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All photos: Courtesy of David Leigh Neivert of Leigh Archangel Productions
Fashion Night Out was held at the Holy Apostles Church June 4 by The Set NYC to benefit the non-profit organization, Freedom Ladder. The fashion extravaganza was composed of three fashion shows, a raffle and over a dozen retailers. Proceeds went to supporting and raising awareness for Freedom Ladder’s cause to educating children on self-protection.
Thomas Estler, founder of Freedom Ladder, greeted the audience before designer Ronit Genik opened the night with her line, Reverie New York.
Genik defined the collection’s oceanic theme with sheerness, but complimented each piece’s whimsicality with an edge. There was sheer black tulle was patterned with black polka dots, and jellyfish motifs made an appearance, whose deep, electric blue was contrasted with an almost transparent lime green skirt.
Once the show ended, Estler ensured that the crowd’s energy didn’t waver. He and a number of staff members broke into a dance fest in the middle of the runway, and even encouraged the audience to participate. Dancers free-styled to popular tracks mixed by DJ Joe Terra.
Estler, whose birthday was the day before, joked, “I like to think that this event is being thrown in honor of my birthday.”
Maintaining his lively demeanor, Estler empowered the audience to recognizing the event’s cause.
“People are coming here for the beauty and for the fashion, but they also realize that once they get here that they’re making a difference in the community,” Estler said.
Estler, as an advocate, understands the importance of injecting amusement into serious discussions. Freedom Ladder uses comic books as an engaging medium to educate children on how to protect themselves from predators of human trafficking and abuse. The voluntary organization brings in comic books into communities, homeless shelters, YMCAs and more.
“We equip kids with tools that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives to protect themselves,” Estler said. “These are one: how to identify a predator; two: what they can do to equip themselves; three: who they can go to for help.”
The event’s objective was to promote activism, but with the additional showcases from Alex Vinash and Irina Shabayeva, the following hours were also display of craftsmanship.
Vinash’s show was an ode to the Orient. A Hindu track accompanied the outfits whose deeply colored silk and designs were reminiscent of traditional East Asian dress. Vinash employed the boxy structure of Japanese kimonos as a canvas for Chinese peonies and phoenixes.
However, the designer was sure to maintain the modernism of his collection. Metallic shimmers and feather embroidery graced the end of the show, capturing the audience’s breath in anticipation for the dramatic display by Shabayeva.
The Irina Shabayeva 2015 Resort Collection was anything but tame. Models strutted to Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots are Made for Walking”, as oversized dream catchers hung against their beachy waves. Fringe, ombré, animal print – each detail conveyed an unbridled confidence. Shabayeva softened her prints and sequins with lightweight tails – the perfect conveyance of the designer’s understanding of the statement.
“We wanted to choose designers that show class, beauty, grace and aligned with our vision for a beautiful world,” said Pim Shih, CEO of The Set NYC.
Shih said that while his event has a fun atmosphere, his objective for the night was to bring people to support Freedom Ladder’s cause.
“It just seems that there was an opportunity to help the cause because there’s always slavery around the world, and there’s always an opportunity to bring light to the issue,” Shih said.
Fashion Night Out marked the eighth collaboration between The Set NYC and Freedom Ladder. Estler said his long-term partnership with The Set NYC was sustained by Shih’s “ heart for social justice issues.”
“[Shih] really wants to let people know about these issues and that they can make a difference,” Estler said.
Estler expressed his gratitude for sponsors Charlotte Jones Opticians and Vu Hair and their donations to the event’s raffles.
“It’s a great way for all these community members to do something small that makes a difference,” Estler said.
“I go into schools and girls say to me, ‘Thank you for teaching me that I have the right to protect myself’. You hear that once and you don’t want to do anything else.”
Photographs from the event are available on Leigh Archangel Productions’ Facebook page, and more information on Freedom Ladder is available on its website.
– by Nisha Stickles