Designer Mondo Guerra designs HIV community inspired dress

"I believe that fashion, as with many forms of art, can serve as a great conversation starter," said Mondo Guerra. "I was inspired by the people I've met through the I Design campaign and a mural created by the HIV Community, and artistically wanted the dress pattern to be abstract to symbolize how every person is different.  I hope this dress created for World AIDS Day can be used to further remind people living with HIV about the importance of having meaningful discussions with their doctors."

The commemorative World AIDS Day dress marks another occasion for Mondo, through his work with the I Design campaign, to further spark awareness around the importance of patient-physician communication. 

About Mondo's "One-of-a-Kind" HIV Community Inspired Design

The "muse" for the dress' design was a mural created by the Community at the 2012 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), one of the largest annual HIV gatherings in the nation.  Each person's artistic and expressive contributions visually demonstrate how everyone approaches managing HIV differently.  In constructing the dress, Mondo used design elements representing the multiple layers of the I Design campaign:

• The black bodice and silhouette represent laying the foundation – Taking some time to prepare for appointments can help patients make the most out of every doctor visit
• The use of color blocking represents personalization – Meaningful dialogue with a doctor is important in taking into account each person's unique medical and personal needs
• The red sheer overlay symbolizes the finishing touch – People living with HIV are all different, which is why patients should work with their doctor to find a "tailored" treatment plan

I Design is a national HIV education campaign led by Merck and fashion designer Mondo Guerra aimed at helping to empower people living with HIV to have open and meaningful discussions with their doctors about their treatment plan based on their medical and lifestyle needs.

After an emotional disclosure of his HIV-positive status during Season 8, fashion designer Mondo Guerra won the hearts of the judges, fellow contestants and viewers on the hit reality TV show Project Runway.

Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well.  Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. 

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