DAA is working at a project right now where we make unique -mostly unisex- shoulderbags out of 50 year old hand embroidered Hmong fabrics that we sourced in Thailand. Most are reworked jackets, skirts or fisherman's pants, they look wonderful and the craftmanship of these fabrics is amazing. Besides numerous tiny cross stitches, most fabrics also incorporate hand dyed blue batik in geometric shapes and/or patchwork and we've combined these ancient fabrics with soft second hand denim and lined the bags with new red velvet.

Everything is handmade, every piece is unique, all bags carry a DAA label- and all net proceeds of these bags go to our new international HIV/AIDS awareness education center that's opening early next year.

At the moment we have 10 bags, more are in the works and soon there'll also be skirts and accessories such as belts, coin purses and bracelets. Price is 199 euros per bag plus shipping & handling. If you'd like to order one, please be quick as they're bound to sell out fast and if you'd like to see more detailed photos of your choice of bag, let us know via:

ninette@designersagainstaids.com

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Thailand has been increasing since the eighties, but the
problem of the dangerous disease was only acknowledged in the early nineties, when Prime
Minister Anand Panyarachun came to power and made AIDS prevention and control a national
priority at the highest level. A series of successful campaigns helped slowing the
epidemic down succesfully. In the following years the focus on prevention decreased,
putting the public at risk once again. Since 2006, a new government realized the danger
of a resurgence of the epidemic and several new safe sex campaigns and messages were
being promoted.

Although Thailand's national strategic HIV and AIDS plan for 2007-2011 shows its
commitment to increasing prevention efforts, the government's earlier complacency and
shortage of prevention programmes is thought to have contributed to a lack of awareness
of HIV and AIDS among the current population, especially youth.

Young people have become one of the main risk groups for HIV in Thailand, a trend we at
DAA see all over the globe. Most teenagers and young adults will probably not remember
the prevention campaigns that were carried out during the early nineties and therefore
will be unaware of the risk of unsafe sex.

Figures show that around 85% of Thai youth do not see HIV as something that they should
be concerned about, even though 70% of all STI cases in Thailand occur among this age
group. Premarital sex has become more common among young Thais, but only 20-30% of
sexually active young people are using condoms consistently.

Out of a population of 65.493 000 people in Thailand, 610 000 are infected with the
HIV virus. It's also remarkable that the disease affects more men than women, since
only 250 000 of the infections are amongst women.

It's also important to mention that, unlike what many people think, 80 % of these
infections occur through heterosexual sex, not through homosexual sexual behaviour.

Thailand has shown the world that it is possible for a developing country to form an
effective response to HIV and AIDS. For all its successes though, there are still
certain groups such as teens that are badly affected by the epidemic. The message
therefore should be consistent and campaigns should be organized until AIDS has
disappeared completely. Advocating prevention is efficient and still highly needed.

Source: avert.org

Topmodel Hannelore Knuts shows off the bags!

Patchwork up-close