The Devonshire House Hotel, Edge Lane, plays host to the Lord Mayor’s Spring Fashion event this Thursday night, and in true Liverpool style, it’s going to be a show-stopper!
I have a vested interest in this particular show, as 15 very nervous, brand new designers will hit the catwalk with some of the most phenomenal headpieces the city has seen.
Taking inspiration from Game of Thrones to Bond villains and fusing an impressive range of skills from felting to sinamay construction, the Mad Hatters of Holly Lodge Girls’ College are going to turn heads and get people talking.
This fantastic opportunity came about following a conversation at Holly Lodge open evening back in October, as art teacher Jane Napier and I got chatting over her students vast range of unique sketch books and newspaper costume creations.
As I had previously reported on Liverpool Fashion Week and couldn’t help but be blown away by the level of skill these year 13 students had displayed, I knew I had to email Amanda Moss, Liverpool Fashion impresario and organize a chance for these girls to shine.
Amanda is a huge supporter of emerging, home-grown talent and welcomed the Mad Hatters into the Liverpool fashion fold with open arms and a spot on the Lord Mayors Fashion event which directly benefits children’s charities in the north west.
Mrs Napier and colleague Mr Graham have taken on this challenge as much as their students. Not only exceeding their teaching roles but also supporting the designers through changing completion dates and adding extra dimensions into the whole design process, such as catwalk music, styling and how to calm show-night nerves!
The project has also been supported by Liverpool Decorative and Fine Art Society (LDFAS) who have kindly sponsored the Mad Hatters in their exciting foray into the world of fashion and design and helped to take this opportunity from a pipe dream to a reality.
I’ll be there on Thursday evening, reporting for The Guide Liverpool. I’ll be the one with the biggest ear-to-ear smile, proud as punch.
This city is like no other. A simple conversation about a dress has lead to all of this!
Why not come along and support not only the Mad Hatters but also a wealth of local designers and the Lord Mayor’s chosen charities.
For tickets and more information click here. There will be some tickets available on the night too. If you can’t make it, I’ll be live tweeting @katereillyjames and you can read all the gossip first thing Friday morning at The Guide Liverpool.
Kate Reilly James 