STRUT is an annual World AIDS Day Event created and first produced at Macy's on State Street in December of 2009 by John Fleming, Jr. of MadMan Productions. From 2010-2014, the event was held at Excalibur Niteclub, a Chicago landmark, located at the corner of Ontario & Dearborn in Chicago's trendy River North district. Now in it's 7th year, the event has moved to Alhambra Palace on Randolph. A ma
jor addition of graduating seniors from two of Chicago's most prestigious art & design schools, Columbia and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The two schools have reached out to John as of pending graduations so that he may be front & center to pick out the hottest future stars of fashion design. Currently, of the 10-12 designers in the show each year, half are a very talented group of recent graduates of Columbia & SAIC. The STRUT Fashion show attracts a crowd of nearly 400, who are a wonderful cross-sectional representation of this beautiful city: young, mature, fashionable, conservative, risk-takers, Black, White, Latin, Asian, gay, straight. We are so very pleased with the diversity. World AIDS Day is December 1st, and STRUT is but one of 7 events being held throughout Chicago to recognize the day. In essence, Chicago has a World AIDS Week. A portion of the proceeds from STRUT is always donated to HIV/AIDS Service organizations who usually provide FREE services to those living with HIV/AIDS. STRUT is also used as a platform for information sharing and outreach. FREE HIV testing has been offered in the past, and it'll surely become a regular benefit in the future.
