ADIFF: designing for global issues

The fashion industry typically projects a stigma of superficiality, wealth, and elitism. The other day, I stumbled across someone who not only breaks that stigma, but completely creates a new sect of the industry from the collection turned brand she made.

Angela Luna, a former Parsons School of Design student, created ADIFF brand. ADIFF is a socially-conscious, humanitarian fashion startup that aims to provide clothing and aid to refugees in need, funded by purchases from the brand.

Her senior collection consisted of versatile pieces of clothing such as coats and jackets that acted as other tools that could be useful for survival. The transformable garments she created are waterproof, weatherproof, basically everything-proof. They can literally turn into tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. Some even have different reflective qualities that can aid in visibility when it's dark out. Others are equipped to double as flotation devices and can even carry children.

Angela Luna wants her creations to not only go to refugees in need, but also to America's homeless population as well. Raising awareness about groups of people in need is a key message that ADIFF continues to project.

Seeing something as organically genuine as this brand is extremely heartwarming and inspiring to me. The fashion industry needs to take accountability for itself and all of the negative aspects about it by starting to do things like Angela Luna is doing, and actually put those words on a t-shirt at NYFW talking about human rights to good use by SHOWING that you advocate for people that are suffering around the world. I deem ADIFF as a call to action for every major brand in the fashion industry to show up and show out when it comes to justice. Justice has to implemented on every level of society, and fashion is no exception.

Take a look at her inspiring Ted talk she gave last year:

Brands need to go beyond embracing social consciousness, and literally put their money where their mouths are by developing sustainable clothing that will benefit the environment, and also help people in need. I urge fashion companies to look to Ms. Luna as an exemplary force to be reckoned with.

For more information on ADIFF and how you can support their efforts, visit their website.