American Apparel, Los Angeles, has teamed up with artisans from Sierra Leone to create a limited edition T-shirt collection.
According to Apparel, a New York-based creative named Massah KaiKai pitched the idea to American Apparel. KaiKai wanted to use the project to shift the focus from the nation’s civil war and struggle with Ebola to a more positive portrayal of the nation through creativity and expression.
American Apparel shipped thousands of T-shirts to Sierra Leone, where a group of local artisans created the limited edition tie-dyed T-shirts. The shirts have been available in store and online starting last week, and each shirt is unique.
“Sierra Leone has faced some obstacles, but it’s such a vibrant country where opportunity is possible for people with ideas and passion,” KaiKai told Apparel. “I hope Sierra Leoneans are inspired by what we’ve done in partnership with American Apparel to showcase this talented community.”
Fifty percent of the T-shirt sales proceeds will go toward the artisans who made the collections.
“American Apparel has always been a strong advocate for fair wages,” Jon Henry Szymanski, director of co-branding and philanthropy at American Apparel, told Apparel.
For more information on American Apparel, visit www.americanapparel.net.
