With the coronavirus bringing the fashion industry, like much of the world, to a standstill, one of the first designers to feel its impact was A Sai Ta of ASAI. Back in February, the former Dazed 100-er was forced to cancel his AW20 show when the Shanghai manufacturing facility where his collection was being produced closed its doors in a bid to stop the disease’s spread.
Now, the designer has taken to Instagram to announce one particular style you might just recognise has finally gone into production, and that all profits from its sales will be donated to three essential charity organisations.
As worn by Rihanna in one seminal slow-mo video last summer, the hot pink asymmetric mini dress is part of ASAI’s signature Hot Wok offering and a certified Instagram staple. Joining RiRi in wearing Hot Wok pieces are the likes of Steve Lacy, Jorja Smith, Dev Hynes, as well as 95 per cent of the Dazed office (seriously: you’re basically never more than four feet away from one).
Those benefiting from its sale are Black Lives Matter, which, more vitally than ever, campaigns against violence and the systemic racism faced by black people, Solace Women’s Aid, which supports women and children subjected to abuse and violence, and The Voice of Domestic Workers, which calls for justice and rights for the UK’s 16,000 migrant domestic workers.
If you are looking to shop online during the pandemic, it’s also a great way of using your spending power to support designers with a conscience who are using their their platform to push for change, both in fashion and beyond. Head to ASAI's Instagram to buy and revisit his collaboration with Rihanna herself in the gallery above.