Fashion students partner with local charity for worthy cause
Every year, there are over 700
premature births that require treatment
at the London Children's
Hospital, and connected to each of
those is a family in turmoil. Since
2008, Itsy has been providing
financial support to these families,
and the Fashion Merchandising
program at Fanshawe College has
partnered with them to provide aid
for this important cause. There are
over 30 students currently putting
the final touches on an event that
crowns a semester of fundraising
and hard work, Calendar Girls
Wearable Art Fashion Show on
April 4.
All funds raised are used to provide financial aid for the parents of the premature or ill infants being treated at the London Children's Hospital. “Many of these newborns will need to be kept in hospital under 24-hour care for a significant period of time, and for their families, especially those who do not live in London, this can cause a significant financial burden in an already difficult time,” said Caroline Howell, a second-year student and treasurer for the event committee. “The money will help the parents of these infants, assisting them with the cost of gas, hotel fares and hospital parking, which on its own can cost one person $2,000 per month.”
While those in the fashion industry consider every piece of clothing that they produce as art in its own way, the Fashion Merchandising students are giving the term their own unique twist. Each piece that is being designed for this event is not being made with the traditional cottons and silks, but slightly more unconventional materials. “We're working with reused household items, things like newspaper and pop cans,” explained Howell. “This provides the opportunity for truly unique pieces of clothing to be created.” Inspired by the theme of last year's Victoria's Secret fashion show, each outfit is designed to represent a specific month of the year, making use of various fabric and colours to convey the theme of each season. These pieces will be worn primarily by student models, but there is a place on stage for the children who have been involved with the charity, each in a specially designed outfit.
This will be the largest of a series of fundraising events that have been held by the Fashion Merchandising students throughout the course of the year, and they have already raised more than $1,200. Fanshawe students have been donating to this cause through bake sales, chili lunches and a successful pub night held on March 19 at Carey's Bar & Grill, which on its own managed to raise in excess of $300 for this cause. This success enabled the students to hold a Moulin Rouge themed pub night at Jim Bob Ray's downtown, a significantly larger venue, on March 28.
In addition to ticket sales, this event will also be raising money through a silent auction, a red carpet- style photobooth, and the sale of a yet to be revealed signature cocktail. With a donation goal of $7,000, and more donations coming in with each event, the Fashion Merchandising students are confident that they will meet, or even exceed their own expectations and are eagerly working on the final touches required for this week's event.
Tickets for the event are $20, and can be purchased at the Biz Booth, in room M3010, or at Live Chic in F building. The show begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) at the London Music Hall located at 185 Queens Ave.
All funds raised are used to provide financial aid for the parents of the premature or ill infants being treated at the London Children's Hospital. “Many of these newborns will need to be kept in hospital under 24-hour care for a significant period of time, and for their families, especially those who do not live in London, this can cause a significant financial burden in an already difficult time,” said Caroline Howell, a second-year student and treasurer for the event committee. “The money will help the parents of these infants, assisting them with the cost of gas, hotel fares and hospital parking, which on its own can cost one person $2,000 per month.”
While those in the fashion industry consider every piece of clothing that they produce as art in its own way, the Fashion Merchandising students are giving the term their own unique twist. Each piece that is being designed for this event is not being made with the traditional cottons and silks, but slightly more unconventional materials. “We're working with reused household items, things like newspaper and pop cans,” explained Howell. “This provides the opportunity for truly unique pieces of clothing to be created.” Inspired by the theme of last year's Victoria's Secret fashion show, each outfit is designed to represent a specific month of the year, making use of various fabric and colours to convey the theme of each season. These pieces will be worn primarily by student models, but there is a place on stage for the children who have been involved with the charity, each in a specially designed outfit.
This will be the largest of a series of fundraising events that have been held by the Fashion Merchandising students throughout the course of the year, and they have already raised more than $1,200. Fanshawe students have been donating to this cause through bake sales, chili lunches and a successful pub night held on March 19 at Carey's Bar & Grill, which on its own managed to raise in excess of $300 for this cause. This success enabled the students to hold a Moulin Rouge themed pub night at Jim Bob Ray's downtown, a significantly larger venue, on March 28.
In addition to ticket sales, this event will also be raising money through a silent auction, a red carpet- style photobooth, and the sale of a yet to be revealed signature cocktail. With a donation goal of $7,000, and more donations coming in with each event, the Fashion Merchandising students are confident that they will meet, or even exceed their own expectations and are eagerly working on the final touches required for this week's event.
Tickets for the event are $20, and can be purchased at the Biz Booth, in room M3010, or at Live Chic in F building. The show begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) at the London Music Hall located at 185 Queens Ave.
