InStyle USA - 11.2019

BADASS WOMEN

How It Works Martin and Phillips usually

start by asking stars which charities they’d like to

support. Then they connect with the nonprofits

to make sure they are on board with the idea and

to refine the message they’d like to convey. Next,

they ask the brands outfitting the celebrity to

donate to that person’s cause (they also charge

brands a creative-services fee for marketing).

Following their moment on the red carpet, stars

post about the charity they’re supporting on

social media with the hashtag #doradberad,

which encourages their fans to get involved. “No

one needs our permission to use their platforms

in meaningful ways,” Martin says. “But we bring

people opportunities to be true to who they are

that are personally and professionally fulfilling

at the same time.”

Becoming Buds Martin and Phillips met in

1997 at pivotal points in their careers (Martin had

just launched a VIP relations department for Prada,

and Phillips had started working with Madonna).

Their paths kept crossing over the next two decades

until a confluence of events, including the 2016

presidential election and the birth of Time’s Up

(Phillips was tapped to design the movement’s

pins), motivated them to challenge the red-carpet

status quo and found R AD. “We live in a time where

advocacy equals relevance,” Martin says. “Why not

use red carpets as a vehicle for sharing our ideals?”

Lessons Learned “For me, as a member of

the entertainment and fashion industries, there’s

this thing about knowing your place,” Phillips says.

“I think stepping outside that box and using my voice has

been the most badass thing I’ve ever done. It was as scary as

when I went skydiving.” Martin agrees: “What’s interesting

is, as much as R AD was born as a by-product of the election,

we haven’t been political. At the end of the day this isn’t about

politics. This is about social progress.” —SHALAYNE PULIA

90 InSTYLE NOVEMBER 2019

Why They’re Badass As industry veterans—Martin

is a former luxury-brand marketing executive, and Phillips

is a stylist and costume designer who has worked with

Madonna, Tom Ford, and, most recently, Quentin Taran-

tino on Once Upon a Time in HollywoodÑthe longtime

friends saw an opportunity to turn red-carpet events into

forums for giving back. They established Red Carpet

Advocacy (R AD), which links stars and their causes with

fashion houses like Gucci and Christian Siriano to raise

money and promote awareness on an international scale.

“We connect talent with brands through purpose, not

product,” Martin says. Since its launch in January at the

Golden Globes with Elisabeth Moss (who wore Dior, Neil

Lane, Tamara Mellon, and Roger Vivier), R AD has raised

over $1 million for various organizations, including the

ACLU and UNICEF. And this fall the agency expanded its

outreach by collaborating with high-profile studios on a

R AD film-screening series. “I’m proud that now, when I’m

not costume designing or styling, I have something to fill

my days with that gives me purpose and helps other people

in my industry use their platforms for good,” Phillips says.

RAD STARS

Elisabeth Moss

supporting

the ACLU at

the Golden

Globes,

Patricia

Arquette

supporting

Give Love at

the SAG

Awards,

Camila Cabello

supporting

Save the

Children at the

Grammys, and

Mandy Moore

supporting

UNICEF at the

SAG Awards

Red-Carpet

RAD-icals

CARINEH MARTIN AND ARIANNE PHILLIPS

ARE TRANSFORMING RED CARPETS INTO

HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST PLATFORM FOR CHANGE

From left:

Carineh

Martin and

Arianne

Phillips