The collaboration between designer Conner Ives and MAC revisits a simple but powerful fashion statement and expands it into a charity-focused beauty release. What began as a wardrobe moment — a T-shirt that resonated across red carpets and social feeds — has grown into a formal partnership with VIVA GLAM. The relaunch pairs an updated version of the original Protect the Dolls tee with a new Silky Matte lipstick, and both products are being positioned as fundraisers for organisations that support trans rights and well-being.
The original shirt, introduced at Ives’s Fall/Winter 2026 show during London Fashion Week, quickly sold out after celebrities and influencers embraced its message. That initial run generated notable donations — more than $600,000 raised and upwards of 17,000 shirts purchased according to campaign figures — with funds directed to groups such as Trans Lifeline and other grassroots projects. Now, by tapping into VIVA GLAM‘s global platform, the project aims to amplify both awareness and giving on an international scale.
What the relaunch includes
MAC’s limited-edition drop unites an updated Protect the Dolls T-shirt with a bespoke Silky Matte VIVA GLAM lipstick, presented as a set of pieces meant to be visible statements and practical fundraisers. The cosmetics house has confirmed that 100% of the selling price from these items will be directed to charities championing trans equality and health. Availability is scheduled online for the UK and US on March 29, 2026 at 11am GMT, with select MAC stores in the UK also carrying stock. The timing is framed to dovetail with visibility around Trans Day on March 31, reinforcing the social and political intent behind the release.
Ambassadors and creative intent
For the campaign imagery MAC features four trans and transfeminine models — Dominique Jackson, Josephine DuPont, Ivy Stewart and Green Kim — who personify the message the initiative seeks to uplift. The label’s global creative director, Nicola Formichetti, has explained that aligning VIVA GLAM with Ives’s grassroots momentum was a deliberate choice to scale impact: the program has a long history of donating lipstick sales to community causes, and this collaboration extends that legacy toward trans-focused organisations.
Designer perspective and history
Conner Ives has described the T-shirt as a reactive and urgent piece of activism born out of a moment when trans rights were facing heightened scrutiny. What began as a late-stage decision for his runway show turned into a broader movement that generated significant philanthropic support. Ives emphasizes that the campaign functions as both a visual rallying cry and a fundraising tool, encouraging consumers to use fashion and beauty as channels for solidarity and education.
Charitable mechanism and legacy
VIVA GLAM itself was created in the 1990s to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS programmes, and the initiative has a track record of donating lipstick sales to frontline organisations. Past ambassadors have included prominent entertainers and public figures, and in recent years the program has extended its remit to address a wider range of community needs. For this collaboration, MAC reiterates that all proceeds from the Conner Ives collection will be given to charities advancing trans equality, continuing a lineage of cause-oriented beauty campaigns.
Impact on the community
The relaunch is framed to do more than drive commerce: it aims to spark conversations about protection, allyship, and practical support for trans people, particularly trans women and transfeminine non-binary individuals who are often referenced in the campaign language as “dolls” — an informal term used within some communities. By redirecting 100% of sales to organisations such as Trans Lifeline and other partners, the collaboration seeks to move from symbolic solidarity to tangible resources, funding crisis support, advocacy and community care.
Where and when to buy
The MAC Silky Matte VIVA GLAM x Conner Ives lipstick and the updated Protect the Dolls shirt will be released online in the United Kingdom and United States on March 29, 2026 at 11am GMT, with limited quantities available at select MAC locations across the UK. Shoppers are encouraged to check MAC’s official channels for stock updates and to consider the campaign as both a style choice and an opportunity to contribute financially to organisations supporting trans equality and health.
Final note
This collaboration turns a viral fashion moment into a structured charitable effort, using the visibility of a beauty institution and a young designer’s platform to fund and elevate trans-led causes. Through the combination of an iconic tee and a signature lipstick, the partnership aims to keep the conversation active while channeling sales directly to groups that provide crisis support and advocacy for trans communities.