Violets’ Giving Circle (VGC), a charitable fund run by 20 Marlborough juniors and seniors, hosted a “Rebels With A Cause” street style themed fashion show comprised of Marlborough student designs and models on Mar. 10 to raise money for the next year’s grant cycle. The 2018-2019 academic year was devoted to fundraising. VGC Board members were split into teams that focused on auction items, writing letters to influential people like judges Sam Saboura, Alison Edmond and Lauren Elizabeth or designing the fashion show program and theme, among many other sub-committees. VGC Co-Chair Dorrit ’19 said the VGC Board works for a year to thoughtfully plan and create an event that impacts the community around them.
“The VGC show has a direct impact on our local Los Angeles community. It’s really powerful to be at an event completely planned and led by teenagers, and even more powerful to learn about the women and girls the money goes towards during the granting cycle,” Dorrit said. “This year, we decided to host the event at a venue in DTLA [The City Market Social House], which is near most of the women we serve and makes the impact that much more close to home.”
The VGC Fashion Show raises money through ticket sales and silent, online and live auctions. Head of Auctions for VGC Edina ’19 planned the auctions after each member of VGC collected ten or more auction items. The auction items raised over $40,000 of the $80,000 the entire event raised for girls education. History Department Head Johnothon Allen emceed the live auction, which included items like vacations in Cabo and parking spaces in the Marlborough parking lot.
“I’m excited to be a part of creating and developing funds to provide resources for women who, with it, could reach their full potential,” Allen said.
After the silent auction that started the event, the first runway show began, featuring models who were women from the organizations the proceeds will go towards, wearing clothing donated by True Religion. They were followed by 22 student designers and models, and the show concluded with a menswear “Our Allies” fashion show of high school boys dressed in clothes donated by Sake and Pink Dolphin. Student designer Raquel ’20 said she embraced the “Rebels With A Cause” theme with a feminist perspective in mind by designing a leather jacket she painted important women on.
“I have some figures on my jacket like Michelle [Obama] over here and Oprah [Winfrey], and on the back I have a couple more. It’s about this idea of being bold and really powerful,” Raquel said.
Winner of the “Trendsetter” Award at the VGC Fashion Show Ava ’21 created five pieces. Sophomore Class President, Micah ’21 modeled a camouflage dress with a dark green corset made by Ava.
“Ava, who made these designs, is so talented. Wearing her clothes, I feel so empowered, especially because it was made by one of my friends, so it feels so special,” Micah said. “Like, I put this dress on and I’m a different person. I can do anything.”
Cordelia ’21 also modeled in the student portion of the fashion show, wearing Anika ’21’s dress, which was covered in french newspaper print. Cordelia said she felt empowered by the impact art can have on the community.
“I think it’s really powerful and important to be able to have this ability to create and inspire other people and not just do it for ourselves, right. To be able to do it for other people,” Cordelia said. “Having that chance to get the designs, put together the materials, collaborate with other people and do it for the good of the world is really important. It shows that yeah, we’re young, but we can really change the world with things like art that people don’t really appreciate.”
