From today, the online auction house for extraordinary items, Catawiki is pleased to announce that Johny Dar’s highly anticipated ‘Jeans for Refugees’ celebrity collection is now officially open for bids at www.catawiki.com/jeansforrefugees.
‘Jeans for Refugees’ is a global artistic collaboration dedicated to helping refugees all around the world. The project is the brainchild of iconic fashion designer and artist Johny Dar, and involves 100 celebrities who have achieved worldwide recognition in fashion, film, music and the arts.
Each individual has donated a pair of their jeans which has been painted and given various artistic treatments by Dar. From Hollywood A-listers Ryan Gosling and Sharon Stone to Britain’s very own Sir Elton John and Victoria Beckham, these celebrities and Dar have joined forces to create this unique initiative. With all proceeds going to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the project will help fund the IRC’s initiatives which help millions of refugees worldwide on a daily basis.
Bidding starts today with 15 initial pairs available from Sharon Stone, Pink, Elle Macpherson, Emma Watson, Lily Allen, Eva Longoria, Heather Graham, Kate Moss, Joan Smalls, Alicia Vikander, Sofia Coppola, Rachel McAdams, Zoe Saldana, Tal and Jessica Hart.
More A-lister pairs of jeans will be released over the next 100 days along with a number of other events and activities where the public can get involved over the summer. The Jeans for Refugees initiative will culminate in a week long exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London and a gala dinner on the final evening (date to be announced).
Dar will also be painting a number of jeans in a live art performance over 10 days at a refugee camp, painting non-stop every day he is there to highlight the endurance and determination needed by millions of refugees as they seek to complete their journey and fulfil their shared dream of a new home and beginning.
Ben Fried, Catawiki UK General Manager says: “We’re thrilled to be working with Johny on such a creative, unique and worthy initiative in aid of the IRC. We pride ourselves on offering bidders either in the UK or abroad, items that are truly extraordinary – the Jeans for Refugees collection is the embodiment of this.”
The man behind the project is extremely passionate about the cause: “The refugee crisis has had an impact on everyone – it moves us all, it concerns us all. The concept behind ‘Jeans for Refugees’ is to spread a message through art, to create positive change and empower people to collaborate for a common goal, painting a new paradigm and inspiring a brighter world,” says Johny Dar.
Sanjayan Srikanthan, Vice President Europe at the IRC commented: “The funds raised will help the International Rescue Committee to support refugees around the world, from when they are first forced to flee their homes through to resettlement and integration into new communities. Refugees are strong, resilient and hardworking people who been through terrible experiences but still have so much to offer. We are grateful to Johny Dar and honoured to have so many high profile people lending their support and standing in solidarity with refugees.”
Quite simply, these pieces will be the envy of your friends and family and will take pride of place in any gallery – private or public. For your chance to own a piece of celebrity memorabilia like no other and to support a very worthy charitable cause, aspiring bidders can simply visit www.catawiki.com/jeansforrefugees and sign up for free in a few simple steps to bid for a piece of extraordinary history.
