“We travel diversity. We travel creativity. We travel doubts. We travel hopes.”
These are just some of the inspiring words CFDA Member Sophie Theallet uses to describe her new campaign called World Citizen. It features an impressive cast of 13 inspiring women, among them singer Corinne Bailey Rae, actresses Gretchen Mol, Neve Campbell and Rossy de Palma, and contemporary dancer-choreographer Blanca Li. They are all friends of the designer whom she loves and admires and sometimes collaborates with. For example, Theallet designed dresses for Li’s Goddesses and Demonesses New York City Center premiere along with Azzedine Alaïa, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney.
Like Theallet and her customers, the stars of the campaign embody real women “who live in a real world, and that world is diverse.”
“I have always been inspired and an advocate for real diversity in our world,” Theallet said as she elaborated on the philosophy behind the images photographed by Henry Leutwyler and Tiziano Magni. “The campaign is a work in progress project. It has a humanistic and genuine approach. It was done instinctively – no stylist, no meeting with creative agencies, no product to specifically sell, just an idea of beauty and humanity.
“I wanted people that I love and respect on many levels,” she added of the cast. “I have a personal relationship and a history with everyone. Strong women, with a voice, unique beauties and journeys…mothers, actresses, models, dancers, singers, poets, rappers… they represent a snapshot of the world we live in.
The message is clear and timely: these women speak to the power of diversity in a highly-connected world.
“I think it is more important than ever to embrace our humanity, our diversity, our cultures and richness,” Theallet noted. “We are all travelers in this World. Traveling through our short lifetime. It does not really matter what part of this rock you were born; what is important is to recognize that we are a whole lot more similar than different. Our richness is within our differences.”
Click through to see images from the #WorldCitizen campaign.
