Models walked the catwalk Thursday, featuring the designs of up-and-comer local high school influencers, expressing themselves not with words but through fashion.
Friends of Youth Services hosted their inaugural fashion Show on Thursday at The Social Loft in Glenview, showcasing the remarkable talents of Glenview and Northbrook high school students and fashions from local businesses in the area.
“The event helps us broaden the exposure of the work that we do in the community,” Julie Bruch, Friends of Youth Services board president said.
Proceeds from the event directly benefit Youth Services, Bruch says, which serves more than 1,800 local children each year in Glenview, Northbrook and beyond, with a generous sliding scale and scholarship program to be sure no child is ever turned away from critical services due to difficulty to pay.
“Services that support social and emotional health including one-on-one and group counseling, providing study buddies academic tutoring, and other support for dealing with social and emotional issues such as bullying, communicating gender identity, and suicide prevention,” Bruch said.
According to their web site, Youth Services believes every child should grow up happy, healthy and with hope. The agency’s mission is to foster the social and emotional well-being of all children and youth.
The fashion show featured original designs from Glenbrook South High School students sophomore Sophie Szafranski, junior Daisy Hutchinson and senior Nicholas DeRosa, who showcased pieces from their original summer collections, created while studying in the Glenbrook South Fashion Program.
DeRosa said that he knew he wanted to design women’s clothing since he was about 7.
“I think of each design as a story, sort of like a diary or journal entry that allows me to express what I am feeling at the time — using elements of color, fabric, pattern-making and structure to describe those emotions,” DeRosa said.
“Many of the pieces shown tonight, were inspired by my rocky junior year of high school in a post-COVID environment,” DeRosa added.
The event also featured the latest in fashion from Margo Boutique, Kendra Scott jewelry and Beauty Counter cosmetics.
Retail items were available for purchase after the show.
Margo Boutique is owned by 26-year-old Mary Grace Nudo, organizers say, who studied in the fashion design program at Maine West High School, before attending college for fashion design. Nudo worked four years in a jewelry store before realizing her dream to open her own boutique in the Glen Town Center.
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Event tickets were $30 for adults and $20 for those under 21, and included entry into the event, an age appropriate welcome drink, light bites, one drawing ticket, and a small gift bag.
Event sponsors included Vittoria Logli, @Properties, Margo Boutique and The Social Loft.
The fashion show featured 14 different fun summer looks and 10 active wear looks.
“We strive to have events that are entertaining and bring the community together, and what could be better than spending an evening with friends viewing the latest fashion trends for a worthy cause,” Bruch said.
“The opportunity to highlight the creative brilliance of our local fashion students, made it a win win,” Bruch said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter for the Pioneer Press.