Generous Liverpool creatives come together to support new charity fashion show in the city

Generous Liverpool creatives have rallied to support a new large-scale charity fashion show being held at Invisible Wind Factory.

Strike A Pose, on Friday March 7, has been organised by two University of Liverpool medical students, Amy Farrell and Mia Brent, to raise money for Refugee Women Connect.

In their spare time the pair, who both volunteer with the charity, have spent the past six months bringing together designers, stylists, hair and make-up artists, a backstage team, musicians and DJs to create the night.

With no background in fashion or events, they have relied on offers of help and Amy says they’ve been wowed by the response.

“Mia had the idea in September last year because we both have friends who’ve been involved in other unis’ charity fashion shows,” says Amy. “They’re such a big thing across the UK, a really significant form of fundraising, and we didn’t think there’d been one here of this size before.

“We didn’t have a budget or any experience in putting on an event like this, we’ve had to rely on people’s generosity with their time and their efforts which has been a challenge but also one of the really rewarding things.

“People have been so welcoming, so happy to help and give advice and volunteer their services.

We have so many volunteers on the night and we really couldn’t have done this without the support and kindness of all Liverpool creatives who’ve been so willing. 

“The show is on a Friday night which for a lot of creatives is one of their most profitable days of the week but they can see this is helping people in need so they’ve offered to give it up and just said, ‘we’ll be there’.”

Strike A Pose will showcase 10 collections from 11 talented aspiring and professional designers – Charlie Supastar, Holy Beasley, Louise Morgan, Colette Castellon, Jemma Adelle, Samir Edwards-Sutton, Emma Rose, Abi Twigg, Charlie Ann Buxton, Freya May and Giina Ferguson. 

The collections focus on a range of topics from neurodivergence, to female empowerment, to the underfunding of the NHS.

There’ll also be music to open the night from Liverpool-based jazz, neo-soul and funk band Understudy and a performance in the interval from LIPA dance.

Once the fashion show is over, there’s an afterparty at Meraki in collaboration with two female led DJ collectives, Sonder Groove and Six in the City, featuring a line-up of some of the best Liverpool DJ talent.

“This year will celebrate Refugee Women Connect’s 20 year anniversary, and Strike A Pose is a celebration of fashion, community, diversity and the vital work Refugee Women Connect does,” adds Amy. “With the creativity of the city, the music and dance scene, and also just how nice the people are, Liverpool is the most perfect place for this to happen.”

Find tickets for Strike A Pose here.

Find more events across Liverpool City Region here.