Hails & Fails – September 13th 2024
While cosy knits and winter coats are officially needed out of storage, London Fashion Week has officially kicked off, with fashion experts saying we should expect to see “an exciting mix of vivid colours, creative patterns, and attention-grabbing accessories”.
Meanwhile, in the attention-grabbing world of PR, suicide prevention charity CALM raised awareness with a real tear-jerker, Greggs did the opposite and had some fun, while Love Island star Molly Mae showed us why she is Queen of influencing. At the other end of the spectrum, beauty brand Dove was called out by Greenpeace in a shock campaign.
HAILS
Missed Birthdays
[trigger warning: suicide]
Suicide prevention charity CALM created a heart-breaking installation of exactly 6,929 birthday balloons to raise awareness of the growing epidemic of suicide in young people, which according to research, is now the leading cause of death in under-34s in the UK.
Going live on World Suicide Prevention Day, the installation in Westfield London represents every young person who has died from suicide in the UK within the last decade. Their unique stories, the age they never reached and intimate voice notes from their family describing the kind of person they were are on digital billboards next to the balloons for passers-by to read.
Possibly the most impactful campaign this year.
Barnaby Kellaway – Account Director: “This campaign is as poignant as it is meaningful – everyone involved should feel incredibly proud. The installation is not only stunning to look at, it speaks a thousand words about and pays a moving tribute to the many lives lost by suicide. This is PR at its very best.”
Baked in Gold
British bakery chain Greggs launched a jewellery collection just in time for London Fashion Week.
The five-piece 22 carat gold-plated collection titled ‘Baked in Gold’ has been designed by British artist Dion Kitson and aims to honour some of the bakery’s best-known golden bakes. It’s available to buy online from Saturday (September 14th).
*Adds sausage roll earrings to Christmas list*
Jess Redfearn – Midweight Creative: “While many people are asking “Why?”, I’m asking “Why not?” This idea has got a tonne of coverage because it’s just wonderfully ridiculous! But it’s not silly – Greggs bakes are golden like jewellery so to me this all makes sense. I love it!”
Maebe she’s born with it, Maebe she’s Molly-Mae?
Love Island star Molly-Mae successfully silenced rumours about her shock split from boxer Tommy Fury this week by launching her very own fashion brand in the midst of the drama. A serious PR boss move!
By not delaying the launch of her new fashion brand Maebe post break up, the influencer has proved she isn’t slowing down anytime soon – solidifying her brand as boss businesswoman.
In fact, Maebe got 1.1 million views in the first 10 minutes of the launch post and 10 million views in the first hour!
Imogen Ruddick – Senior Influencer Manager: “Even before the launch was announced, she had fans in a frenzy trying to track down what her big announcement would be, and safe to say, the launch video broke the internet. What can we learn from the queen of social? Influencer power is still HUGE, authenticity is key, and nailing your creative and brand values to appeal to your audience directly can drive serious engagement”
FAIL
The Dark Side of Dove
Greenpeace accused beauty brand Dove of “hypocrisy” this week – for its shocking contribution to plastic pollution.
In a dramatic in-depth case study video, the global environmental charity calls out the Unilever brand for contradicting its message of protecting women and girls everywhere by contributing to the plastic waste that harms them and the environment.
“Unilever is one of the biggest plastic polluters in the world and it is the biggest seller of these highly polluting plastic sachets, which are causing terrible impacts to communities around the world,” says the charity, which in billboards argue “Real beauty isn’t this toxic”.
We definitely didn’t see this one coming…
Isobel Wragg – Account Executive: “Wow, I didn’t expect this from Dove. For a brand that’s been celebrated for its positive “Real Beauty” campaign over the last two decades, it’s shocking to see them facing this level of backlash. Greenpeace’s new campaign really hits hard, exposing a worrying contradiction.”
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