One year after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville police officers during a raid on her apartment, the world continued to mourn. Activists the world over took to social media and in-person demonstrations to show support for Taylor and the movement that has risen surrounding her tragic passing and others like it.
The details surrounding the Breonna Taylor killing would sweep across the nation, playing a pivotal role in what would turn into a year of social justice protests and promises of progress. While much of the world continues to mourn the loss of Taylor as another unarmed Black victim of police violence, businesses like Fashion Nova and artists like Megan Thee Stallion are taking their activism to new levels.
An Important Anniversary
Megan Thee Stallion was recently in the headlines thanks to her show-stealing performance at the Grammy Awards, winning several major awards including New Artist, Rap Song, and Rap Performance. Despite the success and accolades building around her work, Megan has been far more focused in recent weeks on continuing to push for and promote change within the institutions of policing.
To step forward and give directly toward change, Megan Thee Stallion partnered with the popular fashion company Fashion Nova to donate $100,000 to the Breonna Taylor Foundation on the first anniversary of her tragic passing, March 13th.
Megan Thee Stallion would take to social media to announce the donation as well as what it meant to her and for the future of Breonna’s memory. Megan would post on Instagram, “A year ago today Breonna Taylor was tragically taken from her family and friends.” The post went on as Megan reminded her followers that justice “has still not been served.”
In closing on her Instagram message, Megan Thee Stallion would announce that she was partnering with the fashion standout brand Fashion Nova to donate $100,000 to the foundation crafted by Tamika L Palmer to honor the memory of Tamika’s daughter.
At just 26-years-old, Megan Thee Stallion’s partnership with Fashion Nova has made it clear that both her and the brand see Breonna Taylor as more than just a victim, but also a “catalyst for change” and “a powerful reminder” that justice still would need to be served. Elaborating further on the core idea behind the donation, Megan would share that the foundation endeavors to target a slew of issues relating to economic, racial, social, and financial justice.
According to the mission statement behind the Breonna Taylor Foundation, the non-profit will be looking to help empower young individuals throughout the country to become healthier with regard to the political process, focusing on mentorship programs and educational support.
Fashion Nova and Megan Thee Stallion were far from soft-spoken when discussing the horrific killing of Breonna Taylor. Megan even took time to put the Attorney General of Kentucky onto her radar by saying, “Daniel Cameron is no different.”
Taylor and Fashion Nova were far from the only people to throw cold water on A.G. Daniel Cameron as his performance was roundly rebuffed by activists and media personalities, including a particularly unforgiving bit on Saturday Night Live.
Daniel Cameron has been a particularly large name looming over the Taylor case as the first African American to serve as Kentucky’s A.G. while also not recommending murder charges against the officers involved in Taylor’s death. Cameron would accrue further scorn by saying, “They were justified in their acts and their conduct.”
Paying It Forward: Fashion and Philanthropy
While Fashion Nova continues to focus on donating toward and supporting change surrounding the Breonna Taylor story, the fashion-meets-social-media company has also expanded its attempts to support societal change. Fashion Nova has partnered together with the Women on Top initiative to donate toward and support businesses that prioritize the empowerment of women.
Megan Thee Stallion went on to help Fashion Nova Cares launch the Women On Top initiative, creating a philanthropic arm for the purposes of empowering individuals with grants, scholarships, and financial donations. Fashion Nova also teamed up with another star, La La Anthony, in order to present Girls Inc of New York City with a massive donation of $25,000.
The donation to Girls Inc came from Megan Thee Stallion, La La Anthony, and Fashion Nova with the intention of helping underserved women attain their dreams while focusing on independence and strength. The donation will be put in place by Girls Inc NYC to direct not just services but to broaden advocacy so as to serve the community better. The organization is taking great care to target children ages 6-18.
While Fashion Nova continues to make headlines through its philanthropic efforts, these are not new to the company. Fashion Nova has been known to donate toward several important causes, including more than $1 million to social justice organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and Black Lives Matter.
Other philanthropic efforts put in place by Fashion Nova include a partnership with Cardi B to donate $1,000 per hour for 40 days in memory of those affected by COVID-19. This COVID-19 relief collaboration with Cardi B would end up raising more than $1 million while raising significant press for the cause.
About Fashion Nova
Fashion Nova was first established in 2006 by CEO Richard Saghian. As one of the world’s most prominent apparel and lifestyle brands, Fashion Nova prides itself on being a pop culture phenomenon as well as a premier fashion brand, ranking #1 on Google in 2018.
More than just a clothing company, Fashion Nova has positioned itself as an integral part of the pop culture landscape, working frequently with the top celebrities in Hollywood. Collaborations to this point have been completed with stars Cardi B, Tyga, City Girls, The Game, and Kylie Jenner.
Outside of its dramatic steps forward in the fashion-meets-social-media hybrid model they’ve developed, Fashion Nova continues to partner up with major philanthropic outreach efforts through Fashion Nova Cares.