Can one black dress worn for five short days create awareness about issues that affect others for a lifetime?
The iconic Little Black Dress (LBD) is usually thought of as just a fashionable wardrobe staple – great for business or a fun night out. So why is the LBD at the center of an awareness campaign about poverty?
Founded in 2014 by the Junior League of London, the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is a week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that harnesses the power of social media to illustrate the restrictions poverty places on choices, opportunities, and access to resources. Advocates wear one black dress (or outfit) for five consecutive days, in an effort to spark conversations and awareness about poverty and related issues.
To date, dozens of Junior Leagues have replicated the initiative in their own communities, collectively sparking countless conversations and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of important community programs. Below are just a few of the Leagues who are taking initiative in their local communities. You can also follow the online conversation using #LBDI.
Junior League of Anderson County
Junior League of Bergen County
Junior League of Champaign-Urbana
Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin
Junior League of Colorado Springs
Junior League of Daytona Beach
Junior League of DeKalb County
Junior League of Greater Covington
Junior League of Greater Orlando
Junior League of Greenville, NC
Junior Leage of Greenville, SC
Junior League of Gwinnett & North Fulton Counties
Junior League of Kansas City, MO
Junior League of Northwest Arkansas
Junior League of Orange County, CA
Junior League of Roanoke Valley
Junior League of St. Petersburg