The proceeds will be split between several charitable organisations tackling racism and discrimination
Last year, Creatives 4 Systemic Change debuted a charity fashion raffle. For just £10, you were able to enter the sale to win pieces that had been donated by a roster of designers. This included the likes of Eckhaus Latta, Di Petsa, Wales Bonner, Goom Heo, and more. All the money raised was donated in an equal split to selected charities supporting the Black trans community, such as The Marsha P Johnson Institute, For The Gworls, and The Okra Project, with the total raised reaching almost $50,000.
This month, the sale is back, with over 60 designers participating. This time, C4SC has teamed up with online marketplace APOC Store, which supports and sells new and emerging design talent. So naturally, there are also some new names worth mentioning, such as 69, Ugo Paulon, WED, Chet Lo, Conner Ives, and motoguo, who have all donated pieces to the sale. Funds will be directed to charities benefiting the Asian community in response to the rising anti-Asian hate in the west, the Asian garment workers that suffered from the pandemic consequences, Awaj Foundation, Hackney Chinese Community Services, and Red Canary Song, a grassroots massage worker coalition based in the United States. For The Gworls remains a beneficiary for 2021, as does the HOME by Ronan McKenzie Grant Program.
“We still wanted to keep it really simple in the same format as last year,” explains a spokesperson for C4SC. “The biggest change is that we’ve shifted the main focus to the anti-Asian hate crimes that have been ongoing during the spread of Covid,” they continue. “There is a long history of racism towards the Western Asian community that is often downplayed with the ‘model minority’ myth. Our biggest priority is to support smaller organisations where the funds are going directly to the people who need it and are led by those communities – for example, AWAJ Foundation is led by garment workers for garment workers. For the Gworls is led by Black trans people for Black trans people.”
APOC co-founders Jules Volleberg and Ying Suen and C4SC plan for the sale to become an annual event, to continue advocating for important social and political causes. They also want to ensure that the welfare of independent designers stays front and centre to their collective mission in the process. “As designers ourselves we’re very cognizant of the fact it can be draining to be constantly asked for free work – and especially so if they are a smaller designer making one off items,” they say. “Along with supporting these amazing charities we hope that all the designers feel supported and enjoy their experience, too.”
Raffle ticket sales close on 27 June with tickets costing £10 for a specific piece or £5 to win a mystery item. To enter, visit the C4SC website.
