MAC Cosmetics x Conner Ives Launch Powerful "Protect the Dolls" Collaboration for Trans Visibility

In a significant move for LGBTQ+ advocacy within the fashion and beauty industries, MAC Cosmetics has partnered with emerging designer Conner Ives to launch a limited-edition collection centered around his impactful "Protect the Dolls" slogan. This collaboration, timed to coincide with Trans Day of Visibility, aims to amplify support for trans equality through both product sales and awareness. The initiative sees the re-release of Ives’s now iconic t-shirt and the introduction of a special VIVA GLAM lipstick shade, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting organizations dedicated to advancing trans rights.

The genesis of this collaboration lies in the overwhelming public response to the "Protect the Dolls" t-shirt, which first gained prominence at the end of Conner Ives’s Autumn/Winter 2025 show. Following his runway presentation, Ives took his bow wearing the now-famous slogan tee. The immediate demand for the garment was so pronounced that Ives was inspired to make it publicly available. It swiftly became one of the most coveted fashion items of 2025, seen on a constellation of celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Addison Rae, Troye Sivan, and Madonna. Beyond its sartorial impact, the t-shirt has been a powerful fundraising tool, generating over $600,000 for vital organizations such as Trans Lifeline and Not A Phase. Its influence has also resonated beyond the fashion elite, inspiring grassroots movements like the "Let The Dolls Play" campaign by London football clubs Goal Diggers FC and Baller FC.

The partnership with MAC Cosmetics, a brand with a long-standing commitment to charitable causes through its VIVA GLAM initiative, marks a significant escalation of the "Protect the Dolls" message. The collaboration features a limited-edition black t-shirt emblazoned with the "Protect the Dolls" graphic and a VIVA GLAM lipstick in the shade "Viva Planet," which features the same design subtly incorporated onto the lipstick bullet. The entirety of the selling price from these items will be directed towards organizations championing trans equality, reinforcing MAC’s dedication to using its platform for social good.

A Legacy of Allyship and Empowerment

The accompanying campaign for the MAC Cosmetics x Conner Ives collaboration showcases a powerful lineup of trans trailblazers, including Josephine DuPont, Ivy Stewart, Green Kim, and Dominique Jackson. These individuals, who also graced Ives’s Autumn/Winter 2026 runway, bring a profound personal connection and gravitas to the campaign.

Dominique Jackson, a celebrated actress and advocate, expressed her deep emotional resonance with the partnership. "My first Viva Glam was when I saw RuPaul on billboards, and it let me know that there was room in the world for all of us," Jackson shared. "So, to be a part of this right now is very full circle for me. It’s dream after dream coming true." She further elaborated on the significance of allyship, stating, "I’m an immigrant, I’m a Black trans woman, I’m living in a time where I shouldn’t be, but I am. So, when people protect us and look out for us, it lets me know that the world can be a safe place. Conner has continued to dedicate himself to the allyship of protecting the dolls, and looking out for us and providing us with work. We need our allies to stand up with us and for us."

Nicola Formichetti, Global Creative Director of MAC Cosmetics, highlighted the organic nature of the collaboration and its alignment with MAC’s core values. "I respect him so much as a designer, and then what he did with ‘Protect the Dolls’ was so amazing," Formichetti commented on Ives’s work. "I wanted to join forces with him to make his stage even bigger."

The "Protect the Dolls" Phenomenon: From Necessity to Movement

Conner Ives described the genesis of the t-shirt as stemming from a place of necessity and a feeling of helplessness in the face of escalating anti-trans rhetoric and policy. "The t-shirt was really born out of a place of necessity, and also a feeling of not knowing what else I could do or say," Ives explained. He recounted internal debates about the message’s reception, ultimately concluding, "I think through all that analyzing, I realized I don’t really care how it lands. Because I think it just needs to be said. I felt really helpless – and my helplessness is nothing compared to my trans friends in America whose rights were being taken away from them. So I think that was the moment where [we realized] it’s not really about us. This is something bigger, ultimately."

The widespread resonance of the t-shirt, Ives believes, reflects a broader societal feeling of helplessness and a desire to actively contribute to positive change. A crucial element of the t-shirt’s success, and indeed the entire "Protect the Dolls" initiative, has been its unwavering commitment to not profiting from the cause. "We were really adamant from the beginning, and I was really adamant in this partnership, that there is no profit gained from this t-shirt," Ives emphasized, acknowledging Formichetti’s dedication to this principle.

