The Fashion Statement: International Women's Day

by Kristin Young (RSS feed)
Mar 5th 2010 at 9:00AM

Big names in fashion and music are hoping to bring more attention to International Women's Day that- although a United Nations-supported holiday-gets less PR than Columbus Day. IWD falls on Monday, March 8, which is a designated time to celebrate the social economic and political achievements of women.

Diane von Furstenberg, fashion designer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), is putting out Proud to be Woman, a compilation CD to benefit Vital Voices, an organization dedicated to empowering women worldwide. The CD features female artists such as Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige, Estelle, Bebel Gilberto, Christina Aguilera, Angelique Kidjo, Mozella and Annie Lenox, among others. The CD goes for $15.99 (proceeds will benefit Vital Voices) and will be sold at DVF boutiques worldwide, dvf.com and on iTunes at itunes.com/dvf.

DVF boutiques will also host two events: Estelle is expected to attend the March 8 party in New York. Another event will be held on March 16 in Los Angeles with Mozella slated to appear. There will also be a Proud to be Woman tote bag, for $35. From March 8 to March 15, some10 percent of the sales will go to Vital Voices.

What's better than shopping and doing some good along the way?

International Woman's Day has always had close ties to the fashion industry. Started in 1909, IWD came to commemorate the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 in which 146 garment workers, all women, either died from the fire or jumped to their death. The sewing shop managers had locked the doors preventing cigarette breaks during shifts. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, which victimized Jewish and Italian immigrants, changed labor laws and working conditions standards in the U.S. forever. Subsequent IWD events focused on this legislation that made sweatshops illegal.

Today, IWD is an official holiday in China, Russia and Vietnam, among many other countries. Men give small gifts and flowers to mothers, wives, girlfriends and colleagues. On Monday, women from all over the world will be holding political rallies, business conferences, networking events, craft markets and-last but not least-fashion shows to celebrate. You can do your part by shopping.

And, BTW, you can also still pick up a limited-edition CFDA-backed "Fashion For Haiti" T-shirt for $25 with the proceeds going to benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund raising money for those in need.

Tags: CFDA, Diane von Furstenberg, DianeVonFurstenberg, International Womens Day, InternationalWomensDay, Mary J. Blige, MaryJ.Blige, Proud to be Woman, ProudToBeWoman