Politics of Fashion: Designers Rally for Obama with Launched 'Runway To Change'

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The designer-driven 'Runway To Change' collection, now available online at Obama's campaign store, was kicked off this week in NYC (notably "smack in the midst of fashion week") with a fund raiser, packed with attendees such as Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tory Burch, Erin Fetherston, and Andre Leon Talley, who all paid between $250-$5,000 to attend.

LA's Rose Apodaca was there participating and chronicling the event: "...the plead to vote Obama reverberated through the space Tuesday night, an audibly emotional request from none other than Anna Wintour." Apodaca soberly remarks that this effort "...is frankly, of much more import to the bottomline of this country’s GNP and image in world markets than anything Marc proclaimed on the runway the evening before." Sarah Palin's nomination fueled the fire: "...the evening and showcased initiative were pulled together as an answer—well, reaction—to Sarah Palin’s confirmation as Republican veep nominee last week." The goal is to raise $2 through the sales of Obama merch—created by designers including Marc Jacobs, Diane von Fuestenberg, Derek Lam, Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Jay-Z, Isaac Mizrahi and others. Tees run around $60; totes are $75. Other items are coming as well—a Proenza Schouler bracelet, Alexander Wang tank (which everyone at the event was crazy over), Rag & Bone tote and more.
· Project Runway for Change [La Vie en Rose]
· Politics of Fashion: DVF, Derek Lam, Tracy Reese and Others Design for Obama [Racked]