Formichetti echoed this sentiment, describing Ives’s approach as "very genuine" and speaking "directly to our soul." He added, "It was so beautiful. And then it’s like, ‘Okay, we could do something even bigger and keep the conversation going?’ I love what Conner said at the beginning, like, ‘Okay, we’ve done ‘Protect the Dolls’, but what’s the next stage? What’s the actual action?’ Let’s keep the conversation going, but actually do something about it."

Addressing Performative Activism and Defining True Allyship

In response to criticisms that slogan t-shirts and similar forms of "t-shirt activism" can be performative or insufficient, Ives stressed the transparency and intentionality behind his project. "I’ve been very transparent the whole time – we were not giving this out to people," he stated. He recounted instances where stylists requested the t-shirt, and his consistent response was to provide a purchasing link, emphasizing that the garments were always sold, not gifted. "The most beautiful part is that everyone was like, ‘of course’."

Furthermore, Ives underscored that the "Protect the Dolls" messaging was developed in close consultation with his trans friends, ensuring its authenticity and accuracy. "At the end of the day, with anything this big, you’re always going to have people in an opposing camp, and power to them," Ives acknowledged. "If this is something that you don’t feel speaks to you, then let’s have that conversation and let’s figure out a way that we can take that feedback and design an even better product."

Formichetti reinforced the idea that fashion and beauty have the unique capacity to drive significant social impact. "Viva Glam was that – to use the power of lipstick to do something good," he said. "It’s unfortunate that these things are happening, but that’s the reality, so what can we do about it? Doing this sort of thing is what we need today, and I think it’s so beautiful."

Beyond the Purchase: Sustaining Support for Trans Communities

The conversation then shifted to actionable steps individuals can take beyond purchasing merchandise. Ives addressed a common question from allies: "What can I ask my trans friends, to learn how to support them?" He firmly stated, "And to be totally honest, that’s not their job. We can do our own work that doesn’t rely on our trans friends telling us what charities to give to."

Ives suggested that genuine support often begins with simple, human connections. "A lot of times it can be having a date or a lunch or a cocktail with your girlfriends, asking them how they are, how is their day going?" he proposed. "This is really where I want to see this movement going. This isn’t performative activism, if you don’t make it performative activism. I think that it can be as simple as just being a friend."

The Urgency of the Moment: A Call to Action

The timing of the MAC Cosmetics x Conner Ives collaboration is particularly poignant given the ongoing legislative battles and societal challenges faced by the transgender community. "We’re seeing every day the rights of trans people [being eroded] at the hands of a government doing it for their own political gain," Ives observed. "They will continue to erode away at fundamental American rights in ways that defy our Constitution. I think we’re all watching aghast."

He reiterated that purchasing the t-shirt serves as an initial step, encouraging further engagement with organizations like The Trevor Project and Mermaids, whose work he described as "essential to taking this movement forward."

The importance of normalizing conversations around trans rights was also highlighted. "I think the conversation is a great place to start. And the more that we can normalize this conversation and not make it feel like our sisters and family are others and not related to us, I think the sooner we can get to a future in which we don’t have to have this conversation anymore. Because we have more visibility, we have more understanding around what this community needs."

Formichetti concluded by emphasizing the enduring legacy of drag culture and the transgender community within the fashion and beauty industries, underscoring the urgency of protecting their rights. "We love the dolls, they’re such a part of the fashion and beauty industry throughout the years, and it’s so crazy what’s happening, that all their rights are being taken away," he stated. "So yeah, it’s a great conversation starter but I think it’s very important that, individually, we look into what else we can do. I think what Conner did, starting this huge conversation, is great but we have to keep going and do amazing things together, and do fabulous things together."

The MAC Silky Matte VIVA GLAM x Conner Ives ‘Protect the Dolls’ Lipstick and MAC VIVA GLAM x Conner Ives ‘Protect the Dolls’ Shirt will be available online in the UK and US starting March 29, 2026. This collaboration signifies a powerful convergence of fashion, beauty, and activism, aiming to foster a more inclusive and supportive world for the transgender community.