It's a proud day when a beauty brand makes good on what their fans see as a questionable decision.

The brand in question is M.A.C. Cosmetics, who will put out a collection with Rodarte for Fall 2010 based on the label's runway inspiration of the towns on the Texas/Mexico border. Rodarte designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy had road-tripped from El Paso to Marfa, and were struck by the ethereal landscape and the impoverished factory workers floating to work at dawn in a sleepy, dreamlike state.

The idea itself is controversial, but the inspiration was lofty and intangible, and the clothing so delicately beautiful that nobody took notice after the sisters showed their collection. However, when it was translated to makeup products that were then given names, people took notice.

You see, the M.A.C. Rodarte collection contains nail polishes called frosty pink Juarez and mint green Factory. "Why's it tasteless?," asked The Frisky's Jessica Wakeman. "Juarez is an impoverished Mexican factory town notorious for the number of women between the ages of 12 and 22 who have been raped and murdered with little or no response from police."

"Most of the young women are employees at the border town's factories, called maquiladoras, and disappeared on the way to or from work," she added.

And M.A.C.'s reaction was exactly what it should be. A day after the controversy struck, the Estee Lauder-owner company pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds to help those in need in Juarez.

"We understand that product names in the M.A.C. Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans," the company said in a statement. "This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of you who have brought your concerns to the forefront of our attention. M.A.C. will give a portion of the proceeds from the M.A.C. Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this. Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts."

When I first saw the Rodarte runway collection, I was struck by its beauty, but also, given the subject matter, by its sadness, and though it could be viewed as trite to be inspired by these hard lives, it also recognized their plight and made me think about it on a day that was otherwise consumed by fashion trends and backstage beauty tips.

Hopefully every woman who wears the clothing collection -- and the makeup -- will recognize what inspired it and do something to help the cause.

Read more about Rodarte here.