Empowerment manifestos are everywhere (see Dior’s Paris show set on Tuesday) but to say they are in fashion would be doing them injustice – after all, female empowerment is not a trend but a real, tangible and long overdue shift in fashion.

On Tuesday evening. Stacey Bendet, Nicky Hilton Rothschild and artist Lakwena co-hosted a Female Empowerment Dinner to celebrate the new Alice + Olivia x Lakwena capsule collection in aid of Lifeway Network’s mission to stop sex trafficking.

The hosts were joined at Zero Bond, the private membership club opening in April, by Chelsea Clinton, Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Francesco Clemente. TK Wonder, Bozoma Saint John, and TK Wonder, as well as CFDA members including Zac Posen, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia and Gigi Burris.

Bendet’s collaboration with the London-based artist is about messages of empowerment marking International Women’s Day on March 8 and Women’s History Month – think “Raise your Hopes”, “Lift You Higher,” and “Power.”

“I love the positivity and graphic beauty of Lakwena’s artwork,” said Bendet. “Each of her works are visual symbols of strength and optimism!”
As for Lakwena, she loved seeing her paintings come to life in garments. “I’m really happy that we’re also able to use this as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with survivors of sex trafficking,” she said.

Ten percent of sakes will go to LifeWay Network, an organization that Hilton Rothschild supports.

“Human trafficking is a modern-day epidemic that many do not even realize exists today,” said Hilton Rothschild said, “I am so grateful that Alice + Olivia has collaborated with Lawkwena to bring awareness to this global issue. Educating the public is one of the most important things we can continue to do to prevent human trafficking.”