News

Lovebox, Central Saint Martins and Rokit Team Up For Art Against Knives T-Shirt Competition

• 27th May 2010

By now, you would already be aware of the big changes ahead with Lovebox in 2010 – not only is it now three days of glorious music, fun and sun in Victoria Park instead of two, but Sunday has also been revamped, giving it a deliciously polysexual twist which sees the likes of Grace Jones and Peaches rubbing shoulders with Hurts and Chromeo, as Jonny Woo MC’s the main stage and the renegade designer Dr Noki NHS throws a one-off fashion show.

That is not where it ends though – not hardly. For this year Lovebox is also partnering with Central Saint Martins and Rokit for a very unique, incredibly special collaboration, and for a very worthy cause indeed. This year, Lovebox will be teaming up with Art Against Knives to raise awareness and funds for the charity with a competition amongst students from Central Saint Martins, to design an official range of Lovebox T-shirts for 2010, the shirts of which are kindly donated by Rokit. In addition, to make things even more exciting, the entrants will be judged by a high-voltage panel of people in the know, including fashion PR guru Mandi Lennard, world renowned fashion legend Judy Blame, and Dr Noki NHS himself, alongside Willie Walters, the Fashion Course Director of Central Saint Martins, Art Against Knives’ founder Oliver John Hemsley, and the Creative Director of Lovebox, Adrian Fillary. The winners, meanwhile, will receive cash prizes, and have their designs printed and sold as the official Lovebox 2010 T-shirt!

Finally, as we mentioned, it is for an undoubtedly good – not to mention strikingly innovative – cause. Art Against Knives is an initiative that took root in a horrifying event – an unprovoked stabbing of a student from Central Saint Martins – and used it as impetus to draw together a network of art, creativity and support, so as to call attention to the ever increasing threat of knife violence in London. It works towards reducing knife crime by engaging young people in troubled areas with art and fashion-based workshops, and so far has even drawn donations from the likes of Antony Gormley, Vivienne Westwood, Rankin and a whole host of other well-known artists. This collaboration is yet another example of the new ground it is breaking, of deriving creativity from darkness, and positive action from tragedy.