life & style
Pure couture with an ethical twist
The AWA kicks off its spring programme with a Conscious Couture Fashion Show this month. Event organiser Augusta Nichols-Even reveals all.
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his month the American Women’s Association (AWA) is hosting a Conscious Couture Spring Fashion show in the ritzy environs of the American Club Tai Tam’s ballroom. Open to all (not just AWA members), the event has been organised by the enthusiastic gala committee, led by Augusta NicholsEven. New to Hong Kong but with event organisation experience under her belt, Nichols-Even wanted to put an ecological spin on the biennial event (the fashion show switches with an art event on alternate years). “We had a meeting to think about themes and the word “ecology” popped up a lot. I wanted to take this concept a stage further, looking not just at the environmental side, but taking a broader conscious approach, covering social issues such as new skill sets for women, gender neutral fashion and provision of living wages for manufacturers. “We decided we wanted to include local designers, local manufacturers, regional and upcycled/recycled materials, historical artistic techniques and garments that honoured local heritage.” Nichols-Even says the group then did a lot of research into designers who might meet one or some of these criteria and then met with them and went through the designs. The show has been broken into three segments, including casual resort wear, daywear and couture, and finishing with a rather intriguing sounding stand-out gown made of banana and pineapple leaves. “It sounds mad, doesn’t it?” enthuses Nichols-Even. “Apparently the leaves produce a silk-like material.” She says the team has enjoyed interacting with the designers and discovering some really innovative approaches to fashion. “For example, one designer has been creating exciting accessories from upcycled kimonos from the 1950s. They use every scrap of material and of course it’s a great way of preserving the ancient art of kimono textile making.” Kimono fabrics were often hand-made and -decorated, using techniques such as “yuzen” dye resist and stencils to apply decorations and patterns. They were traditionally made from fabrics 54 expat-parent.com
Members of the gala committee, which includes Kathleen Hennessy, Margaret Goeden, Augusta Nichols-Even, Karen Bacci, Marcy LaRont, Heidi Rockowitz, Cathy Furlong, Rachel Bourke, Barbora Mayer.
such as hemp, linen, silk, silk brocades, silk crepes and satin waves. “We’ve tried to made the show as accessible to designers as possible,
The show finishes with a gown made of banana and pineapple leaves. I know, it sounds mad! embracing both the more experienced and those that are new to the trade. In terms of models, we reached out to the AWA membership, it’s a brave thing for people to offer to do but it does mean we have “real” women on the catwalk. Hair and makeup is also being provided by local businesses.” The team is asking guests to come in cocktail dresses (the event is being held at
cocktail hour, after all), and will incorporate the fashion show, an auction with lots of contributions from the designers themselves, a charitable donation and then a chance to meet the designers and mix with the crowd over cocktails and canapes. There will also be a shopping opportunity. “We’ve got a proper, raised runway and lots of front row seats available, not to mention amazing goodie bags worth over $1,000.” enthuses Nichols-Even. “We’re looking forward to a fabulous night.” The show takes place on April 26, 6.3010pm, tickets cost $1,000 and the event is open to all. Tickets are on sale now via the AWA website www.awa.org.hk/activities/ local-activities/conscious-couture-awaspring-fashion-show/ Follow the designers and information about the show on Facebook events page www.facebook.com/ events/673930676120678/
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