To make as clear as possible the dedication that Balmain and Olivier Rousteing share for supporting the essential work of (RED) and The Global Fund, Olivier Rousteing traveled to Lyon to participate in the Global Fund Replenishment conference. In this video, Rousteing explains why he so strongly supports the efforts of The Global Fund and (RED).
To say that I was honored to be asked to participate in the Global Fund Replenishment conference would be the understatement of the year. As a Frenchman, I am extremely proud that my country and President Macron hosted this important gathering, which brought together both government and private sector donors, in order to pledge the needed financial support for the fight to end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The conference’s goal of securing $14 billion over the next three years would enable the Global Fund to support programs that could save 16 million lives.
Those totals may be impressive, but the challenge remains a daunting one. Today, in spite of all the advances we’ve made in recent years, AIDS kills more young people than any other disease worldwide. There are 400 HIV-infected babies born every day. Right now, there are nearly 15 million children across the globe who have lost a parent to AIDS—and most of those children live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is most prevalent. That last fact, in particular, hits very close to home. Having spent my earliest years in an orphanage, there are few things that can affect me as much as the struggles of a vulnerable child.
Learning about The Global Fund’s impressive record of working with the team at (RED) to support the needed efforts of educating, empowering and protecting the globe’s citizens has helped make clear to me that if we truly want to end AIDS in our lifetime, we actually have the power to do that. Every day, The Global Fund/(RED)’s successes ensure that fewer babies lose their parents to AIDS and that fewer children are born with HIV — which is why Balmain and I are dedicated to working as closely as we can with (RED) in order to help raise both the awareness and the funds needed for the Global Fund’s essential work.
For our first collaboration with (RED), we turned one of fashion’s most renowned red carpets—that of the Met Gala in New York City—into a true ‘(RED)’ carpet. I made special designs for each of Balmain’s 2018 Met Gala guests, which were later donated and auctioned off to help raise money and awareness.
This summer, my Men’s Spring 2020 Collection was presented as part of a one-of-a-kind Balmain music and fashion festival in support of (RED)’s fight against AIDS. There were special (RED) food and beverage items available for sale, as well as limited-edition (RED) + Balmain wristbands, cups and messaging onsite for people to learn about the AIDS fight.
And today, in support of the Lyon Replenishment conference and as part of Balmain’s continuing efforts, we are happy to relaunch the (BALMAIN)RED t-shirt and water bottle, which are now available for sale on Balmain.com.
Olivier Rousteing
Lyon, France
10 October 2019
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