The long-awaited selection of the international Spokes Model Ambassador for Fashion Hope has resulted with the choice of Pakistani born and Canada native Zara Durrani.
In addition to her notoriety for her work with designers in fashion events and campaigns, and her breath-taking editorials and covers published by Vancouver Sun, Eastern Eye (UK), Asian City Newspaper (UK), Hello! Pakistan amongst many others.
Zara Durrani is well known in Canada for her spiritual and entertainment talk show Life & Style with Zara. “Our goal is to enrich the lives of our viewers and promote diversity and understanding.”
The show wrapped its first season with 13 episodes, airing on 4 networks across Canada. 2012 was a very exciting and busy year for Zara as she returned to her first love; acting. She finished 3 feature films in 3 different countries, Canada, US and Mexico. As an activist Zara has voiced her opinions on women’s and children’s rights and eating disorders. She also worked as the official reporter for We Canada, the Canadian Initiative for Earth Summit 2012.
“There are an estimated 27million to 40 million people enslaved and trafficked today – more than any other time in recorded history,” quotes Fashion Hope founder Marc Palmer. “Fashion Hope was created to bridge human trafficking advocacy and restoration with the world of fashion and creative artists in an effort to raise awareness and funds in global communities.”
“We have to wake our fashion community up, make them aware of the greatest human rights atrocity of our time…and we have to call them to action now.” Fashion Hope’s vision, in conjunction with industry partners and front line organizations, is to bring awareness through the fashion media events and raise funds to rescue and house 100,000 or more in the next 10 years.
Signing Zara Durrani as an Ambassador to speak out about Human Trafficking is an important step and a natural fit for Fashion Hope, given her dedication to humanitarian work.
“As an entertainer and artist, I have aspired to make a positive impact on the world around me. I am truly excited and honoured to work with Fashion Hope and help raise awareness on such an important matter.”
“So we are indeed excited to have her as a spokesperson for our organization on a worldwide level,” agree Marc Palmer CEO and Kathleen Grace Donnelly VP of Marketing and Sponsorship, Fashion HOPE.
“To us, Zara will be triple threat with her grace, beauty and humanitarian compassion – along with the tenacity to speak her passion. She will speak for Fashion Hope touching places only her voice could reach. We are truly grateful for this period in the early growth of our organization, and look forward to working with Zara on awareness campaigns starting this February with the Nolcha Fashion Week and Oscars Gifting Suites events.
Photography: Andrew Leduc
ABOUT FASHION HOPE
Fashion Hope launched in May 2011. After looking at ways in which we could use fashion as a vehicle to make a difference, Fashion Hope was born.
Fashion Hope builds awareness and raises funds in the fashion industry, then partners with Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) that are doing the front line work to rescue and rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking. Involving fashion press, celebrities, designers, local boutiques and other industry experts, we engage a significant audience with the real images and stories of human trafficking, exposing what is perhaps the gravest human rights atrocity of our time. Most importantly, our global audience, sponsors, vendors and collaborators will gain true awareness about the enormous implications of human trafficking (i.e. transparency in supply chain and fair trade standards), as a by-product of our work.
Celebrity activists team up with Fashion Hope to do various awareness projects with Fashion events and Fashion Weeks, The Oscar’s, Grammy’s, Sundance Film Festival, and Emmy’s to name a few. We are always looking to partner with local organizations.
Fashion Hope is launching their online boutique on February 14th, 2013 – that will allow ethical designers a voice and a way to make an impact on the lives of the enslaved and free.
