We might be used to the many designers being just truly fashion geeks and dedicating their lives to the style and trends. However there are a lot of exceptions, and some as noble as Dr. Rajeev FERNANDO who have managed to be a Doctor, a Fashion Designer and most importantly a Humanitarian Activist.
The collection that he presented at Art Hearts Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week included wide ranging ideas and humanitarian messages, including the male model wearing a black leather jacket with Ukrainian flag and the message Слава Україні! in Ukrainian symbolizing the support for the suffering of innocent live in Ukraine resulting from the vicious and evil Russian aggression. His models were diverse in race and gender further complementing Rajeev’s Humanitarian and Inclusivism message.
Here is the insight and introduction from his own website – https://rajeevfernando.com/
“Rajeev Fernando is globally renowned humanitarian physician. He completed his Disaster Medicine at Harvard Medical School/BIDMC and did his Infectious Diseases fellowship at Dartmouth. He volunteered with Doctors Without Borders in Darfur. Apart that he has led numerous international missions for Tsunami relief, Ukraine and Iraq
His recent work in the US included providing medical assistance for the victims from Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. He continues to help victims from the stubborn Wildfires through acute lung complications amongst others
His passion in fashion began with a five month stint as a sales representative at the Ralph Lauren/Macys store in Palo Alto. From then onward, his leather designs were inspired by from the streets in from the 60 countries he’s traveled. As he volunteered in more disasters around the world, he had a vision on on how to humanize fashion. He designed leather jackets to help mitigate these disasters. All proceeds proceeds from these jackets go to helping victims from conflict.
Early in his medical training he realized the vulnerabilities that women and children faced. The ILO also estimated there were 4.8 million sex trafficking victims experiencing commercial sexual exploitation around the world in 2016.
All proceeds from his pink jacket will go towards helping these unfortunate girls slowly return back into society. Part of the funds will go towards extraction and software that help locate the sexual predators and prevent these attacks.”
Rajeev Fernando links
Art Hearts Fashion
Photography all rights reserved by Andris Jansons
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