Fashion and Glam for a cause returns

The annual Fashion and Glam returns in September with another gig at BICC, organisers, Encore Creatives PR and Event have announced.

As was the case last year, proceeds from tomorrow’s event will go to Fount for Nations, an organization that teaches children with learning difficulties using arts as a medium of instruction.

Under the banner of Fashion meets Art, the 2016 edition was held in support of the Association of People Living with Albinism in Malawi.

This year, however, there is a slight twist to the event as organisers have infused fashion with visual art.

“This will define the theme for 2017 as FashionArt (Fashion meets

Art), a theme that is inspired by our beneficiary. The theme also aims to highlight and enhance the visibility of local established and emerging talent in the fashion and visual art industry, as Malawi is underserved by local creativity hence the dependence on imported creative goods,” said Tshepy Matloga from Encore Creatives PR and Event.

The overarching goal for Fashion and Glam is connecting the art and culture sectors by bridging the gap between markets and consumers with the community of fashion designers and visual artists.

“Malawi boasts a community of art and cultural assets that will create dynamic socio-economic development in a multifaceted context in both national and international markets,” she said.

Fount for Nations is a youth-led non-profit organization whose aim is to inspire a breakthrough in education by empowering teachers with skills and tools to better engage students, including and particularly those with special learning needs to also achieve learning outcomes that impact the learners, educators, their families and communities.

It was founded by 23-year-old Patience Musiwa who says the

organisation “strengthens the education systems, contributes to the provision of education for all by meeting the learning needs of

children with special education needs and hospitalised children. We work in government primary schools and communities, engaging the youth through a volunteer programme.

Apart from the primary schools, the organisation is also running a hospital education programme. In hospitals Fount for Nations promotes holistic care that includes emotional health care. Fashion and Glam was inaugurated last year in Lilongwe and is a one-day fashion, with part of the proceeds being donated to a thematic area as its corporate social responsibility. n