Making our actions count

Today, Alastair who has been working behind the scenes is here to share his thoughts about the RED project.

"I've been working on this idea for a few months now, coming up with what we should be doing, and directing as best I can how we can bring HIV knowledge to the forefront like it was in the 80's. HA! I'm showing my age. What Richard has done is create something quite unique, a collection using one colour group. A big risk for the awards, however, he really did have his mind made up and the rest of followed suit appropriately. The inspirations I've taken has been from the many blogs, the worldwide support for this project, in fact there will also be a fashion webzine launching the collection on its new york pages at the same time as this blog goes live. It seems odd writing on a blog, that I know noone can read - yet. Perhaps it'll all become clear, just like this journey we're on here" Alastair J Gourley

10 Things you should know (number 5)

You need to take all your anti-HIV drugs as instructed.
If you don’t, there’s a risk that the drugs you are currently taking, and any similar drugs,won’t work.

The model booker speaks of her experience

Casey Donne, has worked with Richard Munslow for the past 8 years and has been involved in many of the photo shoots for the salon's collections during the previous years. This year for (RED) she was the delegated model booker, searching high and low for the best people to represent the collection. "We opted to use real people for this collection much like the previous Richard Munslow collections, however, this time it was vital the right models were chosen for this particular project. The internet played a huge part as well as getting out on the street, and stopping those faces that I thought we could use. The internet sites such as shooting people and myspace also helped us evaluate the applicants, as well as root for new faces! It was an experieince this shoot, and I hope we get to be shortlisted as finalists and get to do this all over again' Says Casey Donne, Model Booker for Toni&Guy Hemel Hempstead.

10 Things you should know (number 4)

Taking HIV treatment can mean a longer, healthier life.
Even though there’s no cure for HIV, doctors are now hopeful that you can live a more or less normal lifespan if you take a combination of anti-HIV drugs.

Reference Aidsmap.com

ouch!

A letter arrived today, my heart sunk, it turned out to be a subscription letter - and not the results letter! Hoorah!

10 things you should know (number 3)

The best HIV care will be at a specialist NHS HIV clinic.
HIV doctors at specialist clinics will regularly check your health to see how HIV is affecting your immune system and explain what treatment you need to take.

Reference Aidsmap.com

10 things you should know (number 2)

HIV testing and treatment is confidential.
Your HIV clinic won’t tell anybody that you have HIV without your permission.

Reference aidsmap.com

(RED) Breif interview on the focus

Alastair :What was the inspiration to (RED)?

Richard Munslow: Inspired by (product) RED and the work they are doing to raise awareness of HIV & AIDS in Africa, I wanted to produce a fashion led collection of hair colour using red palette of colour to create a truly beautiful hair collection that is inspiring to hair dressers and sexy and wearable to consumers.

Alastair: Why did you choose real people?

Richard Munslow: Using real people opposed to models allows me as a colourist to work a little more without constraints. We can work with an overall look that extends beyond 'just the day' to something that truly is wearable.

Alastair: Is it not risky to enter a colour award, with just one colour?

Richard Munslow: Risky? well i have limited myself using a singular colour family, but with imagination you can see with limitation there are so many possibilities.

Alastair: What do you hope to achieve with this collection of photos?

Richard Munslow: If i can create a thought, as to their inspiration, then hopefully it will be one thought more than if i hadn't existed.

Alastair: Was it a long day?

Richard Munslow: The shoot was a long day, but only the tip of the ice burg in the grand scheme of things when it comes to the preparation involved in creating a hair collection. Getting everything to work in unison so that hair, clothes, make up and the photography all work together to reach the final goal.

Alastair: Any points you remember that stand out?

Having no hair washing facilities at the studio on the day of the shoot proved a challenge. With final touches of colour needing to be applied on the day and a small shower cubicle, seeing a model laying on her back with her head in the shower tray was truly a point that stood out !

Alastair: Any final message that would sum up your experience?

Richard Munslow: I have enjoyed every moment of this experience so far and it is a great feeling truly feeling proud of what i have done and content that i wouldn't change anything. I'd also take this opportunity to thank Emily Deasey, my stylist, as well as the photographer Kent Mathews, and the Make up artist Anna Scott. Oh of course, and not forgetting my publicist, thats you Alastair!!!

Alastair: I was waiting for that. Only kidding, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!

The 10 things you should KNOW (number one)

Having a test to find out if you have HIV could save your life.
If you’re HIV-positive, the sooner you find out, the sooner you can receive medical care. Every year in the UK 200 people die because they found out they were HIV-positive so late that treatment couldn’t work. HIV tests are free to everyone via the National Health Service (NHS).

Reference www.aidsmap.com

Updates

Hi!

Whats been going on? Kicking off, the wait is still on, it seems endless! However, we have much work to do in the meantime for the (RED) collection project. We have had such an amazing response from contacts in South Africa, as well as the UK. There is great scope for raising the desired funds for the charities that we have in mind. But of course first, we must await the results! Pickle PR frontman Alastair Gourley, really can think up thee most amazing ideas, maybe a little too much, but everything counts, every idea. I plan to introduce the models one by one on the web site here, at some point soon, but I can't do this as you are aware right this moment (what if blogger went wrong? I'd go mad)