In the summer of 2007, Mandy Chong’s@@http://newsletter.uoregon.edu/archives/summer-2011/recognized-mandy-chong/@@ mother sent her an email featuring a dress made entirely out of condoms. The email had been a joke, yet it quickly became the instigator of one of the Cultural Forum’s most quirky annual events: the Condom Fashion Show.
“I thought, ‘What an interesting way to incorporate condoms in a nontraditional way into our programs,’” Chong said.
Every year, for one night, the EMU ballroom is transformed into a catwalk, and students walk the runway clad with pants, skirts, dresses and shirts — all made with hundreds of rubbery condoms.
Chong calls the show “edutainment” for students. Put on only a day before World AIDS Day, the event’s goal is to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS and its prevention. Peer educators who work with University of Oregon’s Health Center will perform skits in order to communicate ways to practice safe sex, including demonstrations on how to put on both male and female condoms (one is demonstrated using a human-sized version), as well as funny performances that bring up general topics about sex and relationships relevant to students.
By using condoms for clothing, Chong also hopes the show will normalize the word “condom” and deplete some of the stigmas associated with it. What’s a better way of normalizing condoms than wearing a dress made out of them?
“We were looking to do something more edgy and fun for World AIDS Day,” Chong said. “A way to provide information on how people can protect themselves and their partner(s) if they are sexually active, and to encourage people to be tested for HIV if they are sexually active.”
If students are feeling extra crafty, they can participate in the show themselves and pick up condoms from a large trash bag in front of the Cultural Forum office in the EMU. And if creating a garment out of condoms doesn’t sound alluring, the sight of others’ creations could change your mind. Chong agrees.
“There will be funny skits, crazy amazing fashion, and it’s free to get in!” Chong said.
Oh, and did I mention the human-sized condom?