Black and blue or gold and white? No, this time it is not about guessing the colour of the dress that is creating ripples in the online space. Ireland/ Davenport, a Johannesburg-based ad agency, in partnership with the Salvation Army, has released a powerful ad that features a badly bruised woman wearing the viral dress to raise awareness about domestic violence.
“We just thought it was so weird something so insignificant like that dress was getting all this hype while a true message (about) anti-women abuse was more deserving,” Wihan Meerholz, the creative director behind the design, said.
“We went for it straightaway because domestic violence is such a huge problem, not only in the world but in here in South Africa… Women don’t even speak about it, they keep quiet…It’s definitely a real problem. It’s not about the Salvation Army, it’s about the problem. If we can save one lady through this, that’s good enough,” Carin Holmes, a spokesperson for The Salvation Army, added.
Holmes hopes it will encourage those experiencing violence and those witnessing it to speak out. #TheDress, in its new avatar, has been re-tweeted over 16,000 times and favorited by over 8,000 Twitter users.
Why is it so hard to see black and blue? One in 6 women are victims of abuse. #StopAbuseAgainstWomen pic.twitter.com/bmCRSegWvo
— banksy (@thereaIbanksy) March 6, 2015
Finally this dress is put to use and has been placed in such a powerful AD! #StopAbuseAgainstWomen pic.twitter.com/SFKBTiYzPc — ☹ (@LaurenSev7) March 6, 2015
The Dress redeems itself by speaking out against domestic violence. #StopAbuseAgainstWomen http://t.co/6kLEftOjrU pic.twitter.com/ri6WhCWpQp
— someecards (@someecards) March 6, 2015
this is the most genius use of that stupid dress. #StopAbuseAgainstWomen pic.twitter.com/HGkXYTs5kv — jules (@julesisc00ls) March 6, 2015
“The only illusion is if you think it was her choice” Powerful spin on #TheDress #StopAbuseAgainstWomen pic.twitter.com/t0rwNp5tGK
— Jake Watson (@jaykwatson) March 6, 2015
At least there are still people with enough sense to use this stupid dress as an important message.
Finally something ambitious coming from that dress! Thank you Anonymous for posting this. Love you and what are standing for.
I have been writing about abuse for quite a while now as I am a survivor myself. Trying to get a retreat for women going on my land up here in Nova Scotia for those who need a place to go chill after getting away from abuse. Been running into every stumbling block out there but still trying.
There just isn’t enough attention on this subject. You can’t believe the statistics on this because so many just don’t report for various reasons.
Thank you again for your support Anonymous!!!
Obviously this is a good cause and I don’t mean to insult it its just the hashtag “Stopabuseagainstwomen” annoys me, because it creates a gender gap and stereotypes, NOBODY should be abused, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or age.