AN alarming fact which most women do not know is that heart disease and stroke are the number one killer of women worldwide. So what is the best way to educate them? Through fashion, of course.

Some young and rising fashion designers in Asia have come together in an initiative to raise awareness for heart disease in women by creating unique masterpieces for the Go Red For Women, a campaign by MasterCard.

This campaign - symbolised by the little red dress - is part of an international movement led by the American Heart Association, which aims to empower women with knowledge and tools to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Ten red dresses, created by ten talented designers, each incorporating their own design flair and sense of style, will be auctioned from 8 May 2009 onwards. Six of these dresses will be displayed at the St Regis, while the rest can be seen at Isetan Scotts.

The minimum bid for each dress is $500 and the Singapore Heart Foundation will update its website with the highest bid received for each dress. Bidding will close at 11.59pm on June 7 and all proceeds of the auction will go to the Singapore Heart Foundation.

This collaboration with MasterCard is also in line with the theme for this year's Audi Fashion Festival, in which some of the red creations will be paraded on the runway.

Ms Georgette Tan, Vice President of Communications at MasterCard, told Diva that this was an "important call for action".

"We would like to encourage our cardholders throughout the region to bid for a little red dress and take a big message from the heart, about the heart, to the women in their lives.

"Purchase with purpose will never go out of style," said Ms Tan.

Diva also spoke to the designers behind local cutting-edge brands such as ELOHIM, hansel, KOOPS, nicholas and reckless ericka, who are a part of the Go Red for Women campaign. See the related links for their interviews: