F  L  A  U  N  T

 Photo Courtesy When thinking of great forces of fashion in the world right now, [B. Akerlund](https://www.instagram.com/bcompleted/) is someone who comes to mind instantly. The costume designer has worked with some of the greats from Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, and Madonna. But Akerlund isn’t your average celebrity stylist. She is a huge advocate for all things activism, recently teaming up with [Klarna](https://www.instagram.com/klarna/) to create a unique engagement ring, meant to empower women. 100% of the proceeds of the ring go to causes that support women’s empowerment. Flaunt had the chance to catch up with the star stylist and hear what she had to say about activism and art. **What makes this collaboration so special for you?**  I was excited to be part of a message that was encouraging women not to follow the 'rules',  and give the finger to tradition. **What do you think this collaboration will mean to the fashion world?** I think this collaboration means, moving forward, we can still share our creative designs and visions while relaying an important message. **What was your favorite part about working with Klarna and their team?** I loved working with Klarna and their team because they were not afraid to push the boundaries. They were willing to take risks and trust my vision. **Lady Gaga recently posted a photo of herself in the ring, how does it feel to be receiving support from the community of artists who are all striving for the same sense of empowerment for women?** It was great to have LG support the campaign. Since she is a huge inspiration to so many, she really helped get the message out there to as many people as possible.   Photo Courtesy **100% of the proceeds of this ring go towards women empowerment initiatives, is this something you’re really passionate about?**  Yes I am very passionate about helping people, and  if I can help an organization get awareness & financial aid for a good cause, I am all in.  **How does this activism fall into your everyday life?** My motherly instincts always kick in, and I strive to make a difference in the world with everything I do.  **What made you want to do this collaboration?** I love designing and feel like that is something I want to explore more in the future. So, the combination of designing rings, while working with a strong message/important cause, made me go all in.  **How did you come up with the concept of the design of the ring? What inspired the design of the ring?** I actually designed 2 rings... One is the knight finger ring for the daring, and the second is the unification ring for the more traditional look. We knew we wanted an empowering engagement ring that made women feel confident to propose to men with. My thought process was that we all search for our  'Knight in shining armor' and the collection was born & inspired by that.   Photo Courtesy **Who are you trying to leave an impact on with this release?**  Anyone that will listen. Especially women that have felt inhibited by out-dated traditions. **Who was this ring made to entice?** It was designed to raise awareness and catch people’s eye with a non traditional engagement ring design. **Would doing another collaboration that tackles activism, maybe different movement, be something you’d be interested in doing in the future?** Absolutely. I am all for some daily activism and using my creativity & voice to inspire people to think outside the box. **If you could get one message across about this collaboration and about women empowerment, what would it be?** Don’t be ruled by tradition. Take charge and write your own story.  **Do you see your designs extending into a similar charitable function within other accessories and clothing** Only the future will tell.   Photo Courtesy