Using visual storytelling, UNIQLO and Magnum Photos highlight the ongoing struggles and resilience of communities often hidden from the public eye.
UNIQLO, in collaboration with Magnum Photos, recently launched the Peace for All Global Photo Exhibition in Manila, showcasing a collection of photographs that explore the real-world impact of their ongoing charity initiative. Open to the public until September 29 at the UNIQLO Press Room in Glorietta 5, the exhibit brings together works from three Magnum photographers—Cristina de Middel, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, and Olivia Arthur—who documented the lives of communities in Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Romania, where the Peace for All funds are in action.
Magnum Photos, known for its documentary approach, was a fitting partner for this project, which aims to highlight the tangible effects of UNIQLO’s Peace for All T-shirt campaign. All proceeds from the T-shirt sales are donated to UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), Save the Children, and Plan International. Since launching in 2022, the project has raised over 1.5 billion yen (around $10 million) to support humanitarian efforts around the world.
At the exhibit’s launch, Reichelle Vergara, UNIQLO Philippines’ Head of PR and Sustainability, underscored the brand’s focus on community impact: “Peace for All isn’t just about selling T-shirts. It’s about supporting real people and telling their stories.”
The exhibition features over 60 photographs, each revealing intimate moments from communities where Peace for All funding is making a difference.
Cristina de Middel, known for her ability to blend documentary photography with conceptual art, spent time with children in Vietnam. Her images tap into the imagination and creativity of her subjects, offering a glimpse into the lives of young people who are part of local support programs. De Middel’s approach is to draw out the unexpected from her subjects: “It was about reconnecting with the playful side of things, looking at the world with a sense of possibility,” she says.
Olivia Arthur, whose work often focuses on identity and cross-cultural encounters, photographed children in Romania. Her series captures the spontaneous and joyful energy of kids at play, reflecting both resilience and vulnerability. “The idea was to create a space for them to express themselves,” she says. Her images feel raw and unscripted, offering a stark contrast to the more controlled environments that usually frame humanitarian narratives.
Lindokuhle Sobekwa’s work, taken in Ethiopia, uses a more metaphorical approach. Focusing on the Somali refugee community, his images evoke themes of hope and endurance. Sobekwa uses the rainbow as a symbol in several of his photographs—a recurring visual motif that suggests optimism even in the face of hardship. His work speaks to the complexity of life in a refugee camp, capturing moments of quiet dignity alongside everyday challenges.
The Peace for All initiative started as a simple T-shirt campaign but has evolved into a global movement. The exhibition in Manila is just one part of the international effort to raise awareness and funds for displaced and vulnerable communities. The funds have been used to support refugee aid, education, and other essential services in countries affected by conflict and poverty.
To mark the collaboration between UNIQLO and Magnum Photos, three new PEACE FOR ALL T-shirt designs were unveiled on September 20, 2024. These designs incorporate images from the Global Photo Exhibition, allowing customers to wear these stories of hope and resilience. Priced at Php 790, the shirts are available in UNIQLO stores and online, with all proceeds continuing to fund vital humanitarian work.
With this exhibition, UNIQLO and Magnum Photos aim to go beyond corporate social responsibility, using visual storytelling to highlight the ongoing struggles and resilience of communities often hidden from the public eye.
