condom couture: once upon a runway event

On Saturday, September 24, 2016, Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center (Women’s Health) hosted the fourth annual Condom Couture event at CU Boulder’s Glenn Miller Ballroom. Our team at ONE is very proud to have supported this incredible event—and the mission of the organization—again this year.

The fundraising event included a full runway show with nearly 20 one-of-a-kind fashions made using condoms by local designers, costumers, and creative community members.

ONE donated approximately 20,000 unlubricated, unwrapped condoms for the designs through the Project CONDOM program. A unique approach to decreasing stigma around sexual health, each design incorporated hundreds to thousands of condoms. Nearly 500 guests saw fashions inspired by the event’s storytelling theme, including Wizard of Oz, Beowulf, Peter Pan, and more.

After attending the event for the first time, Boulder resident Heather Galbraith said, “When I heard ‘condom fashion show’ I did not know what to expect. I was shocked and really impressed when I saw the quality and creativity of the designs. You would never know some of them were made with condoms at all!”

Condom Couture: Once Upon a Runway raised nearly $80,000 for the vital programs and services provided by Women’s Health. 

Four designers took home prizes: the Like a Virgin award for the best amateur design went to Ann England, Gus Guarino and Colene Robinson for “Beowulf and the Dragon”; the Sexpert award for the best professional design went to Ashley Winters and Kathryn Minney for their “Spriggan Ithir” garden sprite; the Art of ONE award for the most creative design went to Sierra Wonderlynd; and the CLIMAX award for the audience favorite design went to sisters Amanda Anderson and Samantha Sutterfield for their “Splooging Beauty” piece. 

Sexpert award winner

Like a Virgin award winners

Fashion show judges included: award-winning journalist and fashion columnist, Aimee Heckel; Darlene C. Ritz, Ed.D, Chair of the Fashion Design program at RMCAD; Kelsey Bigelow, Co-Owner and Chief Operations Officer of Denver Style Magazine; and local entrepreneur and owner of Rags Consignments and ten20 spa, Margaret Miner.

“We are committed to assuring that even those without financial resources will stay in control of their reproductive health,” said Women’s Health Development Director Lindsay Christopher. “Condom Couture not only provides a powerful reminder of the importance of our work, but also a space to celebrate creativity and passion with our local community.”

See more photos by clicking here.