FASHION HEROES
On the one hand we all slate the fashion industry’s use of 6’ tall, size 6 (UK size!) waifs who are a far cry from ‘real women’ – yet at the same time so many of us get sucked into the ‘thin is beautiful’ mindset. So when Uncovered was invited to an ethical fashion show in aid of The Sacred Childhoods Foundation in 
London’s Vanilla Hotel, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to meet the people pioneering change in the fashion world.
The Event
The fashion show took place on November 3rd in London and Uncovered was fortunate enough to be invited. Guests were treated to talks, a catwalk show and auction as well as great food and drink. Over 30 ethical designers from across the globe showcased clothes, accessories and jewellery, each piece donated and auctioned in aid of the Sacred Childhood Foundation.
The models, from differing ethnic backgrounds, were all beautiful, but none conformed to the ‘industry norm size 0’.
What united everyone at this fantastic event was a shared vision by different organisations, all championing change in the fashion industry. From the way items are sourced, the labour and material, right through to changing the face of the industry, it really was a pioneering event.
Natalia Perry - Sacred Childhoods Foundation
The Sacred Childhoods Foundation has been formed to be the voice of children in poverty, orphaned or suffering at the hands of abusers. Currently SCF is primarily working in Indonesia; however Natalia has plans to take the vision to Africa, and her passion to be an advocate for change does not stop there. Having been inspired by the dramatic Ethiopian orphanage footage of the late 1980s, Natalia’s passion burned to make a difference for some of the world’s poorest and most deprived children.
Speaking about the work of SCF, she says: “When it comes to children there is no argument to be had: ALL children require safety and love. We work with a ‘whole community’ philosophy, helping slum families by helping the mothers gain skills and jobs, as well as giving children an education: this way we can keep loving families together”.
The event raised funds for the foundation and the rest of the donated clothes will be used to further raise vital funds to help Sacred Childhoods continue its great work. For more about the SCF, please visit: www.sacredchildhoods.org.
Carla Nunes- Model
Agency: Models of Diversity
At seven months old, Carla was caught in a fire which left her with facial burns and without her left hand. Aware of her physical appearance, and undeterred by the trials she has faced, she has a positive approach to life, spending time with her friends and her two boys.
Harriet Dennant - Model
Agency: Models of Diversity
Modelling since age 14, Harriet stepped out of the industry as the ‘size zero’ craze stepped in. Her sister, suffering from bulimia as a direct result of this demand for size zero models, has inspired Harriet to join Models of Diversity to challenge this ideal and start embracing the womanly figure!
Angel Sinclair – Models of Diversity Owner
Appearing in the final of Gok Wan’s Miss Naked Beauty in 2008, Angel was struck by the variety of beauty modelled by women participating in the show, and how that contrasted with the stereotypical models we see in the fashion industry. So the seed for Models of Diversity’ was sown.
“Too many women fall into the trap of believing they should aspire to look like a stereotypical size zero, tall, blonde model or a busty, blonde glamour girl – which is totally impractical for the majority of the female population, as only a very small percentage of females can achieve that unrealistic goal, and they are usually the women working within the fashion or glamour industry. Images of these models are very often misleading as in the majority of cases images have been digitally enhanced to make the girls look ‘perfect’.”
Angel wants to hear your opinions on the modelling industry, as this campaign is very close to her heart. She is the founder of Sinclair Management, where she manages an array of upcoming models. To read more about Angel and her Models Of Diversity, please go to: www.modelsofdiversity.org
The designers:
Over 30 different global designers showcased products focused on ‘ethical’ fashion, which included the use of reclaimed materials, ethical sourcing,
up-cycling and recycling. People Tree and Monkey Genes were two established brands involved, but 
there was much input from smaller brands including Fee Uhssi, Little Glass Clementine and Serefina Taylor to name but a few. The designers all donated their time as well as their fashion produce.
Backstage:
Hair and beauty was donated by Tina Lobondi and others, and volunteers such as Hannah-Jane Taskis were on hand to co-ordinate the effort. What struck me about the event was the way in which every aspect was ethical: it wasn’t your average ‘Diet Coke and Big Mac’ event – every element had been thoughtfully considered: even the hangers were ethically sourced!
The ETHICAL FASHION FORUM
Featured on the night, giving a talk about the importance of ethical fashion. EFF is the industry body dedicated to a sustainable future for fashion. A not-for-profit organisation, EFF aims to make it easy for fashion professionals to integrate sustainability into the heart of what they do.
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS ELSMORE, ADAM CHARNOCK
This feature was published in Issue 2 of Uncovered magazine.
