Condom Fashion Show in Colombia

I am a fanatic when it comes to certain shows but the one I have to watch with rapt attention, kids tucked into bed, wine glass in hand is Project Runway. My husband (he would kill me for spilling this secret) and I have been Project Runway fans since the second season….we were a tad late to the game. Anyway, if you have never seen the show, it is hosted by Heidi Klum and it showcases about 14 or 15 designers who get weekly designing challenges. Sometimes they are asked to outfit plus-sized models or make fashion couture out of old bridesmaid dresses; however, I don’t think a one of those fashion designers would be prepared for the challenge that a Colombian fashion designer recently took on: designing fashionable clothes out of condoms for a highly publicized runway show.

Fashion-designer-extraordinaire Belky Arizala wore two other hats when she created her condom show; she also organized the event and modeled one of her own designs. This amazing multi-tasker also has a foundation, The Soul Has No Color. Through her foundation, she was able to bring her condom fashion show to the catwalk for the 4th time in Bogota, Colombia. The motive for her fashion show and her foundation is to promote safe sex as well as raise awareness for the risk of HIV/AIDS. This latest runway show utilized over 12,000 individual condoms in a multitude of ways from remaining in their packages to being completely blown up.

In an interview, Arizala passionately stated, “This year the show has more of a voice because the main idea is to raise awareness about the use of condoms. Through a sensitive campaign using fashion, we can start getting the message across in a much softer way so that people can become more aware of the value of life.” According to UNAIDS, approximately 33.4 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS across the globe. In Latin America alone, 77,000 people succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses in 2009.

In a video of the fashion show, there were several outfits highlighted. The first was a condom bikini, complete with flowing skirt. The model also sported a headband made entirely of condoms with some blown up for dramatic effect. The next model was a male model who wore condom capri pants. The condoms looked to be cut up and sewn together to make a rubbery fabric. The last highlighted outfit was worn by Arizala herself. It was a beautiful silver evening gown with a sleeveless to and floor-length flowing skirt that billowed around her. From a distance, it was almost impossible to see that the dress was made entirely from condoms.