`Runway' designer does T-shirts for World AIDS Day

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL, AP Fashion Writer

NEW YORK –

Here's a reason Mondo Guerra shared his story about being HIV positive on the reality show "Project Runway." It's just at the time, he wasn't quite sure what it was.
In hindsight, though, Guerra thinks he was compelled to it because "now I have the ability to bring attention to a cause," he says.

"Things happen for a reason," he adds. "Now that this is my life now, it has brought some opportunities. I think it's inspired a lot of other people to be courageous and step forward."

He also can raise money for AIDS research in a new partnership with online retailer Piperlime. Mondo, a "Runway" fan favorite this season, designed two limited-edition T-shirts to launch Wednesday, to coincide with World AIDS Day.

lack Diamond's Quicksilver Screwgate is updated with a locking gate and screwgate sleeve, and now shares the same body as the Quicksilver2, with its wide rope-bearing width of 9.5mm and an angled nose for easy clipping. The relatively light weight of the Quicksilver Screwgate (56 g) makes it great for big wall and alpine anchors, while a deep basket allows climbers to pile in the runners and slings. Black Diamond created this biner for climbers who place a premium on weight, yet demand workhorse durability and high strength out of their lockers. ?Vendor *Comes in assorted colors.

For each shirt sold, $20 will be donated to amFAR, an organization that focuses on AIDS research.

One shirt shows a tree with a single heart hanging from a branch and the other features a colorful skull in the Day of the Dead theme that dominated Guerra's final collection on the TV show.

The Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead isn't about death at all, he says, it's about celebrating the memory of loved ones. "I think it's a smart choice to use this for this cause."

The T-shirts are for women, though Guerra notes, "They actually printed a male version in extra small just for me."