First Look: H&M Launches Fifth Fashion Against AIDS Collection (PHOTOS)

For the fifth straight year, Swedish retail brand H&M has released its Fashion Against AIDS collection aimed at raising funds and creating awareness about HIV/AIDS among youngsters.

Artists and illustrators from across the globe have assisted in supporting the initiative. For the present collection, special prints were commissioned to create pieces bursting with color, pattern and authenticity.

The creations, which will be available in around 300 H&M divided departments from April 30, 2012, as well as online, mark an amalgamation of ethnic influences from different continents.

I love this year's Fashion against AIDS collection. It brings together so many global styles that send not only a powerful fashion message, but also help spread the word about HIV/AIDS awareness. It's great that the collection includes the work of artists and illustrators from many different countries, helping us to raise funds for these vital youth HIV/AIDS charities, Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design, H&M said.

From colorful African trims on blouses and bustier to folkloric Inuit designs from Greenland on draped T-shirts, this year's FAA collection reportedly puts global tribes in a 21st Century context.

The collection also includes macramé, fringed and dip-dyed pieces for girls and printed T-shirts and cropped harem trousers for guys. Apart from this, it also includes fashion accessories such as hats, footwear and jewellery, as well as special pieces such as iPhone cases, festival ponchos, hammocks and plasters.

Similar to the previous collections, the brand will donate 25 percent of sales to a variety of international youth HIV/AIDS awareness projects. So far, H&M has raised around 45 million SEK from previous FAA projects.