Feel great and look fantastic in H&M's WaterAid bikini

The turquoise and lime H&M and WaterAid bikini, sold at stores worldwide.

Credit: WaterAid / H&M

The conscience-free summer buy of 2008 is now available in H&M stores. Beach lovers can feel great and look fantastic in H&M's new WaterAid bikini.

Ten percent of the money spent on this gorgeous two-piece will go directly to WaterAid. Over $164,000 (£83,000) was raised by sales of last year's bikini; it's hoped that this year's will reach $200,000.

This year's 'Island' design, with a summery Hawaiian floral print, comes in two vibrant colors and styles - chocolate brown and pink with an underwire top, or turquoise and lime with a flattering halter-neck top. Sizes range from A-D, both with matching high-leg briefs.

"We are over the moon to be working with H&M again for this year's WaterAid bikini," says Kate Holme, WaterAid's Corporate Development Manager. "It's a simple way for women and girls to support WaterAid's projects, bringing lifesaving access to clean water and safe sanitation.

"By choosing the WaterAid bikini, H&M customers are really able to make a difference to the lives of some of the world's poorest people. It's genuinely a feel good/look good buy!"

The chocolate brown and pink H&M and WaterAid bikini.

Credit: WaterAid / H&M

Ingrid Schullström, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at H&M, says: "H&M are very proud to continue supporting WaterAid and the amazing work that they do.

"Water is fundamentally a women's issue in the developing world, as it is mostly the women's responsibility to provide water for the family and to care for those who fall ill. The partnership means a great deal to us, especially as WaterAid has projects in areas where some of H&M's suppliers are located, and women working in factories producing for us may benefit directly from WaterAid's work."

Last year, H&M contributed to WaterAid with their hugely successful 'H&M♥Kylie' beachwear collection, designed by Kylie Minogue, which raised an incredible $985,000 (£500,000) for WaterAid's projects in Bangladesh, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique.

The H&M WaterAid bikini is available in all H&M stores that have an underwear department. Each top and bottom has a hangtag explaining how the purchase can help WaterAid. 

For further information and samples please contact Lisa Martin on +44 (0)20 7793 4524 or lisamartin@wateraid.org.

Picture downloads:

Chocolate brown and pink ( JPEG 1.2Mb) 

Turquoise and lime ( JPEG 979K) 

Notes to editors:

Bikini 2008 Hangtag info:
The hangtag (pictured right) explains to H&M's customers how their purchase can help WaterAid. It says:

Women and water
Imagine walking six hours a day to collect enough water to live. Imagine if that water was filthy and you had no choice but to give that water to your family. This is the reality for millions of people in the developing world, where a child dies every 17 seconds from water-related diseases.

Last year the H&M "WaterAid" bikini raised over £80,000 for WaterAid's work in Bangladesh. It costs just £15 to provide someone with a lasting supply of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. Your support gives water and gives life. Thank you.

H&M will donate 10% from the advertised price of this bikini towards WaterAid - a charity dedicated to enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

www.wateraid.org
0845 6000 433
UK registered charity number 288701

H&M
H&M has been supporting WaterAid's work since the first WaterAid bikini in 2002. H&M will be selling the WaterAid bikini in all 28 of its markets around the world. For more information about H&M, visit www.hm.com

Key facts:

• 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe water
• 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to a hygienic toilet
• 5,000 children die every day through preventable water-born diseases, caused by a lack of clean water and safe sanitation
• 20 kg = the average weight of water that women in developing countries carry on their heads - the same as the average UK airport luggage allowance