A implausible venue, a sold-out home, flawless execution, and the unwavering dedication of the scholars, workers, and oldsters of Indian River Constitution Excessive Faculty resulted in a extremely profitable Trend for Freedom fundraiser.
The distinctive occasion raised funds to help Sophia Hlushchenko, now a 16-year-old self-employed scholar, who was safely transported out of Russian-occupied Ukraine, and Vero Seaside as a scholar within the college's Visible and Performing Arts program because of the school-wide help. tireless efforts.
When Sophia utilized for the structure greater than a 12 months in the past, she and her mom have been hiding from the Russian occupation military. The teenager was making an attempt to proceed her research on-line as a substitute of attending a Russian college, as was required of all Ukrainian college students.
When Constitution accepted her, the method of bringing her in started in earnest. When everybody started elevating cash for his or her journey, the college labored with the nonprofit Worldwide Cultural Change Providers to expedite the required paperwork.
Collectively they noticed the plan come true and Sophia, touring alone, managed to depart Ukraine, attain Warsaw after which Frankfort. Lastly, exhausted and excited, she met her host household on the Orlando airport for this subsequent stage of her life as a VAPA scholar.
“I really feel very welcome right here. Constitution seems like my second house,” mentioned Sophia, who’s staying with a beneficiant beachside Constitution household.
On the evening of Trend for Freedom, the gorgeous Constitution Corridor had been superbly remodeled right into a New York Trend Week venue, with distinctive lighting design, a protracted, elevated catwalk, rows of seating and an air of anticipation. The elegant black and white theme was completely accented with sunflowers (soniashnyk), the nationwide flower of Ukraine.
Throughout a VIP pre-show celebration, amid full of life music and dialog, environment friendly scholar waiters moved among the many visitors providing mocktails and tempting hors d'oeuvres offered by Wild Thyme Catering utilizing Ukrainian recipes.
An array of tantalizing silent public sale objects included a phenomenal crimson and blue bead necklace made by Sophia's mom, who stays abroad. And the present's trend sponsors, Patchington, In Movement and Seahorse Lane Boutique showcased a wide range of objects from their shops.
Present host Michael Naffziger, deputy director and creative director, started by introducing Sophia herself as grasp of ceremonies. After sharing that she had been learning English for six years, Sophia dealt with the phase introductions with appeal and poise. He had additionally designed the present's program.
David Mundy and the VAPA musicians elevated the celebration ambiance with upbeat jazz and set the proper beat for the distinctive mannequin college students, who had been skilled by skilled fashions Shawn Huddleston and Taylor Benoit.
The younger women and men delighted the viewers as they conquered the catwalk, highlighting their stroll, their angle and their detached habits as if they’d been doing it for years.
The primary phase, Trend By the Ages, featured 10 seems created by the scholars, spanning historic eras from the Center Ages to postmodernism. Fringe was the secret as fashions confirmed off Patchington's look; Neon pinks and greens highlighted In Movement's athletic, stylish ensembles; and tender materials and a scrumptious bag centered on Vero captivated by Seahorse Lane.
The scholars additionally modeled a Thrifty Trend phase, the place every mannequin put collectively a whole thrift retailer outfit spending not more than $20, they usually all got here up with some artistic, but very wearable seems.
Images by Joshua Kodis