THE RED DRESS RUNWAY SHOW

The Red Dress Runway Show is Artivism in action. Artivism is the intersection of ART+ACTIVISIM. RDRS is Where Fashion Meets Advocacy and Awareness Inspires Action. The Red Dress Runway Show is more than a fashion event, it's a movement. Through the art of fashion, storytelling, education, and advocacy, we create a powerful platform that challenges HIV stigma, celebrates resilience, and inspires communities to become part of the solution.

 

THE MOVEMENT

Founded in 2017 by advocate, speaker, and producer Marvin Anderson, The Red Dress Runway Show was born from a personal commitment to create greater awareness and understanding surrounding HIV.

After receiving his HIV diagnosis, Marvin recognized the need for innovative and nontraditional approaches to education and advocacy. He envisioned an experience that could reach people beyond statistics and presentations, by curating an experience that would engage hearts, challenge perceptions, and inspire meaningful conversations.

Today, The Red Dress Runway Show stands as a bold expression of advocacy through art, using fashion as a vehicle to educate, empower, and unite communities in the fight against HIV stigma.

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OUR MISSION

The Red Dress Runway Show exists to deconstruct the stigma surrounding HIV by creating spaces for education, awareness, dialogue, and community engagement.

We believe that stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to prevention, testing, treatment, support, and overall well-being. Through storytelling, representation, and visibility, we challenge misconceptions and replace fear with understanding, compassion, and action.

Every model, every story, and every walk down the runway serves as a reminder that HIV does not define a person's worth, potential, or purpose.​​

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​WHY BLACK WOMEN?

The Red Dress Runway Show was intentionally designed to engage and empower Black women, a demographic that continues to be disproportionately impacted by HIV.

Women are often the nurturers, educators, influencers, and leaders within families and communities. Their voices shape conversations, their actions inspire change, and their influence extends across generations.

By creating an event that celebrates and engages women, we are able to extend awareness far beyond the runway. We believe that when women are empowered with knowledge, entire families become informed, communities become stronger, and stigma loses its power.

The runway becomes more than a stage—it becomes a platform for education, advocacy, and collective impact.