Fashion in Action

The Voodoo Rooms is the most intimate of venues: dimly lit with only a few seats for the VIPs, the remaining guests huddle together around a teeny tiny catwalk clutching fruity, pink cocktails served in slinky champagne flutes. But the images of violence-torn Kenya that beam round the room on a giant screen serve as a reminder that this is a fashion show with a twist.

 

The charity fashion show at the Voodoo rooms is the latest phase in Mission in Action UK’s efforts to raise funds for their orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya. The orphanage was build in 2006 with £15,000 worth of funds raised from the first of three fashion shows organised in aid of the charity. Over the years, the charity has raised over £45,000 by hosting auctions and dinners, enabling them to build water tanks and a local store, as well as educating the village on health issues. However, this year’s event is specifically focused on raising money for the victims of the violence that has erupted in Kenya in recent months in response to the dubious elections at the end of 2007.

 

The action kicks off with Edinburgh-based label Godiva, the quirky vintage store that boasts the title "Edinburgh’s most original boutique," with an array of pretty floral dresses with full skirts in pink, white and navy, showing delicate lace poking from the lining. Scottish label Oddities provides something for the boys, with models kitted out in a mixture of skinny jeans and hooded sweatshirts, complete with fuchsia man-bags. Johari, the African label which helps teenage girls out of poverty by training them in fashion design, showcases a combination of khaki safari-style and tribal-looking skirts. High-street favourite All Saints display smart lapelled dresses, a hooded tux and suited boys in a toned down colour palette of whites, black and greys, while Hardy Amies shows funky polo shirts and bomber jackets. Last out is Cecile Paul, who displays an organised chaos of leopard, tartan, Dalmatian, tutus, pom poms and glitter.

 

Music comes from DJ Kev Wright and the raffle winners are drawn by burlesque dancer Missy Malone. To round off the evening, there is a performance from electro-pop band Dollskabeat.

 

Mission in Action’s latest venture surpassed expectations and raised £8,780 for the orphanage in Nakuru, allowing the charity to add to the 2,000 lives already saved as a result of their strenuous fund raising. The event proves to be a platform for promoting Scottish fashion talent, and when you factor in the DJ, the band and the burlesque dancer raffle draw, we definitely get our money's worth. All in the name of a good cause.

0 comments on Fashion in Action