While the majority of the attention in the political sphere is currently centered around the Republican candidates, the Obama campaign is currently working up a major fashion initiative called "Runway to Win," which has enlisted 22 designers to help create products to raise funds for President Obama's re-election campaign, WWD reports.
The administration recently teased the new "Runway to Win" venture (which takes its cues off a similar "Runway to Change" initiative in 2008) in its official blog, but WWD reports that the real engineer behind rallying many of the designers was Anna Wintour, who has been a prominent supporter of President Obama. Vogue itself was reportedly "instrumental" in wrangling designers like Marc Jacobs, especially, whose parent company, LVMH, was apparently initially reticent to allow the designers in its stable to participate.
Starting Thursday, the final roster of designers -- including Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Joseph Altuzarra, Rag & Bone, Tory Burch, and Rachel Roy -- will reportedly sell an array of products on runwaytowin.com, with the proceeds going to the Obama Victory Fund.
Historically, New York designers have played a vocal role in a number of political causes -- most especially gay marriage -- and considering that the Obamas (especially Mrs. Obama) have brought such a spotlight to American fashion, it stands to reason that a number of designers would sign up for the initiative. It is noteworthy, though, that Oscar de la Renta -- who has criticized Mrs. Obama for not wearing American designers when it matters -- does not appear to be on the list. CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, however, clearly feels the pros of supporting the Obamas outweigh the cons.
