Sixty-five unique looks walked down the elevated runway in The Woman’s Club of Evanston during “Threaded Stories: A Runaway Show of Distinctive Fashion” on Sunday.
As part of Chicago Fashion Week, the show featured work from 12 independent designers, with each presenting four to six looks. After each designer’s collection was presented, the designers themselves came on stage to answer a few questions and talk about their work.
About 175 to 200 people were expected to attend “Threaded Stories,” said Pam Kendall, the show’s organizer and owner of cloth + home, an Evanston business that highlights local artists.
Each designer had between four and six looks walk down the runway.
Kendall said cloth + home underwrote the entire fashion show except for the costs the designers incurred to create their collections, adding that Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank, a local organization that gives free diapers to families in need, will receive $5 from each ticket sold.
Before the roughly two-hour show, Kendall talked about fashion’s ability to connect and inspire people.
“At a time when the world feels heavy and uncertain, it’s more important than ever to celebrate beauty and embrace joy,” Kendall said. “Your presence here today says so much. You’re not just here for a great fashion show. You’re here because you believe in the power of art, in the importance of creativity, and in supporting people who make it possible.”
According to Aaron Baar (Medill MSJ ’93), Vice President of Communications of The Chicago Lighthouse, the show was the first instance of live audio descriptions in Chicago Fashion Week history.
Ashleigh Braggs was the audio describer for “Threaded Stories.” She said her job is to transmit information and create an equitable experience for people who are blind.
“If there hadn’t been any audio description, there would have been just four people sitting there,” she said. “There was no way to know what was happening on the stage, and so it was for people to have the same access to cultural arts and access to information.”
Braggs sat in the balcony during the show to describe each look. It was then broadcast over a low-range FM transmitter to receivers and headsets worn by each visually impaired audience member, Baar said.
Colleen Wunderlich, vice president of partnerships at The Chicago Lighthouse, is blind and was one of the attendees who heard the show’s audio descriptions.
“I love fashion shows, but a lot of times I don’t get to completely enjoy it because I don’t know what’s being featured,” she said.
Wunderlich added that it was nice to hear descriptions of the outfits, including cuts and the combinations of pieces.
She said that she thinks there is a misconception that visually impaired people are not into fashion.
“We definitely care about having a sense of style,” Wunderlich said. “So coming to a fashion show, it helps us understand what the latest styles are and different combinations of clothing and accessories that can be worn together.”
After the show, attendees had the opportunity to meet with some of the designers and buy their pieces. The pieces will also be on sale at cloth + home.
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