Mark your calendars, readers, for the must-attend fashion event of the year - St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco's Discarded to Divine on Thursday, April 28th, 2011 6:30 pm at The Hall St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco.
For six years now St. Vincent de Paul Society has invited local fashion and home decor designers to pull from unwanted donations and create something new and fabulous. At Discarded to Divine designers present their creations for a silent auction and select pieces are featured in a runway show.
Among the 136 designers participating this year is Oakland's own, Laurel Shackelfiord. Laurel is a sculptor who works with wire mesh and other soft materials, creating life size garments which reflect changes in women's lives from the 1960s on. For Discarded to Divine, Laurel restructured a gold pantsuit and a long black skirt into a textured raspberry pink jacket.
Another talented Oakland resident included in the mix is Martha Garcia C'Audillo. A textile designer and a student at the Academy of Art, Martha worked with an old lamp, fabric and paint to create a modern lighting fixture.
Both designers say they themselves were heartened by this experience. "Discard to Divine celebrates transformation and invites speculation about what else we might rejuvenate and make new," says Laurel. "I've come away inspired and rejuvenated."
Martha was moved by the hidden beauty in her discarded materials. "I learned that a subtle change to something that is already beautiful but neglected can transform it into something unique and elegant," says Martha.
Discarded to Divine offers opportunities to students and independent designers as well as well-known professionals. Included in the lineup this year:
- fashion designer Cari Borja
- wearable art designer Miranda Caroligne
- interior designer Hansine Goran
- former Project Runway contestant Sweet P
- fashion designer Jill Pillot
New this season is a pet fashion design. Strutting his stuff down the runway will be Biggie, sporting the Chihuahua Day Jacket designed by Marianne Pearson.
Tickets for Discarded to Divine are $75 to $250. All proceeds go to St. Vincent de Paul Society programs. The evening promises to be fashion-packed starting at 6pm with a VIP reception. Cocktails and nibbles will be served during the silent auction, where designers are availabe to meet. The live auction and fashion show starts at 8pm. All told there will be 150 pieces of couture fashions and home decor items for auction.
Discarded to Divine Thursday, April 28, The Hall St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco. Click here for tickets and more information.
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