When fashion, community, and reproductive rights come together, the result is more than just a runway show, it’s a powerful statement. That’s exactly what happened when ONE® partnered with Planned Parenthood North Central States for their annual Ready or Hot fundraiser, a one-of-a-kind fashion show that celebrated body diversity, creative expression, and the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom.
Community-Driven Change: Raising $80,000 for Reproductive Freedom
Hosted at the legendary First Avenue in Minneapolis, the annual Ready or Hot event welcomed more than 200 attendees from across the Twin Cities community. Together, supporters helped raise an incredible $80,000 to support essential services including sexual and reproductive health care, medically accurate sex education, innovative research, and advocacy for reproductive rights. Events like this highlight how community-driven fundraising can directly impact access to care while fostering awareness, inclusivity, and empowerment.
While it’s technically a fashion show, Ready or Hot is everything but traditional. Designers are challenged to push boundaries of their creativity by incorporating real external condoms into wearable works of art, transforming latex into bold into conversation-starting fashion. This signature element is often referred to as condom couture.
This emphasis on inclusivity isn’t just a theme—it’s a core value. Planned Parenthood North Central States is committed to creating spaces that are welcoming, affirming, and reflective of the communities they serve. Ready or Hot embodies that mission by ensuring that every attendee, participant, and supporter feels seen and represented, both on and off the runway. Events like this help break down barriers and foster a sense of belonging, which is critical when discussing topics like sexual health and reproductive rights.
MH Style Consulting, longtime collaborators of the event, played a key role in bringing the runway vision to life. Known for curating dynamic and expressive looks, they partnered with local creatives to ensure the show reflected the energy and diversity of the Twin Cities community. For this year’s event, they introduced the Minneapolis-based design team No Reason, who led the creation of the featured condom couture look.
One of the most anticipated elements of Ready or Hot is the condom couture. This is the signature moment where condoms are transformed into wearable art. Rather than showcasing multiple looks, this year’s show featured a single custom-designed piece, created exclusively for the event. To bring this vision to life, the design team worked closely with drag performer Domita Sanchez, known for her bold stage presence and incredible energy.
More Than Latex: The Evolution of Condom Couture
Every condom donated for designing by ONE® Condoms was used in the creation of the garment, highlighting both the scale of the design and level of craftsmanship involved. The collaborative process between the designers and the model ensured that the final look wasn’t just visually striking, it was a true reflection of identity, creativity, and expression.
If you’ve been following along with our past community stories, you'll know ONE® has a long history with Ready or Hot. In previous years, we’ve highlighted events like Ready or Hot: They Struttin’ and Ready or Hot: Fashion Meets Passion, showing how this event has grown into one of the Twin Cities’ most inclusive and spirited fundraisers.
And if you want to revisit those stories, check out our past posts:
These blogs tell past stories of artistry, community, and activism intertwined; perfect reflections of what Ready or Hot is all about.
Beyond the runway, ONE® helped enhance the evening message of sexual health empowerment by also providing ONE® Flex® condom matchbooks and custom co-branded condom carrying cases featuring the ONE® and Ready or Hot logo. These giveaways were available throughout the venue in high-traffic areas at the event, encouraging guests to pick up safer-sex supplies and helping normalize condom conversations in a fun approachable way. Interested in designing your own condom carrying case? Design yours here!
Making condoms visible and accessible is a key part of how ONE® continues to advance sexual wellbeing one fashion show, concert, festival or community event at a time. These efforts are rooted in the understanding that sexual health education doesn’t only happen in clinics or classrooms; it also happens in safe spaces where people feel inspired, connected, and open to new ideas. By meeting people where they are, ONE® helps bridge the gap between awareness and action.
Ready or Hot brings together people of all shapes, sizes, genders, ages, and backgrounds. That diversity is one of the show’s greatest strengths and one of the reasons community members keep coming back year after year. At its heart it’s a fundraiser, but it’s also a catalyst. It’s a space where celebration meets advocacy and joy fuels purpose.
That energy doesn’t dim when the runway lights dim. It carried into conversations sparked that evening, the connections made between attendees and continued impact on access to care and education. Events like Ready or Hot show how powerful it can be when the community comes together not just to celebrate, but to support something bigger than themselves.
ONE® is proud to stand alongside Planned Parenthood North Central States for another year hosting an event that uplifted voices, celebrated expression, and advanced conversations around sexual health and reproductive rights. The success of Ready or Hot year after year is a testament to what’s possible when creativity, community, and purpose come together. And this impact will continue far beyond the single night.
From the Twin Cities to Your Town: Launch Your Own Project Condom
This partnership is part of ONE® Project Condom, a program launched by ONE® in 2008 that empowers organizations, student groups, and individuals to host condom fashion shows in their own communities. Learn more about Project Condom and apply to bring an event to your area.
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