Charity Ac-af Creates Fashion Campaign Walk The Truth Runway Show, Enlisting Canada's Best Designers

March 3, 2011 - PRLog -- NGO Africa’s Children-Africa’s Future (AC-AF) has enlisted the best and brightest of Canadian Fashion designers and celebrity models to bring both charity and fashion to the Nation’s capital during Ottawa Fashion Week, with the first season of “Walk the Truth”, a Fashion Show Fundraiser and Gala dedicated to spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS and providing HIV and AIDS orphan support in Africa. AC-AF’s Director Gita Jaffe was inspired to create a sustainable campaign that could reach and enlist the fashion community, so with the help of Designer/Publicist Shaun Marq, the two conceived Walk The Truth. The event was created, and brought on board to close the show at Ottawa Fashion Week.

Working with the Toronto-based NGO’s campaign, “Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say... About HIV and AIDS”, 15+ designers have been challenged to design a garment based on words and images from the campaign which depict the faces and ideas of children in Tanzania, Africa. The Children involved in AC-AF’s programs were asked the question; “what does AIDS mean to you?”  The responses resulted in the creation of the campaign which is now dedicated to raise awareness, empathy and to evoke action within international communities about the realities and stigmas of HIV and AIDS, as it relates to those directly affected by it. The designers are to create one of-a-kind garments around the key themes derived from the responses of the children, which are “walk for love, walk for hope, walk for death, walk for orphans, and walk for life.” Celebrities and Top Canadian models will be commandeering the runway all for the sake of charity. Following the show, the gowns will be available for sale online and will be auctioned off to the public.  

The Gala promises to bring together political and public supporters of both charity and fashion alike. “We are very excited to be a part of Ottawa Fashion Week for the first time.  In the city where some of Canada’s most influential political and international figures reside, it is a great environment to bring together the two industries. For so long both of these groups have maintained strength in their support of the AIDS epidemic which continues to not only take countless lives but impact millions more. We have had so much support already”, says Director Gita Jaffe.

Now in its 5th season, Ottawa Fashion Week works to showcase both established designers and newcomers in a community environment where they can join the rest of Ottawa in supporting the creative and multi-dimensional art form that is called fashion. Since its inception, OFW has been the sole venue for bringing both locals like Kania Couture and well known fashion designers like Project Runway’s Jessica Biffi to the Ottawa scene.

The Gala and fashion runway show will be held at the National Gallery in Ottawa on March 20th, and begins at 9pm. To purchase tickets, visit the official OFW website at www.ottawafashionweek.ca/charity.html  For more information on AC-AF, visit www.ac-af.com and for details about the Gala, show and designers, visit www.walkthetruth.com. All proceeds raised from the show will go directly into sustainable programming to help and support orphans overseas, as well as to educate children and youth about HIV and AIDS around the world. AC-AF would like to thank Ottawa Fashion Week as this season’s official sponsor for this seasons Walk the Truth campaign.

Press contact: Natasha Neale OR Shaun Marq;  B.A.D PR;  416.554.4594;  info@badpr.ca
AC-AF contact: Gita Jaffe;  Director;  416.203.3715 ;  gita@ac-af.com

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