Ringo Starr and Zandra Rhodes make a splash with WaterAid this Christmas by designing stylish gifts to help change lives
Beatles legend Sir Ringo Starr and top fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes have teamed up with WaterAid to unveil an exclusive range of water-themed merchandise just in time for Christmas.
The stylish Teemill range - with unique designs by the two icons featuring on tote bags, t-shirts, and jumpers - are made with organic cotton using low-waste technology, meaning they are good for our planet while also helping change lives with clean water.
Nearly one in ten people globally do not have clean water close to home, affecting people’s health, education, and livelihoods. The money raised this festive period will go towards WaterAid’s ‘Where there’s water’ appeal to help turn on the taps for communities around the world and create a powerful ripple of change.
The Beatles drummer and dedicated long-standing WaterAid supporter Ringo Starr has reimagined his iconic message of ‘Peace and Love’ by adding ‘Water’ in a vibrant retro design to highlight the importance of clean water.
Ringo Starr, who recently announced that he will launch his new country album in the new year, said:
“I’ve supported WaterAid for many years because I truly believe that everyone should have clean water; where there’s water, there’s life. That’s why I’m backing WaterAid with my water-themed design, which is available on t-shirts and bags that you can pick up now. Together we can make a difference to lives across the world. Peace, love and water – Ringo.”
Zandra Rhodes, who famously designed garments for Diana, Princess of Wales, and rock star Freddie Mercury, created a watery design featuring Mother Nature with the message ‘Clean water, whatever the weather’, highlighting the power of clean water and the impact climate change is having on people’s access to water.
Zandra Rhodes said:
“Everyone should have access to clean water. With clean water, women don’t have to spend hours each day walking to rivers or springs, children can stay healthy and go to school, and communities can build resilience to the effects of climate change.
“I’m supporting WaterAid with a unique design depicting Mother Nature that captures the essence of clean water. By loving or gifting one of these t-shirts or totes, you can help support WaterAid's life-changing work, and look great whilst doing it.”
Ringo and Zandra’s water-themed designs are available on t-shirts, jumpers and tote bags with prices ranging from £12- £40. Also available are unique water bottles, notebooks, and phone cases.
Without clean water, a ripple of problems can occur. Globally, almost one in ten people don't have clean water close to home; in Malawi families spend 55 minutes on average per day collecting water, affecting their health, education, and livelihoods.
By supporting WaterAid this Christmas, the public can help more girls like Merifa in Chinganji, Malawi, who no longer has to wake up early before school to collect dirty water as a water tap has been installed nearby. Now she has time to study, join the community choir, and has set up a business with her sister making samosas to sell.
Jennie York, Executive Director of Communications and Fundraising at WaterAid, said:
“We’re so excited that icons Ringo Starr and Zandra Rhodes are supporting our ‘Where there’s water’ appeal. Their unique designs, which celebrate the importance of water, are available now in our online store, ready to make wonderful Christmas gifts.
“By gifting WaterAid’s exclusive gifts and greeting cards this winter, shoppers will help turn on the taps for Chinganji and other communities around the world, making sure that where there’s water, there’s powerful change.”
You can shop the collaborative range at https://store.wateraid.org/Christmas. Order before 18 December to ensure orders are delivered in time for Christmas.
ENDS
For media queries, please contact Abigail Smith, Senior Media Officer: [email protected].
Notes to editors
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international not-for-profit determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. We work alongside communities in 22 countries to secure these three essentials that transform people’s lives. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water and nearly 29 million people with decent toilets.
For more information, visit our website wateraid.org/uk; follow us on Twitter @WaterAidUK, @WaterAid or @WaterAidPress; or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
- 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
- 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.
- Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.
- 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
- 570 million people in the world – 1 in 14 – have a decent toilet but have to share it with people outside their family. This compromises the privacy, dignity and safety of women and girls.1
- Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day, or almost one child every one and a half minutes.2
- Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
1: WHO/UNICEF (2023), Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: special focus on gender (accessed 11 Jul 2023)
2: WHO (2023), Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update (accessed 24 Jul 2023)
3: WaterAid (2021), Mission-critical: Invest in water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy and green economic recovery (accessed 1 Nov 2023).
