Your Sunday Best: A Fashion Fiesta Fundraiser in Support of Camp Kerry, Sunday, May 24, 6-9 p.m. at the Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver. Tickets available in advance ($15) at picatic.com/campkerry, Joy Hair Studio and Unity Clothing; $20 at the door.
The historic Pipe Shop on the North Vancouver waterfront will soon open its doors to fashionistas and philanthropists for a runway show in the name of a good cause.
Proceeds from Your Sunday Best: A Fashion Fiesta Fundraiser on May 24 will support the Camp Kerry Society, a registered charity that organizes bereavement retreats for youth and families grieving the death of a loved one.
Launched in 2007 and named for West Vancouver resident Kerry Kirstiuk, who died of cancer in 2006 leaving behind her husband and two young children, Camp Kerry also offers year-round education, support and counselling services to those who have experienced loss or are coping with a life-threatening illness in the family.
The upcoming fashion fundraiser has been spearheaded by Tara Main, owner of Joy Hair Studio in the Lonsdale Quay Market. Her salon has a philanthropic mandate and donates partial proceeds to community initiatives and charities.
"I lost my father at a young age and I wish that there was something like (Camp Kerry) around that my sister and I could have gone to because at that time there really wasn't," says Main. "I just think it's a fabulous initiative for families to be able to deal with the loss of a loved one or a child and to get the help and support that they need through that time."
Joy opened in 2013 with the help of a grant from the Pacific Bipolar Foundation. It continues to raise money for the foundation, but also donates to other causes that clients and staff are passionate about.
"We really don't say no to any donation request," says Main.
One of her regular salon customers is Jennifer Ellis, who works with Camp Kerry and is helping to organize the May 24 fashion show. Ellis says money raised at the event will help send families on a bereavement retreat in September.
"It's over $75,000 to take all the families to camp, so that's their largest expense of the year," Ellis says. There is no cost to participants.
The runway presentation will showcase the hottest women's, men's and children's trends for spring and summer 2015.
Unity Clothing, GardenWorks (which carries the Gilmour and ToadCo. clothing lines) and Kerry's Boutique - a New Westminster thrift store and social enterprise that raises money for Camp Kerry - will all be decking out models in the latest looks.
Meanwhile, the salon team at Joy will complement each model's ensemble with a stylish 'do. Main says pastels, such as smoky amethyst and light orchid, as well as silver and blonde are all sought after hair colours this season.
"When it comes to styling, we'll be doing a lot of tousled hair," she adds.
Braids are also on trend this season, as are "done yet undone" ponytails and buns, all of which create the coveted "perfectly imperfect" look, she says. And for the gentlemen, tailored hairstyles are making a return.
"What's coming back for men is undercutting and pompadours," Main says. "Barbering is huge."
In addition to fashion, the Camp Kerry fundraiser will feature live music by the Windsor secondary jazz band and a dance presentation by Perform Art Studios. There will also be food, drinks and a raffle.
