FABULOUS frocks, magnificent millinery and the teensiest of hotpants – all were on display at Source Magazine’s Passion for Fashion show at Glasgow University union.
Hundreds of young people were joined by their friends, parents and teachers – as well as a handful of celebrities – to enjoy the first ever Passion for Fashion Show on Thursday 19 March held in aid of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
This wasn’t just any catwalk show. The ten outfits on parade were designed by talented Scottish school students who entered a competition run by Source – the must-read lifestyle magazine for Scottish school leavers.
The competition asked pupils from across the country to send in a design for an outfit based on a theme they were passionate about. The entries were whittled down to ten shortlisted pieces which were made up and paraded on the catwalk.
The fashion show saw some stunning designs on display, with influences including everything from the Scottish nation to love, classic Hollywood movies, religion and the streets of New York.
The winning design – chosen by a judging panel made up of celebrity hairdresser Taylor Ferguson, fashion stylists Kelly Cooper Barr and Jimmy Stephen-Cran, the head of textiles at Glasgow School of Art – was inspired by its designer’s passion for current affairs. The dress was made of copies of the Financial Times and accessorised with a ‘money bag’ made of American dollars, making reference to the current credit crisis.
The dress was designed by 15 year-old Sian Donkers, who travelled all the way from the Outer Hebrides to see her finished frock sashay down the catwalk.
Sian, who attends Sgoil Lionacleit school on Benbecula, was thrilled to win. Her outfit will go on display on Monday 23 March for one week in the window of Frasers on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street. Sian will also enjoy a week’s work experience with stylist Kelly Cooper Barr, a pamper day at Loch Lomond Golf Club and vouchers from Frasers.
Source magazine’s publisher, Denise Connelly, was thrilled with the success of the evening. She said: “It was great to see such talent on display, and to have the opportunity to raise awareness of The Trust. Sian’s outfit was fabulous and all the entries we received showed that there’s plenty of creative talent out there in Scotland’s schools.”
Glasgow School of Art’s Jimmy Stephen-Cran told the crowd he wouldn’t be surprised if he saw some of the young designers appearing in his classes in the near future, while Taylor Ferguson praised the competition, saying: “On too many occasions we hear criticism of young people. Tonight’s competition showcased some major talent and has offered a first-class opportunity to celebrate and accentuate the positive.”
Plans are already underway for 2010’s Passion for Fashion Competition.
The money raised by last Thursday’s event will be used to benefit young carers. There are some 100,000 young carers in Scotland – ordinary children and teenagers who help family members and friends, carrying out tasks usually done by adults. The help they give can include things such as shopping, cooking, laundry, nursing care (such as giving medication or helping someone get up and down stairs or in and out of bed), or helping them get washed and dressed.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. You too can post a media release (aka a press release) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Emma Baird
Phone: 0141 285 7938
Email: ebaird@carers.org
