Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Pirelli, an Italian tire manufacturer, has had a habit of releasing an annual calendar of nude and scantily-clad women that many women have been less than happy about. This year’s calendar, however, promises to be a PR coup – instead of their usual softcore-pornographic fare, their 2016 calendar will feature thinkers, athletes, businesspeople and other inspiring elites from the world of women.

Though the women in the photos are in various states of dress (or undress), that’s definitely not the focus this time around. Annie Leibovitz, the award-winning photographer behind this year’s calendar (whom we’ve written about before), said, “I started to think about the roles that women play, women who have achieved something. I wanted to make a classic set of portraits. I thought that the women should look strong but natural, and I decided to keep it a very simple exercise of shooting in the studio. This calendar is so completely different. It is a departure. The idea was not to have any pretense in these pictures and be very straightforward.”

What do you think about this new direction?

More info: pirelli.com | Facebook (h/t: designyoutrust)

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Amy Schumer

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Serena Williams

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Yoko Ono

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Natalia Vodianova

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Ava Duvernay

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

 Patti Smith

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Yao Chen

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Shirin Neshat

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Tavi Gevinson

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Mellody Hobson

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Fran Lebowitz

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Agnes Gund and Sadie Rain-Hope Gund

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Kathleen Kennedy

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women

Behind the scenes:

Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women
Pirellis’ 2016 Calendar Replaces Sexy Stars With Influential Women