What do you get when you have sixteen designers, three judges, and a challenge to create an outfit that best captures the essence of a local charity? No, this isn’t Project Runway. This is ME3’s first annual Couture for a Cause fashion show.
Jenny Le with Model Blakeley Pritchard
Sixteen designers were paired with sixteen Wake County nonprofits. The designers had to create an outfit that embodied the missions of each organization. North Carolina State Student Jenny Le was assigned to Artspace. Two weeks ago, Jenny visited Artspace and took photographs for her Artspace inspired design. Not knowing what the dress looked like, I offered to loan Jenny the Artspace talisman I designed last year. The end result worn by model Blakeley Pritchard was inspired creative energy.
Blakely Pritchard wearing the Artspace talisman
The designs were judged by Banana Republic’s Tara Konya, Handbag Designer Holly Aiken, and ME3 President Amber Smith. The winning designer, Tyger Alexis, who was paired with the Interfaith Food Shuttle, won $250.
Model Meredith Morrison wearing Tyger Alexis' winning design
But it wasn’t all about the clothes. The purpose of the event was to showcase local nonprofits, raise awareness about ME3, and raise funds to support ME3’s ongoing efforts to promote volunteerism in Wake County. “Our goal is to help create a permanent culture of caring and community involvement in North Carolina and beyond.”
Jessica Domino's design for The American Diabetes Association
Designer Kat Schamens with her design for Adopt-A-School
Lauren Boynton's design for Literacy Council of Wake County
Cherihan Lusk's design for Trees Across Raleigh Keely Cansler's design for the Neuse River Foundation
Keely Cansler's design for the Neuse River Foundation
Laura Maruzzella's design for Boys & Girls Club
Jamella Murray's design for the Guatemalan Student Support Group
Karen Huskins design for Strike for Survival
Shelley Wei's design for International Free Computer Training & Charitable Center
Jenny Le's design for Artspace
I have received so much positive feedback from this post, especially from the nonprofit agencies involved, that I wanted to include links to all of the nonprofits represented during this event.
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Adopt A School | www.adoptaschool.us | www.adoptaschooltalk.com
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American Diabetes Association | www.diabetes.org
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AniMall | www.animall.org
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Artspace | www.artspacenc.org
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Boys & Girls Club | www.wakebgc.org
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Center for Volunteer Caregiving | www.volunteercaregiving.org
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Grow and Share | www.growandshare.org
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Guatemalan Student Support Group | www.gssg-usa.org
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Inter-Faith Food Shuttle | www.foodshuttle.org
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International Free Computer Training and Charitable Center | www.wade.org/ifctcc.htm
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Literacy Council of Wake County | www.wakeliteracy.org
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NC Museum of Natural Sciences | www.naturalsciences.org
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Soroptomist | www.siraleigh.org
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Strike for Survival | www.strikeforsurvival.com
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Ten Thousand Villages | www.villagesofraleigh.org
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The Carying Place | www.thecaryingplace.org
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The Flower Shuttle | www.theflowershuttle.com
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Trees Across Raleigh | www.treesacrossraleigh.org
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Triangle Family Services | www.tfsnc.org
[ I would like to welcome Funky Finds' visitors. This Wednesday Funky Finds is featuring my jewelry and giving away a pair of luggage label earrings to a lucky reader. Good luck, and thanks for visiting.]
Great write-up! Can we link to you from our blog? Thanks, Jason
Thanks for the positive feedback. Link away (and I have edited the post to include links to all of the nonprofit agencies)
[...] It was a great night all around. You can read more about it from Lauren Van Hermert, who wrote up a great blog post (with pictures!) of the event. Check it out here. [...]
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