file photo shows from left, Erin
O'Connor, Yasmin Le Bon, Sarah Brown wife of the British
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Naomi Campbell and Sheila Atim
pose for photographers as they launch the Fashion For
Relief 2010 campaign to help save lives in Haiti, in
London. Photo by AP.
Naomi Campbell called on the fashion world to do its part
for the Haiti relief effort - and the fashion world answered:
There will be a charity catwalk show pairing top models and
designers at New York Fashion Week.
Campbell organised the first Fashion for Relief event at the
Bryant Park tents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and
has since taken it to Tanzania and Mumbai, India. The return
to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 12 comes at the
right time, Campbell said.
"Everyone else is trying to help Haiti, and we wanted to do
our part on the fashion side of things," Campbell said in a
telephone interview from Paris. "The response has been
overwhelming. No one has said 'no' - which means a lot
because it's such a busy time with designers preparing their
fall collections."
The event is still coming together, but Campbell said she had
called upon her friends, including Christy Turlington and the
Duchess of York, asking them to participate. Celebrity
stylist Rachel Zoe is putting together the looks, and
designer Marc Jacobs has already created a special Louis
Vuitton handbag, one of many items that will go on sale on
the Net-a-Porter Web site March 15, with proceeds going to
the organization CARE.
Campbell also noted that, to make this happen, designer
Charlotte Ronson gave up her original time slot at Fashion
Week, when the new season of styles are previewed for
editors, retailers and stylists.
"Fashion for Relief only works if everyone comes together and
makes it work," Campbell said.
The 39-year-old, who rarely walks the runway nowadays, will
be one of the models. She hasn't retired from the catwalk,
she said, although she saves most of her appearances for
charity shows.
"Naomi is a superstar and has a lot of connections," said
Ivan Bart, senior vice president of IMG Models. "She can make
some phone calls and put on a show."
Bart promises an entertaining event, which isn't at odds with
its serious mission. "Raising money to help people doesn't
have to be boring. It's an opportunity for people who don't
normally go to fashion shows to get into this world."
Tickets will go on sale to American Express cardmembers
Friday through Ticketmaster.
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