Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show

The Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show takes place at the Corn Exchange on the 19th-20th March this year. Having raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds over the last six years, it has proved to be one of Europe's most successful student-run charity fashion shows. We caught up with chairman Emma Studee, head of charities Iona Lawrence and model Malcolm Gall to find out what this year's show is all about and what makes it so special.

Emma Sturdee

I’ve always loved fashion and so it’s fantastic to be Chairman of such a successful and prestigious student charity fashion show. The past six months have been a whirlwind of meetings, rehearsals, model castings, photo shoots and interviews but it’s been brilliant! There's no denying that getting involved with ECFS is hard work—we’ve faced all sorts of challenges, the main one being the search for a financial sponsor. I’m delighted to announce that The Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show 2010 is being sponsored by Citylets!

Juggling ECFS with my degree and a social life can be difficult, but I am lucky enough to have a fantastic and dedicated committee working with me, to ensure that we put on a spectacular night of entertainment and raise as much money as possible for our three charities: Marie Curie, Scottish Association for Mental Health and Poppy Scotland. This year’s show is going to be something special. With thirty striking student models showcasing the best of the fashion world, magic being performed by Mr Drummond Money-Coutts, dancing and both a live and silent auction, ECFS 2010 promises to be a fabulous night for the discerning fashionista, the smart city slicker, and everyone in between!

Malcolm Gall

HB: You were in last years show. What's it like to be in the show? What are the highlights for you?

MG: Being part of ECFS really is great. You work with a big team and it’s a great way to get to know a lot of new people that you maybe wouldn’t have otherwise met. As well as being a huge amount of fun, it’s good to know that the reason we’re all doing it is to raise as much money as possible for the charities.

HB: Do you ever get nervous on the night or is it just good fun?

MG: Backstage on show nights is a really odd scene. It can be a really crazy rush, but there’s plenty of time to chill out too. I do get pretty nervous beforehand, but as soon as the show starts, you’re having so much fun that you forget all about the nerves.

HB: What does it mean to you to be involved in the show and supporting the three chosen charities this year?

MG: It’s great to know that all the time and effort that goes into the show is done in the name of worthwhile causes. The charities that we’re supporting this year have been well chosen; Marie Curie and PoppyScotland do fantastic work in improving the lives of people who really depend on their help, but I’m particularly happy that we’re also supporting the Scottish Association for Mental Health this year.

Iona Lawrence

The charities ECFS is supporting this year have been selected by the whole committee and reflect our experiences and concerns. Individuals within the committee have had personal or family experiences with these charities and we are therefore committed to work as hard as possible to ensure ECFS 2010 is more successful than ever. Marie Curie, PoppyScotland and the Scottish Association for Mental Health all operate in Edinburgh and across Scotland, helping Edinburgh’s local communities.
As Scotland’s leading mental health charity, SAMH are committed to ending the stigma and discrimination experienced by people who live with mental health problems and work in partnership with organisations throughout Scotland to achieve this.

Poppyscotland is Scotland’s leading veteran’s charity, ensuring that ex-service personnel and their families get the support that many urgently need as they adjust to life on civvy street.

Every hour of every day, Marie Curie Cancer Care is making a real difference to the lives of people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses. This year, Marie Curie Nurses will care for approximately 27,000 terminally ill patients in the community through their nurses and at our hospices (such as that at Fairmilehead, Edinburgh), completely free of charge.

ECFS is an unique opportunity to reach a diverse audience of people, from business executives to students and everyone in between, broadcasting messages that don't usually reach this many people, and have a lot of fun in the process.