Fashion takes the field against racism

The Italian capital celebrates inclusiveness. On International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination, Spazio Europa, located in Rome and run by the Representative fffice of the European Parliament and the Representative office of the European Commission in Italy, held the 10th edition of the «Fashion dresses peace» International award, conceived by Afg-African fashion gate founder Nicola Paparusso. Antonio Parenti, head of the European Commission representation in Italy, opened the event with a welcome greeting.

Afg president Marietou Dione then took the stage to present the awards to personalities who stood out for their commitment to promote diversity and inclusion, and the fight against racism. Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of Nobel peace prize winner Nelson Mandela and Afg honorary chair, should have been there as well, but she sent a video message to all participants.

Fashion icon, actress, activist, and Fashion for relief founder Naomi Campbell was awarded for her continuously campaign and advocation against racism in fashion and beyond. The supermodel, who was also not present, spoke remotely. Founder and president of Otb group Renzo Rosso and vice president of Otb foundation Arianna Alessi were also awarded. In addition to the many projects supported by the foundation, they have mobilized to welcome Ukrainian refugees to Italy by giving them housing, food, clothing, health care, and education, up to and hiring them in their company.

Piero Piazzi, president of women management, and Massimo Leonardelli, ceo  of Leonardelli pr, for their commitment as ambassador and president of To.Get.(T)here, respectively, the association they founded, and which is operating in Uganda and South Sudan to help abandoned orphaned and hiv-positive children in extreme poverty. Lelio Gavazza, executive vice president sales and retail of the Lvmh brand, received the award on behalf of Jean-Christophe Babin, ceo of the Bulgari group. Luisa Panconesi, president of the LuisaViaRoma x Unicef event committee, was awarded for carrying out activities to support Unicef’s programs aimed at protecting and securing the rights of vulnerable women all around the world. Finally, Massimo Giannini, editor of La Stampa, for his commitment to social issues. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the «Fashion dresses peace» award was held in Brussels, in the European Parliament building, but it has been held in Italy ever since.

This year’s edition honored Vivienne Westwood, whom Nicola Paparusso and Afg knew and esteemed. To date, the award has been given to fashion system icons such as Franca Sozzani, designers Valentino Garavani, Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, president of the Italian chamber of fashion (Cnmi) Carlo Capasa, Santo Versace, but also figures from other sectors such as president of Italian Football Federation (Figc) Gabriele Gravina, and Ceo of Rai cinema Paolo Del Brocco.

African fashion gate is in fact a permanent laboratory of cultural initiatives and interventions against all forms and episodes of racism, discrimination, and exclusion in the world of fashion, arts, entertainment, and sports. (all rights reserved)