On Friday, May 5, staff members from The Collective Thread, a St. Louis-based non-profit, dazzled audience members at The Sheldon Concert Hall with a runway show that featured fashion designs inspired by their homelands. The designers, all of whom work at the small-batch manufacturer on Washington Avenue in pattern making, fabric cutting, draping, and sewing, hail from such countries as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Mexico, and the United States.
“We didn’t just have a fashion show fundraiser, we celebrated culture, diversity, and women,” says Terri Stipanovich, CEO and founder of The Collective Thread. “The entire evening honored our differences and celebrated the beauty in all of us.”
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More than 1,200 hours of on-the-job training was provided to employees so that they could develop their designs for both special-event and everyday wear. Some of the techniques they executed included embroidery with gold trim, dresses constructed from Gabi cotton, reverse hand-applique stitching, and ruffle detailing as seen on skirts paired with matador-style jackets.
In addition to the traditional looks, each designer worked with a fashion or design student from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, to turn their vision into a wearable outfit, marrying modern style that reflects rich, cultural heritage.
The Collective Thread serves the next generation of fashion production workers, as well as current apparel and soft-goods clients. The goal is to empower underserved St. Louisans, particularly women, with dignified work.
Says Stipanovich: “Our mission of empowering women was fulfilled in multiple ways through this fashion show, making it a meaningful experience for all involved.”
Click here to read more about The Collective Thread.
