GLASTONBURY 2011... (in pictures!)

ALOUD WELCOME FOR CHERYL COLE CHARITY DRESS AUCTION

Singer Cheryl Cole has donated 11 dresses to auction to raise funds for The Cheryl Cole Foundation. Money raised will go to support youth charity The Princes Trust, and will be targeted at vulnerable 16-30 year olds in the North East, such as those who are leaving care, are long term unemployed or are educational underachievers. Through her Foundation, Cheryl hopes to show disadvantaged young people that someone believes in them. The ‘Lowest Unique Bid’ Auction, hosted by ASOS, means that the lowest monetary amount not bid by anyone else will win the auction, so potentially an outfit worn by Cheryl on the X-Factor, or with band-mates in Girls Aloud, could be snapped up for as little as 1p!

ALL FOR CHILDREN

New children’s clothing collection for H&M and UNICEF’s All For Children  

This October,H&M will launch a new range of fashionable children’s clothing to show its support for the UNICEF‘All For Children’ initiative. This scheme aims to generate lasting change for generations of children in some of the most deprived parts of the world, where many of H&M’s clothes are made. 25% of all sales from the All For Children collection will go directly to support UNICEF in their promotion of children’s rights to education and protection among vulnerable communities. The collection updates many classic favourite pieces and is designed to be versatile, so that pieces can be worn throughout the season and beyond.The range will be available in 160 stores worldwide and also online.

FASHION FOR ALL WALKS...

Yesterday we caught up with previous BBC’s The Clothes Show presenter and fashion expert Caryn Franklin at Graduate Fashion Week. Together with Erin O’Connor and Debra Bourne she’s been campaigning to stop the fashion industry’s obsession with 'size zero' and youthful perfection. Their campaign All Walks Beyond the Catwalk aims to encourage the industry to showcase models of all different ages, shapes, size and race. And where better to encourage this by starting with the designers of the future!

We took a leaf out of Caryn’s book this month with our own high fashion editorial shoot featuring a gorgeous and curvaceous 'plus size' model proving you don’t have to be super skinny to pull off wearing amazing clothes and look fabulous.

Check out the shoot and our interview with Caryn in our next issue! 

FASHION TARGETS BREAST CANCER!

Originally founded by Ralph Lauren, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer  (FTBC) was set up in 1994 and has since raised over 11.5 million to support breast cancer sufferers.

This year is no different with a whole host of high street stores once again getting involved in the worthwhile cause. The high street stores are generously donating a percentage of sales to FTBC from a range of their products be it handbags to tees and maxi dresses to swimming costumes.  Check it out for yourselves at stores including Topshop, M&S, River Island, Coast and My-Wardrobe; it’s a perfect excuse to go shopping and do your bit for breast cancer, but remember to keep an eye out for the FTBC logo on the clothing tag!

RECOGNISE'S PICK OF THE BEST:

AAMAYA BY PRIYANKA @ MY-WARDROBE.COM

TOPAZ TRIPLE STONE SIGNATURE RING

£157.00

 RIVER SIAND

PINK SATCHEL BAG

£29.99

TOPSHOP

WHITE SLOGAN TEE

£18.00

Click here to buy products or donate now via the FTBC website.

Words: Jenny Reeder

NO MORE FISH IN THE SEA?

Can you imagine a world without any fish in the oceans? Well, neither can Selfridges as they launch their sustainability initiative, 'Project Ocean'. Selfridges' creative director, Alannah Weston, is partnering up with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and collaborating with the best campaigners and creative minds alike to raise awareness about the issues surrounding overfishing and marine protection.

Selfridges Project Ocean has it all; guides on what fish to eat, interactive exhibitions, films about the issues and debates on the topics. If that still isn’t enough you can also get your hands on some Katharine Hamnett goodies including T- shirts, tote bags and beach towels flaunting slogans such as ‘No More Fish In The Sea’ and 'Stop And Think'.  They kick it all off with a star studded launch party on Wednesday 11th May… See you there!

Project Ocean runs from the 11^th May to 12^th June.  Visit www.selfridges.com for more info.

Pictured: 'SAVE THE SEA' slogan beach towel by Katharine Hamnett for Selfridges' Project Ocean; £33, as featured in RECOGNISE Issue 8 (OUT SOON!)

Words: Jenny Reeder

H&M: FASHION AGAINST AIDS!

Not long after the release of their SS’11 ‘Conscious Collection’, H&M have launched yet another morally-minded range: this time in collaboration with the charity, Designers Against Aids (DAA) to help spread awareness of safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention across the globe. The high street retailer has also roped in an array of A-list celebrities including Keri Hilson, Akon, Selma Blair and The Scissor Sisters to front and support the new ‘Fashion Against Aids’ campaign.

The unisex collection consisting of slogan tees, cool-casual jumpsuits, waterproof parkers and utility accessories is available in stores now with 25% of sales going straight to the DAA as well as other HIV/AIDS prevention projects.

Visit www.hm.com/gb for more information or to shop now!

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, 'CARI-TEES' FOR COMIC RELIEF, RED NOSE DAY!

Vivienne Westwood has created her latest 'Chari-tees' for Comic relief's Red nose day - 18 March 2011.

