8 March is International Women’s Day and to celebrate women across the world, on the 1st of March, the authentic Dutch wax brand Vlisco launched their second Vlisco Women’s Month campaign, with Nollywood actress Stephanie Okereke-Linus fronting the campaign as Vlisco Women’s Month ambassador.
During this whole month, and especially on International Women’s Day, Vlisco will be running a range of consumer activities, press coverage and events in countries in West and Central Africa to support this year’s campaign theme: DARE TO DREAM, a tribute to women who have the faith and courage to realise their dreams. The Vlisco Women’s Month Award election and the Vlisco Fashion Fund are at the heart of all the Women’s Month activities.
The face of this year’s campaign Stephanie Okereke-Linus is a shining example of a woman who dared to dream and became an inspiring role model. When Stephanie was a young girl, she had the ambition to one day grace the big screen and direct her own films. Today the award-winning Nigerian actress and director realised that dream and is famous throughout West and Central Africa. What is her secret?
“Be open to taking risks. It’s not until you cross to the other side that you’ll see what’s there. Leave your comfort zone and do things differently. Importantly, do the things that really make you happy,” Linus says.
“African women have inspired us for more than 160 years with their incredible strength, wit and pride. Through their creative expression, they bring the Vlisco brand to life. The success of last year’s Vlisco Women’s Month has created a new Vlisco tradition. Our annual Women’s Month is the perfect moment to honour the inspirational and courageous women of West and Central Africa who dare to dream,” says Roger Gerards, Creative Director Vlisco.
Vlisco Women’s Month Award
The Vlisco Women’s Month Award, honours the outstanding achievements of West and Central African women by identifying and rewarding those who inspire others to realise their dreams. Vlisco has nominated 3 or 4 women in each of the countries Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of the Congo for the Vlisco Women’s Month Award this year. Elected by public vote, the winners, who become Vlisco’s new ambassadors for 2014, will be revealed during the Vlisco Women’s Month Award Night at the end of March. People can find out more about the nominees and follow their activities at dream.vlisco.com. For a chance to win fantastic prizes they can vote for their favourite nominee online, in-store or by SMS.
Vlisco Fashion Fund
Another aspect of the Women’s Month campaign is the Vlisco Fashion Fund, which helps aspiring fashion designers in West and Central Africa. Novice designers are encouraged to pitch their business plan, which explains their fashion dream, to a Vlisco jury between 1-23 March 2014, with the chance of winning $2,500 funding and a fashion training in the Netherlands. The 3 winners will be announced at the Vlisco Women’s Month Award Night at the end of March. Find out more at dream.vlisco.com/fashionfund.
Consumer activities – Dream for the world
Vlisco believes that those who dare to dream will shape the future. Some dreams are personal, while others can plant the seed of change for women around the world, such as dreaming that all women are given the opportunity to attend school. Vlisco invites the public to share their ‘dream for the world’ for a chance to win a luxury weekend away for two. People can collect a dream card in-store, fill it in and put it into the dedicated Dream Box in the city centre or share their dream online by using #vliscodream on Facebook and Twitter. Several Vlisco Women’s Month activities will take place around the Dreambox in March in the city centres. Keep up to date on these activities and find out more at dream.vlisco.com/vliscodream. The promotion runs until 23 March 2014.
For more on the Dare to Dream Campaign, check out this video:
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