CSW2013 is a new, not-for-profit, endeavour designed to get the people of Cambridge working together with local businesses(Image removed) and students, in a bid to help dig Cambridge out of the recession, the organisers say.
They are Kathryn Fletcher, Nicky Shepard, and Sarah Steele, who, while having coffee together gazed from the cafe window onto a series of empty store fronts.
Local businesses have come on board to support in all kinds of ways. The Cambridge City Hotel has stepped forward to host the four days of fashion shows, and two of Cambridge’s success stories in retail, Clamp Optometrists, celebrating 100 years in business(Image removed), and Catherine Jones Jewellery, celebrating 50 years, are sponsoring individual shows.
“CSW is a fantastic innovation and we are delighted to be sponsoring the Cutting Edge Cambridge Style cat-walk show. We are very much looking forward to working with Cambridge Style Week and the creative talent coming out of Anglia Ruskin. It's a perfect fit and we trust that this will be a longer-term partnership,” said Vanessa Burkitt, of Catherine Jones Jewellery.
Stage and lighting company, Venue AV, will be transforming the Cambridge City Hotel’s conference suite into a high-fashion runway.
Meanwhile, international designers and models have volunteered to come to Cambridge to mentor and inspire local talent. Creative director Nicky Shepard said, “I can’t believe how much support we have received already. The city has been crying out for an event like this.”
Alongside the catwalk shows, Style Week also aims to innovate, inform and inspire through a mentoring programme for young designers and hopeful innovators. To this end CSW is partnering with The Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin.
Legal advisor, Sarah Steele said, “The employment market is very competitive for new graduates at the moment, and many students are eager to gain skills and something that jumps off their CV at interviews. Helping with Cambridge Style Week certainly does that.”
CSW is partnering with businesses in Cambridge as well, in order to give independent boutiques and galleries a boost in this difficult climate.
Sarah Decent from Modish Shoes, whose shoes will be seen throughout the event, said, “I'm backing CSW because for the first time Cambridge will have an event that celebrates our fashion and design - not just that of high streets up and down the land. Cambridge has a rich and varied range of shops and designers and I can't wait for them to be showcased in all their glory next week.”
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