STITCH

Every year design firms around the Chicago area spend hours and hours working on one-of-a-kind garments for IIDA's STITCH Fashion Show & Charity Event. It’s a favorite event among designers and we look forward to seeing what crazy new creation someone has come up with this year. All proceeds from the event went to Designs 4 Dignity, an organization dedicated to bringing creative environments to non-profit organizations through pro bono design services and in-kind donations. This year, there was a theme, “Black & White and STITCHed All Over”. Whitney was sponsored by Momentum Textiles who have a great black & white fabric collection made for this dress. There are so many different directions you could go with this theme, but Thom’s first idea that popped into his ahead was a nun. Yes, a nun that transforms into a vixen. I’m sure you’ve got to be thinking, what?! So did I, but once I saw his conceptual sketch I thought the idea was extremely clever. Every detail down to the makeup, the headpiece, and even a necklace made by Melissa was thought through (as only all designers can’t help but do).

Everything really came together the night of the Fashion Show. Once I had my garment securely on, my makeup done, and my headpiece pinned into my hair, I was set to go walk the runway. What the audience and hundreds of my industry peers didn’t see was the fun all of us models had backstage while we waited for the show to begin. I met all of the people around me and everyone was extremely encouraging of each other. There were sing-a-longs to “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, mini dance parties, and even some last minute wardrobe malfunctions which we all were there to help with. I really was happy to be apart of such a fun evening and enjoyed strutting my stuff. I’d like to especially thank everyone from the STITCH committee for making the night so successful: Thom, the mastermind, Melissa, my trusty assistant, Heather, Amy, Suzanne, Lisa & the rest of the Momentum team, and everyone else from Whitney who came and supported me. Take a look at some photos from the event at Park West in Lincoln Park!

- Kate