Complex reports that there have been over 9,000 hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the U.S. since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country. For National Nonprofit Day, the body-positive fashion brand PerfectDD is launching their #SpeakUpSpeakOut collection – all net proceeds go to Heart of Dinner, a New York organization that has donated over 80,000 meals to elder Asians.
PerfectDD’s Korean-American founder Alice Kim shares, “It breaks my heart that the elderly are most at risk with COVID-19, and on top of that, with the proliferation of Asian hate crimes, the older Asians are doubly afraid to go outside even to get necessities like groceries. It made me immediately think of my parents who sacrificed everything to give my sister and I a chance to live the American Dream. I discovered Heart of Dinner on The Ellen Degeneres Show and loved their mission to provide meals for the elderly Asian community in my hometown of NYC.”
Kim partnered with PerfectDD fan and actress Lindsay Price to create the two hoodies in the collection, focused on uplifting AAPI voices and spreading awareness of the horrible injustices Asian Americans face. The two became friends through Instagram messaging earlier this year and bonded over their desire to give back to the Asian community.
“For years in the film and television industry, it has been obvious that Asian stories were only visible in the supporting and ancillary characters we are cast in,” Price points out. “Times are finally changing, and we need to step into the moment. I want to encourage our community to share the beauty and pain of their stories loud and proud, and to take up the space they deserve rather than staying silent and small. The only way to end the stereotypes and hate is to understand, relate, and connect with one another.”
The hoodies come in two styles: a unisex option and PerfectDD’s consumer-favorite Charisse silhouette (pictured above), which has a slim fit and puffed shoulders. You can shop the #SpeakUpSpeakOut collection on PerfectDD’s website starting today!
