Fashionable fundraising
The team behind last year’s L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival cultural program is producing a unique event to raise money for the AIDS Trust of Australia.
CatwalkCircus is a runway show set to a backdrop of live music and video animation. Hosted by Stephanie Ryan-Smith with performances by CircaNica, Pole Divas and Patrick Studios, it’s set on pushing the boundaries of how fashion can be showcased and experienced as well as contributing to a good cause.
Fashion designer and events manager Oscar Calvo is behind the event, which includes collection shows from a range of Australian and New Zealand labels.
“I wanted to do something a little more creative than your conventional catwalk that incorporated dance acts and more of a theatre aspect,” he said.
“On the night we’ve got promo girls dressed up as circus freaks in tutus with Polaroid cameras going around taking photos of guests, and lots of raffles and auctions to raise as much money as we can for the AIDS Trust of Australia.”
The funds donated to the charity will deliver essential response services to people across Australia living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Calvo has spent six months developing the event and has been involved in almost every facet of its planning.
“It’s been tough getting the project off the ground, securing major sponsors and designers, etc. I’ll be working on the website and promotions, all the way to styling duties on the night,” he said.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the debut of A.Concept’s winter collection. A.Concept is the Melbourne-based label of Anthony Capon, winner of the second series of Project Runway Australia and more recently the winner of Fashions on the Field designer category at the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
His androgynous designs will focus on dramatic silhouettes and beautifully crafted accessories and will debut at ‘et al’ stores this winter.
Other designers taking part in the event include Alexandra Harper, Annah Stretton and William Llewellyn Griffiths. Calvo’s own label will also feature on the runway during the night.
info: CatwalkCircus is at the Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday, March 1 from 7pm. Tickets are $50 online or $65 on the door. Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au For more details on the line-up, visit: www.catwalkcircus.com
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