One year ago, Cotton Council International unveiled Evolutions, which packaged cutting-edge fashion photography and designer brands within a groundbreaking East-meets-West calendar concept. Today, an array of Hong Kong and Mainland talent helped CCI launch its 2008 calendar, Life Journeys, at The Peninsula's Felix bar & restaurant.
During the event, scores of fashion media and industry VIPs watched as the models and celebrities, all of whom participated in the charity project, came to the stage one by one to spell out the 12 letters of "Life Journeys," with each letter corresponding to their month in the calendar. Among the stars involved who appeared onstage were Chinese pop stars Jing Bo Ren (April) and Fu Xin Bo (June) of the band BoBo; leading talent manager Mani Fok (August); Mani's newborn niece, Crystal Lee (January); Gordon Liu (September), the kung fu legend who also appeared in both "Kill Bill" films; and up-and-coming model Irene Wang.
In a pair of videotaped messages filmed for the launch event, 95-year-old actor Shek Kin told the crowd, "Although I was not able to join you today, I am happy to have been able to make this calendar with all of you. I am also glad to be the subject for December. Please come and support this calendar."
Kung fu star and actor Ti Lung (November) added, "I am delighted to be a part of this calendar project. The calendar illustrates different stages of life, and I think it is very meaningful, especially as this is the first time my wife and I have worked together in front of the camera-she is a low-profile person and seldom seeks the limelight!"
In Life Journeys these celebrities and leading international catwalk models-who also include Mainland actress Tong Yao (March), considered by many to be the next Zhang Ziyi, and famous model Mandy Lieu-wear pieces by premium licensees of COTTON USA, the high-quality ingredient brand marketed globally by CCI, including Nautica, LEE, SPY HENRY LAU and Wacoal.
Cross-cultural fashion
The calendar depicts key moments in life through evocative sets, world- class photography and subjects ranging in age from 0-95. It employs a vertical format typical of Chinese calligraphic scrolls and shan shui paintings, in comparable size-the calendar measures 109cm from top to bottom and 41.5cm across.
Elements of both the Chinese lunar calendar and the Western agrarian calendar are communicated in traditional and simplified Chinese as well as English.
Life Journeys is art that can be used. The fashion aspect is enhanced by garment bag-style packaging and a contemporary steel hanger that enables owners to enjoy this unique piece of art as they would any other-by hanging it on a wall. The functional aspects, together with the West-inspired fantasy elements of the art direction, create an effect seen in the best of today's fashion.
A calendar with a cause
The calendar also represents a unique charity opportunity. As with many works of art, Life Journeys has been produced in an extremely limited print run, and it is available for sale only online at http://www.lifejourneys2008.com/ . All proceeds from sales of Life Journeys will go to Care for Children, a nonprofit organization based in the West but operating to improve the lives of the millions of orphaned or abandoned children in China.
The calendar is priced at USD 77 (RMB 600/ HKD 600). The 12 calendar images are also available for download free of charge as wallpaper and e- greeting cards.
"US cotton is a natural companion for life," said Ms. Karin Malmstrom, Director-China/ Hong Kong of Cotton Council International, who was also the originator of the Life Journeys concept. "It is fashionable, comfortable, versatile and durable, so it provides for various human needs and desires across all stages of life. We hope that through this project we have also been able to make a difference for disadvantaged children in China who deserve a chance to pursue their own journeys within loving, nurturing families."
Life Journeys was shot by renowned fashion photographer C.K. Chan. It was funded entirely by Cotton Council International to promote COTTON USA and to provide funding for the efforts of Care for Children.
