Making a DIFFA-rence

Making a DIFFA-rence

Fashion and Design Industry with a passion.

BY CHRISTIAN ILES

Over thirty-six years ago, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, was founded by a passionate and loving group of designers in New York. It was no small task to mobilize the nation’s nest designers and create illustrious events and programs to raise awareness, as well as highlight the cause of this most deadly disease. Fast forward to today, DIFFA has grown to many chapters and community partners across the United States with well over $50 million in grants provided to HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.

The DIFFA / DALLAS Chapter is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most successful standout organizations. Originally, the first show was called the “Dallas Collection” and was under the direction of Executive Director Steve Burrus and Jan Strimple, who is considered Dallas’ premiere fashion event producer. The original group that launched DIFFA Dallas and The Dallas Collection event include Wendy Krispin, Michael and Donna Faircloth, Sherry Hayslip, David Sutherland; as well as Karen Muncy and John Ahrens. There was a collaboration between interior design showrooms who provided upholstery fabric, and designers who took those fabrics to create the most fabulous and elegant ball gowns to hit the runway.

The first show was held at Mistral, a nightclub at The Anatole Hotel. Although the gowns were stunning, the sizes of the gowns were modelesque sizes two to four. Of course, very few people were going to bid on a dress that they would never be able to wear. So, after the first event, the creative designers met and brainstormed about how to create an article of clothing with a broader mass appeal; one size fits all. Strimple had seen that Barney’s New York was featuring a jean jacket that Madonna was wearing in her music video. A lightbulb went o ! Provide a jean jacket which would serve as a blank canvas; then, allow major designers like Bob Mackie, Bill Blass, and Todd Oldham create their own personal masterpieces showcasing their brand.

The jackets were beautifully displayed prior to the fashion show where patrons could view and bid on them. In most cases, the jackets were paired o with luxurious trips, dinners, furniture, and much, much more. The jackets were then worn by stunning models in the over-the-top fashion show production. All was a smashing success!

While the jean jacket had a grand run for more than twenty years, a new and fresh idea needed to be introduced. Strimple, who had taken some time o from DIFFA, was asked if she could once again assist in creating a new fashion idea to replace the jean jacket. With her keen sense of style and marketing acumen, she presented the idea of replacing the jean jacket with the smoking jacket. It would be an ode to the Yves Saint Laurent Smoking Jacket which was truly “Smoking Haute.”

There are so many people who have added greatly to the success of DIFFA/DALLAS in its early conception, one of those being Al James who served as Executive Director from 19952001. He later came back to DIFFA as Director of Operations and Events from 2008-2011. James later joined the board in 2016 and continues to serve to this day. He was integral in making sure that supporters of DIFFA came from all fields of fine design and the visual arts.

Another champion for DIFFA/ DALLAS is none other than Joe G. Pacetti, a rare and precious jeweler based out of Dallas, TX and Palm Beach, FL. Pacetti has been a supporter of DIFFA since 1990, including as board member for six years, designer for six jackets and buyer of over twenty- ve jackets. He was the Honorary Chair in 2005, “Legacy of Love’’ Award Recipient in 2007, DIFFA Legend in 2016 and Council Ambassador. In a nutshell, Pacetti has helped raise millions of dollars for the foundation over many years.

Rhonda Sargent Chambers has been another instrumental part of DIFFA/DALLAS since its inception. When asked how she first got involved with the foundation, Chambers replied, “along with my friends, we went to businesses and to the homes of our close friends where we asked for donations for a friend who could not afford a doctor nor medications, in the HIV/AIDS beginning stages.” At first Chambers was modeling in the shows and later became the creative director in 2001.

She then served on the board in 2006 where her first “grant” site visit was at Bryan’s House, where she met founder, Stephanie Gura. Chambers was allowed to go to the nursery to hold an infant with HIV/AIDS. She said,” it was so impactful, I cried through the entire visit.” Now thirty-two years later, Chambers and her team spend eleven months working on each show. The brilliant team that creates this most amazing fashion show consists of Brian Brothers of Planet Productions who spearheads all the technical magic and wizardry, Denzel Adams who oversees design and choreography, and Chambers who most elegantly delegates and directs the talent and casting.

Today DIFFA/DALLAS is re-emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic and preparing for the House of DIFFA Fashion Show. Co-Chairs Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak and David White, along with Chair Emeritus Tim Garippa, are excited to announce that the theme for the upcoming show is: EXTRAVAGANZA. The event will be held at The Omni Hotel on May 7th, 2022.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.DIFFADallas.org