Four years ago, retail giant H&M launched its Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) campaign, consisting of a limited-edition apparel line aimed at both heightening awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic via clever slogans and images and at raising funds for international non-profit organizations and initiatives — among them Designers Against AIDS (DAA), the peer advocacy and AIDS education NGO that initially proposed the concept to H&M brass; YouthAids, a global health organization that focuses on condom social marketing, HIV treatment and counseling, and community outreach programs that aim to change behavioral patterns and thereby curtail the spread of AIDS, particularly in areas with high incidences of HIV; the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, which uses mass media resources to educate youth about HIV prevention; and the United Nations Population Fund, which focuses on prevention and treatment of HIV in at-risk populations all over the world. During this time time frame, H&M has donated over $41 million to these organization. The campaign's success, then, is a testament to the power of fashion as a conduit for social change.
Given the noble nature of the campaign, then I'd like nothing more than to rave about the latest H&M Fashion Against AIDS collection, set to hit stores on April 26th (as with previous collections, 25% of proceeds will be donated to he aforementioned HIV/AIDS projects). Unfortunately, from a purely aesthetic point-of-view, the latest collection sinks below lackluster into treacherously ghastly territory.
Each piece in the unisex collection is meant to appeal to both female and male customers, with loose silhouettes that can (theoretically) be styled as desired and hence don't reinforce traditional gender-based fashion rules. Male consumers might wear the collection's slogan-emblazoned orange and mint green tees with jeans, Dunks, and hoodies, while female buyers might roll up the sleeves, tug at the necklines to reveal more of their neck and shoulder areas, and accessorize these with low-slung belts. It's a fair enough concept — save for the fact that most women have smaller shoulders and curvier silhouettes, not to mention that they require more room in the bosom area.
The idea gets even more impractical as we move on from tees to other garments. A white, long-sleeved, button-down shirt is billed as being an essential for any man's wardrobe and a great piece for women seeking a boyfriend-inspired look, as they could potentially roll up the sleeves, undo a few buttons, cinch the waist and wear as a dress, styling the piece with their own dose of feminine moxie. It's a sound concept — except for the fact that, when worn as a dress, the shirt looks as formless as a terry cloth bathrobe.
The most head-scratching pieces in the collection, though, are the long-sleeved, hooded, zip-up jumpsuits: a white one featuring all-over, headline-sized black lettering that feels like something Left Eye, Chilli, and T-Boz would've rocked with big floppy hats and condom-adorned sunglasses in TLC's "What About Your Friends" or "Ain't Too Proud Too Beg" videos; and an orange jumpsuit that instantly conjures up images of correctional facilities (really, guys? orange jumpsuits?) and maybe even Goku's signature get-up in the Dragon Ball Z Kai cartoon franchise.
Running shorts, anoraks with sleeves that can be altered via zippers along the elbows, tapered sweatpants, and sleeveless tanks — in the ill-advised yellow, orange, mint green and cream palette selected — complete the collection. Save for one sleeveless belt with a subtle biker motif, most of these pieces are sheer dreckitude (to use André Leon Talley's trademark jab on America's Next Top Model).
It's puzzling that H&M steered so far from its modern, flash, funky prints (like the amazing tribal patterns in last year's collection) but, most of all, it's sad since I doubt this collection will fare well in stores, making this a missed fund-raising opportunity.
Check out more photos below, after the jump.