After working closely with Comic Relief and designing a range of t-shirts, Westwood says: “I once did a collection called ‘I am Expensiv’, meaning that we are supported by the suffering of the whole world in our privilege bubbles and we must try and help people a bit. Comic Relief does a lot and I try to help where I can. My main problem at the minute is climate change. I do believe we are an endangered species and I think it is great to try and do anything you possibly can even if to help just one person. But Comic Relief does more than that.”

Vivenne Westwood is known for making political statements through her work in fashion. Her chari-tees' take inspiration from history. Featuring striking black and white prints of historical figures and icons, prints include Shakespeare, Hogarth imagery, the famous Vivienne Westwood punk girl and skull and cross-bones.

Get yours for comic relief!

Alexandra Burke has been involved with the Born to Believe charity for the last couple of years and recently returned from Haiti from her second trip to see work being done there.

  

"I love the work they do, it's opened my eyes to being more careful and to not take things for granted. I want to spread the message because they are doing a really good thing."

Marks & Spencer Lead The Pack

Marks & Spencer have stepped up in our good books with the report of their half-year progress of Plan A, their eco/ethical programme to become the world's most sustainable major retailer by 2015. 70 of the 180 commitments placed in March have been achieved so far such as...

Digital Death

Numerous celebrities such as Lady GAGA, Justin Timberlake, Jay Sean, Usher, Elijah Wood and Kim Kardashian have all logged out of their social networking guilty pleasures today in commeration with World Aids Day until the Keep A Child Alive charity created by Alicia Keys has been able to raise at least $1 million through donations.

The Giving Factor Too ?

Teenage hearthrobs JLS are following in the steps of Sir Paul McCartney and fellow reality TV band Girls Aloud in releasing their first single, which is also a charity single and has been titled the Official Children In Need song of 2010. The track released on November 14th is their first written song by the guys and also their first ballad after upbeat hits like 'Beat Again' and 'The Club is Alive'.

Now Serving... Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is no stranger to giving back to society so when we heard he'll be dressing up as an air stewardess on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumper to London after losing a bet with Lotus Formula 1 boss Tony Fernandes. We had to let you all know about it.

Crisis Hidden Gigs

If Dorothy learned one thing from her time in Oz it's this: There's no place like home.

But this Christmas hundreds of homeless people will be sleeping rough on the freezing streets and tens of thousands more will be hidden out of sight on friends' and families' sofas and floors, stuck in temporary accommodation or cramped into cold miserable squats without even heat, light or running water. Many don't know where they will end up each night and are often forced to move from place to place, hoping that somewhere, sometime they will find somewhere safe and secure. The general public aren't even aware they are there - they are hidden from view, hidden from help.

Have A Choice...

I Have A Choice is a scheme run with by V-Inspired alongside Catch 22 which allows young people aged 16-25 to volunteer their time to gain new experiences, meet new people.

Mencap's Little Noise Sessions

If you're down London throughout next week, why not head on over to Islington and enjoy 'Little Noise Sessions' down at the Islington Union Chapel. This is a week-long indoor live acoustic festival which hosts the some of the biggest names in music with acts such as U2, Snow Patrol, Kasabian, Noel Gallagher, Florence & The Machine and Amy Winehouse.

On the UK's first ever Kindness Day, a special 'Pause for Kindness' will take place at 1pm on November 13th to inaugurate this annual day that starts this year.

March For Honour

On the 4 November 2010 four teams of serving and ex-serving individuals from each of Her Majesty's Armed Forces will begin an epic 'March For Honour'.Starting in four separate locations across the UK, the teams will dedicate and speed-march a mile for every British military life lost on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Wearing military uniform, each team will march an average of around 30 miles a day and a total distance of up to 250 miles, carrying forty pounds of equipment.

The teams will unite along the route before marching into London on 11 November to deliver the Book of Remembrance to the Royal Albert Hall for The Royal British Legion's National Festival of Remembrance. Their target is to raise £1 million for The Royal British Legion who work so hard to support the welfare, interests and memories of serving and ex-serving forces, and their families.

You can aid The Royal British Legion in reaching their £1million aim by donating online !

Steve O Talks Breast Cancer

Who said Steve O is just about playing really crazy panks on his fellow Jackass-men ? The Jackass star recently sat down with Vanity Fair for their latest issue and opened up about his real issue with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Energizer powers Breast Cancer Awareness month with pink energy pledges!

Looking for a fun and exciting way to raise money for Breast Cancer Care this October? By making a pink energy pledge you can help support people living with breast cancer in the UK and raise money for this fantastic cause.

A pink energy pledge can be anything from promising to use the stairs instead of the lift, taking part in a charity race or making your office a cup of tea each day. It’s really easy and for every unique pledge, Energizer will donate £1 to Breast Cancer Care! Just go on Twitter and make your pledge in 140 characters or less, including #PinkEnergy in your tweet. Help Energizer hit our target of 10,000 pledges by making yours now!

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness month, Energizer has also given their Ultra+ batteries a pink makeover. 5p from the sale of each pink pack will go towards Breast Cancer Care. Buy yours now from Robert Dyas, Argo, Gordons Chemist or online from www.energizer.co.uk and power your gadgets with some pink energy!

Every 11 minutes someone in the UK hears the shocking news that they have breast cancer. So what are you waiting for? Help Energizer support Breast Cancer Care this October and help make a difference.