Punk goes to the dogs as stars launch ‘God Save The Beagles’ campaign
Fashion, music and animal welfare collided in London last night as campaigners launched a rebellious new clothing range to help beagles rescued from animal testing.
Actor and musician Collette Cooper and actor and musician Lois Winstone have joined forces with renowned fashion designer Gresham Blake to create the limited-edition “God Save The Beagles” T-shirt.
Inspired by the raw energy and rebellious spirit of 1980s punk, the design carries the uncompromising slogan “God Save The Beagles”.
The campaign aims to expose the plight of beagles used in animal testing while raising vital funds to help rescued dogs recover and experience life outside the laboratory.
All proceeds from sales of the T-shirts will go to The Beagle Freedom Project UK, supporting the rehabilitation and care of beagles rescued from animal testing and giving them the opportunity to begin new lives.
The striking campaign images were captured by award-winning photographer Rankin, who brought his distinctive visual style to the project.
A host of well-known faces, animal advocates, journalists and supporters gathered for the official launch in the capital on Thursday evening, September 17.
Among those attending were Anna Webb, host of the A Dog’s Life podcast, and Ira Moss, CEO of London-based dog rescue and rehoming charity All Dogs Matter.
Anna, who was photographed at the event alongside Ira and Collette, said the punk-inspired campaign was a powerful way of forcing people to confront the suffering experienced by dogs in laboratories.
She said: “Beagles are gentle, trusting and highly social dogs, and those very qualities have tragically contributed to their widespread use in animal testing.
“‘God Save The Beagles’ harnesses the uncompromising spirit of punk to deliver a compassionate message that cannot easily be ignored.
“Fashion has always been capable of challenging attitudes and starting conversations. Every person who wears this T-shirt will be helping to bring the hidden lives of laboratory beagles into public view and supporting those fortunate enough to be given a second chance.”
Organisers said the campaign was intended to be much more than a fashion statement, describing it as a call to action for people to look beyond the slogan and understand the lives behind the cause.
Collette, Lois and Gresham hope the collaboration will demonstrate how fashion can become a powerful platform for social change, turning a single T-shirt into a statement, a conversation starter and a practical way of helping animals in need.
The exclusive launch was sponsored by Vinombra premium prosecco and Jukes Cordialities alcohol-free drinks, with bespoke Delilah Cosmetics goody bags provided for guests.
The T-shirts and further information about the campaign are available at https://www.greshamblake.com.
