MILAN (Reuters) – Luxury label Valentino is producing a limited-edition, $690-apiece “(V) Vaccinated” hoodie using its V signature logo in support of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with proceeds donated to UNICEF.
The black sweaters, with the “vaccinated” writing in red on the chest, were first created by a small Los Angeles company called Cloney without the Italian brand knowing about them.
When Valentino’s designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli, found out about the initiative, he decided to buy all the initial 5 hoodies available and give them as a present to friends, including Lady Gaga, Valentino said in a statement.
He then went on to produce a series of hoodies to be sold on Valentino’s website from Sept. 23. Proceeds will go to the U.N. children agency UNICEF, to support its work with the global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX, which is focused on getting anti-coronavirus jabs to poorer countries.
“Getting vaccinated has become the most effective way to fight this global pandemic, as well as a symbol of respect for others and social responsibility,” Piccioli said.
(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi, Editing by William Maclean)
