It's all over. Our first annual Fashion For Freedom event is done and what an event it was. Thank you to all our attending guests, sponsors, designers, models, volunteers, and donors. With your help, we were able to raise $7473.60 that goes straight to The A21 Campaign: an organization that aims to abolish human trafficking in the 21st century. Thank you to everyone who made the night such a success. If you couldn't make it out, let me tell you a bit about the evening's activities and make sure you check out the full gallery of photos here, all taken by Brittany Paige Photography.
//Guests were greeted in the lobby by strange looking hosts in pale skin and black lipstick, where they could grab a drink and some appetizers as they mingled with other guests, shopped at the merchandise booths, and bid on an array of silent auction items. Car parts hung from the ceiling and mannequins dressed in anything-but-fabric adorned the room. Then it was show time. People took a seat in the theatre and the lights went down. A video began that highlighted the topic of discussion for the evening. "Human trafficking is a modern day holocaust" were the first words on the screen, sending chills down your arms, arousing a sense of unrest, and a passion for change. The video played on to inform that there are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe.
As the screen started to play a music video, the lights faded up and dancers appeared with a moving performance of loss, grief, fight, and hope. Then the beautiful and magnetic Candice Fiorentino, who emceed the evening, appeared on stage to kick off the main event - the fashion show. Music played by DJ Derrick Johnson began as the models fiercely walked the runway in innovative designs made with coffee filters, silk flowers, mylar, and confetti. Nothing was conventional.
Jessica Corbeil took to the stage, to fulfill the true intent of this event, and enlightened the room about The A21 Campaign and the many victims of human trafficking. She talked about the horrors that most of us have never heard about, and also the power we all have in us to help. Jeremy Blackwood sang an original song, "She's Loved," that he wrote specifically for Fashion For Freedom. The song was melodically beautiful, yet the content was heavy with a victim's dark story of abuse, loss, and terror. The presentations came to a close and it was time for door prizes and to announce the winning designer. Tessa Stamp won a flight for 2 anywhere in North America for her incredible hat and coat design made from Atlas pages. Congratulations, Tessa! And so the event ended, and the support and donations received far surpassed our expectations, truly conveying the eagerness of the community to congregate around a worthy cause. We can’t wait to do it again next year.//
Please visit our FFF 2013 page on our website for all the information on our first annual event, as well as our FFF 2014 page for updates on next year's Fashion For Freedom. There is a full gallery of the night's activities, as well as all the designs. We'd like to give a special thank you to J Crew who provided all the jewelry and accessories for each model, Volume Salons for providing hair styling, MC College for providing Make-Up artistry, City Life for the perfect venue, and Kosmos Restaurant and Lounge for the delicious food. Below are just a taste of the photos from the event. All photos by Brittany Paige Photography.
-B
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Good day! I have returned home from my extended and wonderful trip to Australia and Hong Kong. Ah, the perks of having family all over the world. Traveling has become an accidental hobby of mine, a passion I happened to fall into. From year long backpacking trips with friends, to family visits 26 hours away, I've got to experience many different parts of the world. When I travel somewhere new, I try to live life like the locals: taking off my tourist shoes and discovering a local bar, a secret waterfall, or getting short-term jobs that most visitors don't get to experience. I think the desire to find these things stems from our innate passion to fit in, to belong and feel like we're part of something. I was talking to my sister about the importance of traveling and she stressed the fact that so many people don't do it. Yes, many don't have family they can visit in exotic places, but some just don't want to either. I hope that everyone has a time in their life when their curiosity brings them to a new place, out of their comfort zone, across the language barrier, and to a place overflowing with a new culture. It teaches you humility, modesty, and respect. Most of all, the experiences stay with you and become a part of who you are. Happy traveling! -B I write this post from the big, smoggy, happening city of Hong Kong, where I have been vacationing/working/enjoying myself for the past month. My father being from here, I expected to visit maybe once or twice in my lifetime, but this is now my 6th time here. My sisters both live here now, as do my adorable niece and nephew. It is a wonderful place full of busy, ambitious and motivated people whose creativity is embraced and welcomed with open arms. Everyone I meet here believes my 'vacation' will never end; that I will decide to stay here as they had when they were expecting to leave. I can see why the've stayed. It's an infectious city with millions of things happening at all times of the day and night and many friendly faces you seem to run into daily. Most of the people I have met have moved here for an occupation or big opportunity and ended up loving it so much, they stayed.
Traveling around the world has been a big part of my life for the past 5 years and I am very aware how lucky I am to say that. Seeing different countries and their cultures for extended periods of time has shown me alternate ways of life. I try to take the things I appreciate from every place I visit and remember to use them in my own life, no matter where I am. Hong Kong has taught me to be driven, Perth-friendly, Laos-outgoing, Fox Glacier-brave, Rome-strong... and Paris has taught me that I love pastries. I am thankful for every experience, good and bad, that I have because I know they are building me into the person I will become. My flight is booked to come home April 4th. Even though I'm not moving to Hong Kong as of now, I promise to take this slice of Chinese life with me when I go. -B |
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