The Main Street Fashion Experience made its debut in downtown Loris on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Drip Bag & Clothing Boutique business owner Anthony Clark created the runway show to highlight local talent in the Loris community with “big-city energy.” The venue was decorated with gold and purple dripping from the tables, the stage and the DJ booth.
The models strutted down the runway for two collections with a musical intermission from gospel singer Alicia Smalls and a closing performance by country artist Zay Grastley.
“I like it. It’s something new. So, now we can have an elite fashion show here. We don’t have to go out of town to other cities or other states,” Smalls said. “We can do the same thing right here in our hometown. So, it’s a nice event. He [Clark] did a very good job for it being his first time.”
The first collection of clothes was created by local designer Kyle Hamilton and featured formfitting jumpsuits and stylish sweats with a vibrant color scheme.
“I love me a good hoodie and I think it was really nice. It’s more urbanwear and it’s what the younger generation is wearing so I liked it,” Smalls said, adding it was more in line with her daughter’s fashion taste.
Tameka Long said she would buy many of the looks featured and the confidence from the models were inspiring.
“It was fire,” Long said. “They had it, it was up to here. Especially the first one, and then the one with the orange – she was rocking that slow walk.”
Maria Mendoza attended the show because she is a realtor and is always looking for new events happening in the community to offer her clients.
“I thought it was an amazing fashion show to bring the community together and to expose new talent, especially local talent here in the area,” Mendoza said. “I thought that the first collection was very cohesive. I thought that it was versatile and I thought that it could be something that women could use for every day and then coming into the fall.”
Mendoza’s colleague, Patricia Tovar, said the evening overall was definitely a success.
“It’s so great to see the community come together for these types of events. It was so powerful and there is so much talent that we sometimes don’t know so it was great to see everyone here,” Patricia Tovar said.
Smalls grew up in the same town as Clark and said since he was always the reserved one amongst his siblings, she was surprised, but applauds his business venture.
“I hope he does keep it up and do it every year because it’s just going to get bigger and bigger,” Smalls said. “It’s not easy running a business and when you’re doing it on your own and you’re starting from scratch. Support from others always makes a difference. So, I’m just hoping we have even more support next year.”
