Fashion 'Conscious': Wharton charity Fashion Show & Social Impact Conference kick-off
Alex Carroll & Rick Vidal, WG'08
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: News
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Lights...camera...fashion.
The 2007 Wharton Charity Fashion Show had a serendipitous beginning. Its current two co-chairs, Rick Vidal and Alex Carroll, had each been working independently on creating a Wharton event that was both fun and advocated for a cause. Rick came up with the idea to organize a fashion show while trying to think of an innovative event to raise money and increase awareness for a local non-profit organization, the Mazzoni Center, which he became involved with through Wharton's Non-Profit Board Leadership program. Meanwhile, Alex decided on a fashion show as a new and fun event to kick-off Wharton's annual Social Impact Conference and feature designers who creatively merged style and social responsibility via fair labor practices and/or environmentally-friendly fabrics. Fortunately, Rick and Alex discovered each other's plans early enough to join forces and work to make this production a night to remember.
Alex and Rick reached out to the Marketing Club, the Media & Entertainment Club, Out for Business, the Non-Profit Board Leadership Program, the Fashion & Luxury Industries Club, Wharton Women in Business, and Wharton Social Impact, who all eagerly offered their help to make the event a success! Alex and Rick quickly realized that the combination of a charity fundraiser and a social responsibility themed fashion show was a natural union. Each featured designer engages in some form of sustainable business practice, but their actions extend beyond environmental stewardship. Many, such as Under the Canopy, Stewart Brown, and Philadelphia's own Satya boutique offer eco-friendly fashions. However, others like Matthew Izzo and South Moon Under are good corporate citizens through their work on behalf of many social causes. All the designers were happy to become involved with a fashion show that was donating all of its revenues to a charitable organization giving back to underserved communities.
This is a particularly thrilling event for Alex and Rick to plan because, to their knowledge, it is the first of its kind being produced by a major business school. The designers who are coming have received considerable press coverage by major fashion magazines like Elle and Lucky, online trend-spotting sites like Daily Candy, and the Style Network. And, the success of each of their enterprises is proof that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.
Oh, and don't think that they are just stopping at a fashion show. The evening has much more in store. The fashion show will be followed with a VIP cocktail reception (featuring designers, models and vendors) during which there will be a silent auction of top designers' latest fashions, exquisite hors douevres, creative cocktails, and fun goody bags. And that's just the beginning…following the reception there'll be a rockin' after-party with special performances, a "Zoolander" student walk-off, and music by headliner DJs. The entire fashion show team encourages everyone to take advantage of the full evening by purchasing an All-Access Pass which will cover entry to each of the three components of the evening.
So, come one, come all. Watch your 1st and 2nd year classmates working it on the runway. Drink, mingle, and party with your peers. And, most importantly, make a difference.
Dress to impress for a night to remember on March 22nd at the Trocadero Theatre: the Wharton Charity Fashion Show kicking off the Social Impact Conference! Buy your tickets now at www.wsiconference2007.com.
The 2007 Wharton Charity Fashion Show had a serendipitous beginning. Its current two co-chairs, Rick Vidal and Alex Carroll, had each been working independently on creating a Wharton event that was both fun and advocated for a cause. Rick came up with the idea to organize a fashion show while trying to think of an innovative event to raise money and increase awareness for a local non-profit organization, the Mazzoni Center, which he became involved with through Wharton's Non-Profit Board Leadership program. Meanwhile, Alex decided on a fashion show as a new and fun event to kick-off Wharton's annual Social Impact Conference and feature designers who creatively merged style and social responsibility via fair labor practices and/or environmentally-friendly fabrics. Fortunately, Rick and Alex discovered each other's plans early enough to join forces and work to make this production a night to remember.
Alex and Rick reached out to the Marketing Club, the Media & Entertainment Club, Out for Business, the Non-Profit Board Leadership Program, the Fashion & Luxury Industries Club, Wharton Women in Business, and Wharton Social Impact, who all eagerly offered their help to make the event a success! Alex and Rick quickly realized that the combination of a charity fundraiser and a social responsibility themed fashion show was a natural union. Each featured designer engages in some form of sustainable business practice, but their actions extend beyond environmental stewardship. Many, such as Under the Canopy, Stewart Brown, and Philadelphia's own Satya boutique offer eco-friendly fashions. However, others like Matthew Izzo and South Moon Under are good corporate citizens through their work on behalf of many social causes. All the designers were happy to become involved with a fashion show that was donating all of its revenues to a charitable organization giving back to underserved communities.
This is a particularly thrilling event for Alex and Rick to plan because, to their knowledge, it is the first of its kind being produced by a major business school. The designers who are coming have received considerable press coverage by major fashion magazines like Elle and Lucky, online trend-spotting sites like Daily Candy, and the Style Network. And, the success of each of their enterprises is proof that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.
Oh, and don't think that they are just stopping at a fashion show. The evening has much more in store. The fashion show will be followed with a VIP cocktail reception (featuring designers, models and vendors) during which there will be a silent auction of top designers' latest fashions, exquisite hors douevres, creative cocktails, and fun goody bags. And that's just the beginning…following the reception there'll be a rockin' after-party with special performances, a "Zoolander" student walk-off, and music by headliner DJs. The entire fashion show team encourages everyone to take advantage of the full evening by purchasing an All-Access Pass which will cover entry to each of the three components of the evening.
So, come one, come all. Watch your 1st and 2nd year classmates working it on the runway. Drink, mingle, and party with your peers. And, most importantly, make a difference.
Dress to impress for a night to remember on March 22nd at the Trocadero Theatre: the Wharton Charity Fashion Show kicking off the Social Impact Conference! Buy your tickets now at www.wsiconference2007.com.
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