by Madison V. Fisler
May 6, 2013. At their third annual Trash n’ Fashion Show on May 3, the Elkland Arts Center reached their goal of $2,000, more than doubling what they raised at last year’s event.
For this year’s show, 12 designers from Appalachian State University as well as community designers created unique garments from trash from sponsoring local businesses and showed them off in front of a crowd of 120 spectators.
These outfits were debuted on the runway and then auctioned off at the end of the night to raise money for the non-profit art center. Located in Todd, North Carolina, The Elkland Arts Center, founded in 1997, is a local non-profit art center that hosts programs for the community including community parades, puppet shows for schools, churches and libraries, workshops on art and community building and serving members throughout North Carolina and the Southeastern United States.
Aside from the outfits, a silent auction featured valuable items like gift certificates to local businesses, awesome art and quirky clothes along with live music by Carly Taich, Pheromone and Anna Barnett. A live poetry reading from Bear Brown finished out the event.
“The fundraiser this year was fantastic,” said Lexie Danner, community arts coordinator for the Elkland Arts Center.
“This year for the first time it was a co-ed fashion show. We had a man up there on the runway this year, so that was very exciting,” Danner said.
The majority of those participating this year also participated in previous fashion fundraisers with the arts center. This, along with gratuitous creativity, led to a very inspiring and well run fashion show.
“The pieces were more refined and artful this year, and they made better use of the materials from the businesses. They were gorgeous,” Danner said.
Since the Elkland Arts Center is a non-profit organization, it relies on grants, donations and fundraisers to continue the community programs that it is known for. According to Danner, they have a $10,000 campaign in order to sustain the center each year. With the $2,000 goal for this fundraiser reached, they are that much closer to their yearly fundraising goal.
Photo Gallery
Photos by Ken Ketchie
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