COMING up next Friday (12 May at 12.00pm) is ‘fashionABLE‘ catwalk show in Waverley Station with special appearance from Jack Eyers in his World Fair Trade tartan kilt.
The show returns this spring with even more celebrity glitz and glamour, highlighting that diversity in life does not mean exclusion from the catwalk as all ages, shapes and cultures are encouraged to be a part of the event.
The collections this year have a Scottish, Upcycled/Recycled and Fair Trade theme and with special guest for World Fair Trade Day, president of the World Fair Trade Organisation, Rudi Dalvai, traveling from Italy to celebrate a weekend of Fair Trade celebrations in Edinburgh.
The spring fashionABLE line-up includes TV presenter, Gail Porter, leading the show; compere TV chef Tony Singh MBE; Raygan Bold, Upward Mobility; catwalk and modelling advice from Angel Sinclair, founder of Models of Diversity and dynamic Jack Eyers, model ambassador and personal trainer, who will be wearing a kilt for the very first time!
Jack has made history by becoming the first male model amputee to make it to the finals of the Mr England contest following his win as ‘Mr Dorset 2017;. He was also the first amputee model to take part in New York Fashion Week in 2015 and has gone on to build an impressive list of catwalk appearances.
Asked what he thought about modelling in a kilt, Jack said: “Well, if you had asked me a few years ago if I would be modelling – the answer would probably be no!
“And as to wearing a kilt that would not even have occurred to me, but – thanks to Models of Diversity – I have gained the confidence and guts to get out there and having my very own World Fair Trade tartan kilt made for me by Braw Kilts is an immense honour indeed and would encourage any guys keen to join me on the catwalk to get in touch!”
He added: “I played an extra role in Outlander as a young soldier and loved the whole experience and I look forward to finding out more about the whole Scottish history and clan heritage.”
Founder of Models of Diversity, Angel Sinclair, said: “We are really looking to develop professional and confident skills with our models this year.
“There are techniques for poise and control whether someone is fully mobile or not and our model ambassador, Jack Eyers, will be demonstrating how to encourage our models to believe in themselves.
FashionABLE creates opportunities and empowerment for people of all shapes, sizes, ages, cultures, disabilities, and fashionABLE fulfils that in bucket loads – who want to model new and exciting independent fashion.
Commenting on her involvement in fashionABLE, presenter and host, Gail Porter, said: ”I am immensely proud of being part of this show as I have been an ambassador for the Fair Trade movement for many years.
“World Fair Trade day unites us with Fair Trade producers globally and I am thrilled to be part of the weekend’s events celebrating Scotland as a Fair Trade Nation with our very own World Fair Trade tartan.”
TV chef, Tony Singh MBE, said: “I’m really excited to be a part of this year’s fashionABLE event, again, to help highlight that diversity in life does not mean exclusion from the catwalk and designs.
“It’s a fantastic and worthwhile cause that I encourage young people of all different types to get involved in and hope we see a few more young guys getting involved.”
Director of LocalMotive Markets and FashionABLE brainchild and organiser, Tania Pramschufer, said: “We were over the moon last year with the response, support and help for our new diverse fashion event – fashionABLE.
“And it was a real feather in the cap of all those involved with creating and organising this event for the first time last autumn and the amazing lengths they went to, to make it a success. We have an incredibly talented and passionate team, our next steps for FashionABLE to become a social enterprise, develop further in Edinburgh and then to take to other cities.
“FashionABLE events showcase fashion with integrity, this time around we have three fantastic collections; Up/recycled, Fair Trade & Scottish and to celebrate Scotland as a Fair Trade Nation, this event launching World Fair Trade tartan and four fun and fabulous Fair Trade fashion collections.”
Talking about the ethical responsibilities around the creation of the World Fair Trade Tartan, Nick Statt, sales manager, House of Edgar, said: “The House of Edgar is delighted to be weaving the very first World Fair Trade tartan.
“It is a wonderful tartan for Scotland and we hope it will now go on to support all WFT members worldwide.
“The fact that we were approached to collaborate on this project because of our vigilant approach to ethical supply chain and raw material sourcing is of great pride to the company and we hope to be able to help promote the WFT ethos for years to come.”
Jumping on the chance to undertake the styling of models for the event, Luigi Maldera, designer and stylistat Remode Collective, said: “Remode Collective is a fresh new social enterprise based in Edinburgh.
“We are a very diverse group of women and men, coming from different countries and with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds that share the same passion for ethical and sustainable fashion. Our activities include: sewing classes, upcycling workshops and events, production of eco-friendly fashion and free drop-in sewing surgeries and volunteering opportunities.”
Following Upward Mobility’s involvement last year, team leader, Grant McLay, said: “Our team at Upward Mobility have a wealth of creative talent that fits well with the fashion industry and we see this as a great progression to develop those skills even further.
“The thought that someone disabled or with additional support needs – has a chance to be involved in mainstream fashion has made an enormous impression to our team and we now have to rise to the challenge and support them in their quest to realise their full potential at this amazing event.”
Also backing the event, Juliet Donnachie, station manager, Network Rail, said: “We are delighted to be a part of fashionABLE once again and support this amazing event at Waverley Station.”
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