Michael Kors Celebrates The Tenth Anniversary Of Watch Hunger Stop
On October 16, 2013, Michael Kors took to the bright lights of Times Square to announce the launch of WATCH HUNGER STOP, a worldwide campaign in support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Designed to help WFP provide school meals to children in food-insecure regions of the world, Watch Hunger Stop was the fashion brand’s first global philanthropic initiative—and the start of an enduring partnership.
A decade after its launch, Watch Hunger Stop has supported more than 30 million school meals through WFP’s school meals program, an achievement made possible by the extraordinary support and generosity of people all over the world.
This fall, the brand is celebrating the tenth anniversary of Watch Hunger Stop with enormous pride and renewed determination. The campaign kicks off at the UN with a reception co-hosted by the designer and Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director. Halle Berry, who joined Michael in 2013 and 2014 to raise awareness for Watch Hunger Stop, will be in attendance to show her ongoing support.
“My trip to Cambodia was really an eye-opening experience, to be in the field, and see first-hand how much needs to be done. It was also amazing to see the life-changing work that the World Food Programme does, which is not only about feeding children but also about teaching communities to become self-sufficient. It was a beautiful trip and it inspired me to do more. It’s been a great honor for me to be a Goodwill Ambassador for WFP and to work towards Zero Hunger with my friend Michael. The WFP team is the best in the world. Everyone who works with them is incredible and passionate, and I share that passion. WFP’s work is so much more than just feeding people, it’s about strengthening families, rebuilding communities, and ensuring everyone, everywhere, has access to the food they need to not only survive, but thrive.”
This year’s Watch Hunger Stop campaign features Halle Berry and Kate Hudson, another early and strong supporter of the Kors initiative, in imagery shot by photographer Cliff Watts. Hudson joined Watch Hunger Stop from 2015 through 2018, before becoming a WFP Goodwill Ambassador herself. Both women have visited WFP-supported communities, with Berry traveling to Nicaragua and Hudson to Cambodia.
“Visiting Nicaragua was very moving. It was sad, certainly, to meet children who hadn't always had enough to eat. But it was also hopeful because the school meals program is working. I left feeling inspired because I saw for myself that each of us can in fact make a difference in children's lives. For me, supporting Watch Hunger Stop, supporting the work that WFP does, is a way to feel effective and turn my good intentions into tangible results.”
“I’m very proud of everything Watch Hunger Stop has accomplished over the past ten years. It’s a reason to celebrate and a challenge to do more,” says designer Michael Kors. “I truly believe that the fight against global hunger is one we can win, and I’m grateful to everyone who has joined our cause over the years—including Halle and Kate. Their compassion and support have been so important in helping us share the message of WFP’s life-changing work.”
"WFP can’t stop hunger alone – we need strong, committed partners to join us in this fight," says WFP's Executive Director Cindy McCain. "We are thrilled to have such a long-standing ally in Michael Kors. For the last ten years, we’ve shared our vision of a hunger-free world and together, we’ll continue to give children the chance of a better tomorrow."
For the tenth anniversary, Berry and Hudson are pictured wearing a special-edition watch, a nod to the very first Watch Hunger Stop product, as well as an organic cotton T-shirt. The Watch Hunger Stop collection also includes a recycled canvas tote. The tote and T-shirt were designed in collaboration with creative agency Sang Bleu. Based in New York and led by creative director and tattoo artist Maxime Plescia-Büchi, Sang Bleu is known for its collaborations with luxury brands and media as well as for Plescia-Büchi’s geometric design sensibility. For this collaboration, he brought his signature touch to a futuristic graphic that features a globe in the shape of a heart. The heart symbol—indicating Michael’s belief that “food is love”—has often been a part of Watch Hunger Stop designs, and the bright, optimistic blue is WFP’s identifying color.
“At Sang Bleu, we are thoughtful about what we put out in the world,” says Plescia-Büchi. “When we talked with the team at Michael Kors about Watch Hunger Stop, the collaboration made sense. Optimism can feel radical right now, but it’s at the core of the Michael Kors brand. Watch Hunger Stop offers optimism that is more than just escapism, and I wanted our design to be a celebration of the community it takes to build a better future.”
The Watch Hunger Stop 2023 watch, T-shirt and tote will launch on October 1, 2023. The special-edition watch ($325) features a blue face with a tonal globe design, while the back is engraved with Michael’s signature and the line “10 Years And Counting” to acknowledge the brand’s commitment to continuing its partnership with WFP. A white, 100% organic cotton T-shirt ($40) and a tote made from recycled canvas ($98) feature the same blue heart graphic and the WFP logo. Michael Kors will donate 100 meals to WFP for the sale of each T-shirt and the equivalent of 216 meals for the sale of each tote. Two hundred meals will be donated for each watch sold.* The brand looks forward with pride and optimism to achieving WFP’s goal of Zero Hunger.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
The special-edition Watch Hunger Stop watch, T-shirt and tote will be available online and in select Michael Kors Lifestyle stores globally from the 1st of October, 2023. Throughout the month of October, Michael Kors customers can make a donation to WFP at select Michael Kors stores around the globe. Just $5 feeds a child in school for one month. Or go to WatchHungerStop.com and follow the on-screen link to donate to WFP directly (select countries only).
In addition to the sale of these special-edition products, the brand will be introducing other ways for people to help achieve WFP’s goal of Zero Hunger, including the Share Your Heart Instagram filter and special donation opportunities for KORSVIP members. Stay tuned!
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For more information, please visit the following:
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To purchase the special-edition Watch Hunger Stop T-shirt, tote or watch, visit www.watchhungerstop.com
To learn more about WFP, visit http://www.wfp.org
World Food Programme on Facebook: www.facebook.com/worldfoodprogramme
World Food Programme on Instagram: www.instagram.com/worldfoodprogramme
@WFP on Twitter: twitter.com/wfp
* For each special-edition Watch Hunger Stop watch purchased from a Michael Kors retail store or official Michael Kors website, Michael Kors will donate 200 meals to WFP. For each Watch Hunger Stop T-shirt purchased from a Michael Kors retail store or official Michael Kors website, Michael Kors will donate 100 meals to WFP. For each Watch Hunger Stop tote purchased from a Michael Kors retail store or official Michael Kors website, Michael Kors will donate 216 meals to WFP. Michael Kors will donate up to 3,000,000 million meals to WFP through September 30, 2024. All funds raised will be donated to WFP USA, a 501(c)(3) US charity that supports the programs of WFP. WFP does not endorse any product or service.