Budding fashion models from a top girls’ school used some recycled glamour to raise money for both a hospice and local carers.
They staged a glitzy catwalk show in the Great Hall at Howell’s School, Denbigh, in aid of the St Kentigern Hospice and the vintage clothes shop which supplied some of the stunning outfits.
The hospice which serves North Wales, taking in East Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire, needs £4 million a year to maintain its vital services.
And the shop, Vintage MaryDei, is a social enterprise set up to campaign for, and support carers, in Denbigh and the surrounding areas.
The sparkling show saw senior girls, who are all members of four school Houses, select a theme before putting together their own stunning show.
Among those who took part were Sarah Giles, 16, Natalie Hughes and Grace Wynne-Willams, both 18, of Denbigh.
Sarah said: “It has been absolutely brilliant and I have loved every minute of it even if it is a bit daunting walking out on the catwalk.”
Natalie Hughes added: “It’s been a fantastic event to be involved in and we have worked so hard on getting the choreography just right.”
Grace Wynne-Williams said: “It is a wonderful way to raise a large amount of cash for some very good causes.”
Fellow student Natalie Spink, 16, of Ruthin, added: “The whole event is a real highlight of the school year and everyone has really enjoyed taking part. I think our decision to go with our theme of Birds was inspired and I know we put on a good show.”
The school’s Senior Mistress and Head of Music, Morwen Murray, coordinated the sell-out event.
She said: “Our four Houses are named after influential women, Davison, Austen, Bernhardt and Curie. Each House selected a theme and divided the theme into six year group presentations. The girls made their own decisions on costume design, choreography and music choices.
“The teaching staff enjoy watching our girls work together across all year groups to prepare for this event, the girls all help each other and work collaboratively to produce this fashion extravaganza which is enjoyed by members of the local community and beyond.
“The show is also recorded so that the parents of students who live abroad can view how their daughter has contributed to this enjoyable whole-school event.”
The four Houses chose the themes of Decades, Birds, Olympics and Circus for the stunning show.
The adjudicator for the whole fashion show was Tracey Miller of Double Crown Hairdressers of Denbigh.
She announced the winning House was Bernhardt with their theme of Birds and said she was delighted to have been asked to act as adjudicator.
She said: “I contacted Howell’s last autumn to ask if there were two Sixth Form girls who could help out with a fashion evening for a Showcase Denbigh Project I was involved in.
“The show at Howell’s has been amazing. It was wonderful to see how confident the girls were. Some might not have been as comfortable on the catwalk but that did not stop them giving their all.
“I congratulate Howell’s on the professional way the show was put together and the confidence shown by the girls.”
Following the fashion show inter-house competition which is an annual event, Sixth Form students took to the catwalk to showcase vintage clothes from the range available at Denbigh’s MaryDei Shop.
The shop sells a mixture of genuine vintage clothes from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s as well as retro clothing from the 90s and early 2000s.
But Vintage MaryDei is much more than a fashion shop, it is part of a social enterprise business campaigning and supporting carers in the Denbigh and surrounding areas in partnership with other organisations and businesses.
Proprietor Mair Jones set up the store along with her sister Ann with money donated at the funerals of their parents, Mary and David Jones, after whom they named the shop.
Mair said: “Raising money can helps carers have some time-out and means we can hopefully offer apprenticeships and career opportunities to those who have lost out on education due to the caring role.
“I’m thrilled to have been asked to come along to the Howell’s fashion show and for such wonderful Sixth Form girls to showcase our vintage range. It is fantastic the school is supporting us along with St Kentigern Hospice through the money raised from the event.
“I hope our association with Howell’s will grow stronger in the years ahead and that we enjoy their support for many years to come.”
