“Pay the dolls, platform the dolls, and protect the dolls!” Last year, Conner Ives launched a movement with his now iconic “Protect the Dolls” tee. After first making its debut at Conner Ives‘ Fall/Winter 2025 show at London Fashion Week, the “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt became an overnight sensation.
As Hypebae reports, although the designer dreamed up the tee the night before the collection debuted, it symbolized much more than just a fleeting moment worn by the likes of Addison Rae and Charli XCX — it was an outright way to advocate for the trans community in a political climate that undermined their right to exist.
Harping on this, MAC Cosmetics, known for its history of advocacy with VIVA GLAM, has announced a partnership with Ives. In addition to re-releasing the beloved “Protect the Dolls” shirt, the brand is also dropping limited-edition lipsticks with the same slogan. Emphasized by MAC’s global creative director Nicola Formichetti, 100% of the proceeds will benefit LGBTQIA+ organizations, in an attempt to further Ives’ message of advocacy over virality.
In celebration of the launch, MAC tapped a cast of trailblazing dolls to star in the campaign. The brand called upon Dominique Jackson, Josephine DuPont, Ivy Stewart and Green Kim. At its core, the collaboration encourages wearers to go beyond just purchasing a T-shirt. Above all else, Conner Ives hopes that everyone who proudly wears “Protect the Dolls” across their chest is able to speak to trans advocacy. “No one gets it for free,” Ives said Hypebae in an interview.
MAC is releasing the limited-edition VIVA GLAM x Conner Ives “Protect the Dolls” t-shirt on March 31 to mark Trans Day of Visibility. The “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt retails for $100 USD and the limited-edition MACximal Silky Matte VIVA GLAM Lipstick retails for $25 USD — both will be available for purchase on the brand’s website.
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