I am lying on the couch watching Positive Rocks, a fashion,music and art initiative sponsored by Mercedes to raise money for Tapologo Aids Hospice, Noah, St Michaels and Missionvale Care Centre. All centres helping people affected with HIV/AIDS. I have sms’ed and donated my R20. But what is R20 compared to physically helping people! I think it’s great that fashion is  lending a helping hand! Designers showcasing live on the show are Gert van de Merwe, Sun Goddess, Marianne Fassler,Craig Native in collaboration with True Religion and international designer Marc Bouwer.

Other brands doing good include :

Scott Patt is the Creative Director at Converse. In addition to more than 11 years of design experience in commercial footwear and fashion, he also exhibits his artwork everywhere from San Francisco to Tokyo. He spearheaded 1HUND(RED), a collaboration with the (PRODUCT) RED initiative to fight AIDS in Africa in which Converse is releasing 100 exclusively designed shoes from artists around the world. Patt’s contribution to the project is “100 Ripples of Hope” (pictured at right). We spoke to him about this project and his work with Converse. Read more on coolhunting .

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

What’s the meaning of the parentheses or brackets? Well, we call them “the embrace.” Each company that becomes (RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red. Thus the name — (PRODUCT)RED.

You, the consumer, can take your purchase to the power of (RED) simply by upgrading your choice. Thus the proposition: (YOU)RED. Be embraced, take your own fine self to the power of (RED). What better way to become a good-looking samaritan?! Read more on Red .