FARMINGDALE, New York (September 29, 2021) — The D’Addario Foundation is honored to partner with Tom Petty’s daughters, Annakim Violette and Adria Petty, and the Tom Petty Estate to raise proceeds for the Girls in Music Initiative through a limited-edition capsule collection celebrating Tom Petty’s masterpiece Wildflowers, designed by legendary fashion house Rodarte.
To honor Tom Petty’s passion for music education, 25% of the net proceeds made from Tom Petty’s store will benefit the D’Addario Foundation’s Girls in Music Initiative. The initiative provides girls with the resources to pursue their dreams in music and beyond through instrument instruction, scholarships, and leadership development programs, including the Foundation’s all-female Ascenté Chamber Orchestra, College Scholarship Fund, the Musicians Institute’s Women in Guitar Scholarship, Girls Rock! Rhode Island, Girls Write Nashville, and more.
“This exciting collaboration with the Tom Petty Estate and Rodarte really speaks to our shared values and is an amazing tribute,” says Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Executive Director of D’Addario Foundation. “Access to music education meant so much to Tom and through this collaboration a tangible difference will be made by providing free and immersive opportunities for students to express themselves in the country’s best community music programs.”
In 1995, Rodarte founders Kate and Laura Mulleavy went to see their first Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers concert during their legendary Dogs With Wings tour, and it left a deep musical impression on the sisters. They were fans of Tom Petty from that night forward and Wildflowers remained one of their favorite albums.
“Tom Petty’s musical legacy has inspired us deeply as artists,” says Laura Mulleavy. “We are thrilled to be able to work with the Petty sisters on this project, and even more excited that our mother was also able to participate by creating the original flower artwork. It was such a beautiful journey of creation and celebration,” furthers Kate Mulleavy.
The limited-edition, screen-printed collection includes exclusive t-shirts, sweatshirt hoodies/crewnecks and sweatpants featuring original artwork handmade by Victoria Mulleavy (Kate and Laura’s mother).
“This collection has that 60’s feeling our dad loved so much and it is incredible watching designers so good at their craft creating art inspired by our father’s music. It just feels like Wildflowers sounds,” notes Annakim Violette. Adria Petty explains, “This is a passion project inspired by my sister and it is a really loving tribute to our dad. We love this collection because it is joyful and is a great opportunity for us to give back to the emerging music community. Laura and Kate are our favorite designers so it’s exciting to see the world of Wildflowers interpreted through their eyes.”
The Mulleavy and Petty sisters were inspired to highlight a new generation of musicians in the presentation of the collaboration. Photographer Daria Kobayashi Ritch captured artists who have all been influenced by Tom’s music. The photos feature Japanese Breakfast, King Princess, Joanna Newsom, Kilo Kish, Weyes Blood, Arrow de Wilde, TWEAKS and Gabbriette wearing Tom Petty Wildflowers era archive wardrobe mixed in with the Radarte x Tom Petty Wildflowers capsule collection.
The pieces are available for sale today in small quantities through TomPetty.com, Matches UK, and ShopRodarte.com. To learn more about the D’Addario Foundation and the Girls in Music Initiative please visit http://ddar.io/TomPettyWildflowers.