Student organization to host sustainable fashion event

Fall 2011 -

Fashion is about more than looking good. That is what the new student organization Net Impact hopes to illustrate in its socially and environmentally conscious fashion show on Wednesday night.

This will be Net Impact’s first event since establishing its Miami chapter in August in coordination with the Social Entrepreneurship department.  One of the chapter’s founders and current president of external affairs senior Katie Brown said they wanted to bring Net Impact to Miami to find jobs.

“The socially and environmentally conscious companies that participate in Career Fair usually don’t offer people with my interests’ jobs,” explained Brown. “Net Impact connects its chapters to those types of businesses who are hiring college graduates.”

Net Impact is an international nonprofit who promotes the latest in sustainability, corporate responsibility, and social entrepreneurship by partnering with companies of all sizes who embody that agenda.

Brown said her chapter decided to host a fashion event because she thought it would be the easiest and quickest way to introduce their mission to Miami. The event will begin with a fashion show showcasing six socially and environmentally conscious brands including Pura Vida Bracelets, who employ and support their 15 Costa Rican artisans and donate 1% of their sales to the Surfrider Foundation to preserve the world’s oceans and beaches.

“We want to raise awareness about style that has a good story,” said Brown. “We are going to explain the story behind every brand as (the model) goes down the runway.”

The audience members will get a chance to learn more about the brands after the show over hors d'oeuvres. Brown said the models will be available to answer questions about their looks and provide order forms for any of the items they are wearing.

“We want people to be able to talk about the background behind their clothes,” Brown explained. “The (featured) brands all have great background stories and knowing that background connects the person who is wearing that brand with the company and even people who make it.”

Senior Jaime Winer said she is looking forward to the fashion event.

“I think being socially and environmentally responsible is really important for businesses today to consider,” said Winer, a business management major. “I’m excited to see how these fashion companies are doing that.”

Brown said she has not target in mind for the sale of her featured items.

“The main thing is to see that these amazing companies get a little more recognition than they already have.”

The fashion show begins at 7:30pm on Oct. 18 in Alumni Hall, and no tickets are necessary to enjoy the show. Net Impact will also be taking orders in FSB’s downstairs lobby on Thursday, Oct. 19 from 11am-4pm.

For more information on Net Impact visit netimpact.org.

 

By: Bridget Vis