By NICOLE VALICEK
THREE styling students will get the chance to exhibit their creativity for charity during an event to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross.
Seaholme residents and Whitehouse Institute of Design styling students Isabella Little, Sara Walker and Olivia Daniele are taking part in Cross Conscious on 12 June.
The event is a collaboration between the fashion school’s third-year styling students and not-for-profit charity organisation the Australian Red Cross.
The girls and their classmates have up-cycled the Australian Red Cross second-hand store clothing to demonstrate how versatile charity shop garments can be and to raise the profile and funds for their humanitarian efforts.
The event will present a sensory-visual pastiche of fashion, art and music presented in a typically Melburnian street style-setting.
Isabella, who is one of four event project managers, said they wanted to take the stigma attached to op-shop clothing and present a wardrobe that was more sustainable and fashion conscious.
“We’re really trying to raise awareness for the Red Cross as serious fashion retailers,” she said.
Sarah, who worked as a sponsorship liaison, said the aim was to bring a certain age demographic back to the retail outlets.
“The whole aim is to bring in an age demographic and promote them to go into stores to not only look at the pieces in front but how they can manipulate the style.”
“The runway showcases what you can do with the garments you find in these stores.”
It will also feature live entertainment and will culminate in a catwalk show.
Guests will have the opportunity to purchase clothing at Thread Shed, Cross Conscious’s pop-up boutique featuring up-cycled garments combined with designer and vintage pieces – proceeds from which will go to Australian Red Cross.
The event will also host several celebrities including Cross Conscious Ambassador and former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell.
Both ladies agreed it would be great to see some locals attend the event.
“I think the whole event is going to be fantastic,” Isabella added.
Cross Conscious will take place on Wednesday 12 June, 6.30pm at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Ground Floor, 672 Bourke St, Melbourne. Tickets are $50. To purchase tickets visit www.trybooking.com/CWLA
