Fashion is something that has been a part of Evie Evangelou’s life since she was born. As a person who has always been associated with the UN, becoming an advisor to the Secretary General was a natural thing for her to do. As an advisor, Evie was given the opportunity to interview designers in a media platform named Fashion 4 Development. “I took a crew and a microphone and spoke to different designers to see what they were doing about their involvement in fashion development in different countries,” said Evie. It was from this media platform that Evie founded Fashion 4 Development and it has grown into the initiative it is today.

Ray Chambers, MDG Advocate and Special Envoy for Malaria (left) and Evie Evangelou, co-founder and Global Chair of Fashion 4 Development. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

Photo courtesy of www.un.org

Fashion 4 Development functions as a platform for women in undeveloped countries to recognize and develop their fashion industry talents. It assists in the distribution of products, and allows the women the opportunity to cultivate the skills necessary to be successful in the fashion industry. Although F4D has strived to train people in skills that are still crafty to the Western world, these countries still lag in technological advances and a lack of machinery. In order to bridge this gap, Fashion 4 Development helps companies partner off in order to finish products properly. It also provides funding to help workshops get off the ground and get a better feel of what they need to do in order to advance quality.

According to Evie, “During a 6 month period, the African market distributed over $1 million of merchandise and increased its employment. Fashion 4 Development is about utilizing fashion as a tool, a voice, an industry to uplift Africa in every way imaginable. F4D is using fashion as the voice of fair trade and safety regulations in order to prevent accidents such as the Bangladeshi factory fires, and as an outreach for the fashion industry.” Fashion 4 Development is currently partnered with Millennium Development Goals in order to develop eco and sustainable fashion, both of whom are involved in a joint initiative to discover solutions on how to make changes to the fashion industry for the betterment of the environment.

Photo courtesy of www.fashionreverie.com

Fashion 4 Development has been able to have a successful campaign in Eastern countries thanks largely in part to the constant support of the UN in its initiative to create awareness and create opportunities in these developing countries. The UN provides guidance to F4D, and works as a gateway to developing countries. It works with member states and the 196 ambassadors in order to allow entry into governments and countries. In addition to guidance and being the main liaison between F4D and the world, UN along with the World Bank are supporting environmental betterment efforts by working for a possible campaign to promote better water and sanitation to the 1.2 billion people across the globe that don’t have proper sanitation.

When I asked Evie what long term goals she sees for Fashion 4 Development her answer was simple; “Fashion 4 Development wants to be a global brand that can umbrella various projects, products, and campaigns, and really feel that we have touched upon all of the UN Millennium Development Goals and can come to show all the results of our actions. We want everyone in the world to know of Fashion 4 Development, so they can follow suit on their own.” Proving to really be the embodiment of fashion and diplomacy for the entire world, last May the UN Secretary-General committed to appear on the cover of L’Uomo Vogue, the first time a diplomat has been on the cover of a fashion publication, setting F4D on the right track to reach the goal of being a worldwide phenomenon.

 Photo courtesy of www.blacktiemagazine.com