Art and Fashion Luminaries Unite to Support the Drug Policy Alliance

The Yarnz Project, featuring scarves created by accessory brand Yarnz in collaboration with artists Peter Halley, James Nares, Erik Parker, and Raymond Pettibon will benefit the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA).  The initiative will launch November 13th with an event at PK Shop located at 441 West 21st and co-hosted by Edition01.  Scarves will also be sold at Colette, greyarea.com, and the new Yarnz e-commerce site, yarnz.com.

Avid supporters of DPA, Helena Christensen and Wayne Maser, teamed up for a photo shoot with stylist Sciascia Gambaccini. The images show nothing comes between Helena, her Yarnz and a crucial cause.  The project marks the first time Halley, Parker and Pettibon collaborated with a fashion brand.  Halley comments, "As a strong supporter of the need for reasonable drug laws, I agreed to collaborate on creating this scarf with YARNZ to benefit the Drug Policy Alliance.”  He continues, “I've been told that I'm a perfectionist — but I was delighted with YARNZ' success in interpreting my painting in cashmere. It's beyond anything I could have expected."

The Yarnz Project scarves are based on four paintings, Halley’s Waiting for Forever, 2011; Nares’ Its Never Nothing, 2001; Parker’s Colombier Beach, 2012 and Pettibon’s No Title (they hung there), 2012.   Mujadid Shah, President of YARNZ explains, “It is our privilege to create something that will further the crucial efforts of DPA and we are thrilled to collaborate with these artists.”  He continues, “We pride ourselves on our superior production and quality, and we have worked at the highest level to insure we realized the artists’ visions perfectly.”  The limited edition scarves will sell for $340 with Yarnz donating 100% of wholesale profits to DPA.

The foray into fashion is a first for DPA, the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to the war on drugs.   Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of DPA, comments, “We’re thrilled that YARNZ is joining some of our longtime supporters in the art world to help raise awareness of the plight of so many men and women.”  He continues, “This is another step in expanding and strengthening the drug policy reform movement.”

Founded in 2005, Yarnz is known for pushing design boundaries, and transforming the contemporary scarf category.  The company’s signature is screen-print accessories with pop prints, bold colors and imaginative designs.  Limited edition seasonal collections have been spotted on Scarlett Johansson, Blake Lively, and Emma Watson, and are sold at fine stores around the world, including Kirna Zabete, Colette, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks.

The Drug Policy Alliance’s mission is to advance policies and attitudes that minimize the negative impact of both drug use and drug prohibition.  DPA envisions a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights.