Berlin-based designer Marco Scaiano launches new collection with DW and CPJ to stand up for freedom of information

German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) is branching out from news and current affairs to venture into the world of fashion. However, this is fashion with a purpose. With their new campaign, labelled Uncensored Collection, the media company aims to draw attention to ways to circumvent censorship and support and protect journalists worldwide.

While more people around the world than ever before can easily communicate and access information, it’s easy to forget that there are many places where people who publish dissenting thought are punished and the free flow of information is blocked. In many countries, government control of infrastructure can lead to information being censored or cut off altogether. 

As one of the most successful international media outlets, DW provides unbiased news and information in 32 languages to enable people globally to form their own opinions. In particular, DW has made fighting censorship a core principle and works consistently to provide people everywhere with the information they need to understand problems and issues affecting their societies.

So where does the Uncensored Collection come in? “Freedom is stitched into everything we do,” said Guido Baumhauer, Managing Director Distribution, Marketing and Technology and responsible for DW’s global marketing activities. “The Uncensored Collection reflects our fight against censorship and our support for freedom of expression worldwide.”

The result of a collaboration with Berlin-based designer Marco Scaiano, the collection includes a range of garments, each of which not only highlights an important message but also includes instructions for tools to help people bypass censorship and access independent media – no matter where they are.

One such tool is DW’s censorship circumvention system called Psiphon, which works by using a network of different proxy servers (an intermediary between a user and an online source). People in countries whose governments block or restrict access to independent news can access DW content securely and anonymously with the Tor Project. Websites accessible through Tor (The Onion Routing) can be recognised by the extension ‘.onion.’ A special browser such as the Firefox-based Tor browser is necessary in order to gain access to the websites. With this technology, users in countries like China and Iran have been given the power to access unbiased information from reliable sources.

Proceeds from sales will also go to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. When press freedom violations occur, CPJ mobilises a network of correspondents who report and take action on behalf of those targeted.

“We are grateful to DW for partnering with CPJ on this innovative campaign to ensure that no one is deprived of the fundamental right to be informed,” said Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Advocacy and Communications Director at CPJ. “As digital media is increasingly targeted for control, we must resist and be equipped to circumvent online censorship, which this campaign aims to do.”

The editorial unit

The Uncensored Collection is available on Marco Scaiano’s website here.

Watch the Uncensored Collection here: