Love Your Mother Eco Fashion Show is an eccentric, fluorescent, green affair that will again benefitting Home Again St. Johns, a local homeless charity. The event (where area designers create over-the-top outfits strictly out of trash) has a goal of $50,000 to raise each time the event is held. This is certainly no meager feat, so the faces behind the show are veritable superstars of St. Augustine fundraising.
At the helm is Kristy Weeks, owner and founder of Panache Salon. Ten years ago, Kristy began the fashion show as a way to give back to the community. “As a small business owner, the community gives us so much. This was a way to not just take from, but give to St. Augustine,”says Kristy. In the realm of fundraising, however, a recycled runway is not a common platform for philanthropy. But Kristy says that she and her family have always been environmentally conscious so this was a natural path to take. “We waste so much. This is a fun way to show what we can do with things we might just throw away.”
Kristy is not alone in her efforts, however. Alongside her in this gargantuan task is a dream team of community pillars, donating time and services to bring this event together. Luis Vienrich, husband of Panache stylist Angie, assists Kristy in the overall organization of the event and Juliana Koutouzakis, who has been involved since the beginning, is the event’s creative director. Donna Guzzo, Kristy’s “woman on fire,” organizes all social media while Ari Sufalko designs all advertising graphics. Kristy’s son, Austin Weeks, works with designers to find music that suits the style of their pieces and Jay Ruditis provides creative audio and lighting. Sway DiFeo, of Volkswagen of St. Augustine, is the host of the fashion show. “It takes a village to pull this off,” says Kristy.
Everyone behind the scenes of Love Your Mother donates all their time and professional skills to a cause they believe in – namely, combating St. Augustine’s growing homelessness problem. The homelessness issue sparks heated emotions for many residents, but all seem to agree something has to be done. “Home Again St. Johns treats a homeless person’s entire being,” Kristy insists, “and since they’re still in their beginning phases, we all saw a need to help out.”
There are still tickets available for September’s delightful and spirited event. “We just want the audience to be shocked by the fabulous creations,” says Kristy, “And we want them to appreciate all the hard work of everyone involved.”
Love Your Mother Eco Fashion Show is September 24. Buy your tickets online today.
Photography by Brian Miller
