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For over a year now Erin Bleakley has planned on creating a student-organized fashion show, and as a senior she has finally done it.
A designer herself, Bleakley, a marketing major, is one of two designers donating their time and creativity to the Heart Strings Fashion Show being held this Friday in the Korbel School of Hospitality, which will benefit the American Heart Association (AHA).
Bleakley designed the Heart Strings Fashion Show to benefit the AHA and all the victims of heart disease in the United States.
Bleakley’s grandmother inspired her to develop an event to benefit people like her grandmother who face heart disease. Her grandmother came out of a coma after being pronounced dead as the result of a code-blue heart attack when she was 59-years-old.
“My personal hopes for the show is first and foremost to raise as much money as possible for the AHA,” says Bleakley. “But secondly, to show the community as a whole the amazing talent we have at DU.”
Every aspect of the fashion show is volunteer-based. The models are all volunteering students from a wide range of student life.
“Some were coerced into volunteering, but the neatest part about all of these people coming together is they are from every aspect of student life on campus: athletes, art majors, the Greek community, USG member and so on,” said Bleakley.
Further, every designer, musician, artist, makeup artist and hairstylist is volunteering their time.
Since November 2010, Bleakley has been spending nearly 50 hours per week in order to fine-tune every aspect of the fashion show.
“I think a lot of people will be impressed with what a couple of students were able to pull together,” says Bleakley.
Bleakey and Sam Vinson are the designers for the clothes being modeled at the event. Bleakley also has created her own clothing line, Erin Kathleen Couture.
The Heart Strings Fashion show will be held in the Korbel School of Hospitality 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 18 in the downstairs east and west ballrooms, as well as in the wine cellar. Tickets are $25 for seating and $10 for standing room. For more information on Bleakley’s clothing designs, visit www.erinkathleencouture.com.
