(EXCLUSIVE) Designer Mondo Guerra Talks NYFW Debut, Not Being Defined By HIV

Mondo Guerra

Mondo Guerra On NYFW Debut, Not Being Defined By HIV

This week, New York City will be swarming with fashion lovers from across the world to see the new fall and winter collections during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Seasoned and novice designers alike are scrambling to complete their last looks for their respected shows, and for Project Runway Allstars Winner Mondo Guerra this season’s showing is more than just a debut of his signature style. His debut is a testament of the successes achieved by people living with HIV.

Mondo shocked the world and the judges when he came out about his HIV positive status on season 8 of Bravo’s Emmy winning show Project Runway. Since his public proclamation, Mondo has become the face of “iDesign,” an educational campaign created by pharmaceutical company Merck to inspire people living with HIV to take control of their treatment and to be proactive with their health.

After five years of his advocating with the project, iDesign is putting major support behind Mondo to help his creativity reach the masses during his first solo showing at New York Fashion Week. Guerra is proud to be an advocate for people living with HIV; however he makes it clear that he wants this debut to be about his creative work first and his activism second. theJASMINEBRAND.com contributor @theglamazontyomi had a chance to catch up with Mondo in his Park Slope home studio to talk about what we can expect from his NYFW debut. Peep the interview below.

On his debut collection: 

The collection is basically me returning to the style people are used to from me. The line is very print heavy with most of the prints being inspired by 60’s and 70’s interiors from hotels and living rooms.

On his creative process: 

I don’t like to sketch things out because I don’t want to be held to a commitment when I create. I am inspired by the fabrics that I choose, and after garments begin to form I allow them to sit for a awhile before returning to my work.

[READ MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE.]