Local Fashion Hits the Stage

Our cities are filled with fundraisers—balls, walks, and tournaments. But some fall into categories all their own. The founders of what is now Diva Minnesota started making waves fourteen years ago as urban pioneers, pulling in Twin Cities’ creatives from graphic design, fashion design, and interior design, as well as artists, dancers, and idea makers to create talk-of-the town (and nation) events to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS.

Always in search of fresh ideas, creators sought ways to offer something distinct. A few years ago, they found their niche. “In 1999 we began focusing on local fashion design,” says executive director Pamela Diamond. “We determined that a vast resource of talent was not being utilized or supported.”

What began as an effort to weave local clothing designers into the program has grown to this month’s highly anticipated Diva Noir. The multilayered production, inspired by Film Noir, features 200 models, dancers, musicians, and performance artists who will storm the stage in original fashions from an impressive list of featured local designers. In addition, thirteen local women of influence were recently transformed by the fashion designers into celebrated historic and fictional femmes fatales. “We chose women from our community who every day show up strong, sexy, exciting, independent, unrepentant, and with no intention of reaching the tragic ending,” says Diamond.

The spotlight also shines this year on new talent in a segment directed by Myron Johnson and Grant Whittaker, featuring emerging designers as well as students from Minneapolis Community and Technical College—all jury selected.

Though ticket sales support the cause, Diva Live Auction packages (hosted annually by HGTV’s Robb Whittlef) are legendary. Experiential packages this year include basking in Bali at a private estate—complete with driver, chef, and masseuse—plus a studio tour and lunch with world-renowned jewelry designer Jon Hardy.

Of course, for this event, “What to wear?” is the question.