U2 frontman, Bono has launched a campaign called (PRODUCT) RED to help the fight against AIDS in Africa, and it is taking America by storm.
The Gap, Apple, American Express, Giorgio Armani, Converse and Motorola have joined together to give portions of their profits from their new (PRODUCT) RED items to the Global Fund, an organization founded in 2002 that raises funds to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Bono co-founded (PRODUCT) RED with Bobby Shriver, George W. Bush's nephew.
Bono appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Oct. 13 to launch the campaign in America.
Bono and Winfrey went on a shopping spree in the heart of Chicago. Oprah bought 10 of every (RED) item she saw.
(RED) items have been sold in the United Kingdom since Mar. 1, when American Express and The Gap launched their products there.
The Gap's product line is donating 50 percent of their profits to the Global Fund. One vintage-style T-shirt, called inspi(red), from the collection is being manufactured in Lesotho, a country in Africa, from 100 percent African cotton.
"This is not just about the celebrities and popularity," said Niki Clark, stock supervisor for the (PRODUCT) RED line and assistant manager of The Gap at The Oak Court Mall. "This is about 6 million people dying in Africa every year from this disease, and we feel like this is a way that we can help."
Memphis Gaps were not prepared for such a huge turn out.
The stores have already sold out of the signature inspi(red) shirts, which are $28 each.
"Memphis completely sold out because of Oprah," Clark said. "'Oprah' comes on at 4 and by 4:45 we were already getting calls."
The Gap will be carrying the products for five years, and new products will be coming out throughout the period.
"Bono and Bobby Shriver started this to help the emergency situation in Africa, and they intend on making it work, so expect to see it around for the full five years," Clark said.
The Gap could be getting more of the inspi(red) shirts in as late as Nov. 13.
"With such a high demand on them, Memphis Gap is not sure exactly when we will be getting the shirts back in," Clark said.
Other contributing companies are not giving as much of their profits to the Global Fund, but every little bit helps.
Apple is selling a new (RED) iPod Nano ($199) and giving $10 to the Global Fund for every one sold.
Converse is selling limited editions of their shoes, and their donations are five to 15 percent of the profits of each item.
Giorgio Armani has some high priced products ranging from sunglasses ($170) to jeans ($198), and is giving an average of 40 percent of the profits to the cause.
Some students at The University of Memphis are inspired by the foundation's work.
"Anything that helps cure a disease, especially AIDS, is a good thing," said Marquisha Terrell, sophomore fashion merchandising major.
Ross Tucker, sophomore psychology major, had not heard about (PRODUCT) RED, but was interested in the idea.
"If a T-shirt has a graphic saying that it was benefiting AIDS, I would buy it," he said.
Paige Barr, freshman history major, said that some people do not know where their money is going when they donate, but (PRODUCT) RED seems like a good idea anyway.
"I think it is a good way to raise money because it is something that you already want and some of the money is going to a good cause," she said.
Visit joinred.com for more information about the program, and visit theglobalfund.org for information about the cause.
