ART CHILD OTTAWA: TWENTY YORK STREET HOSTS THE FASHION SHOW FOR ARTS SAKE

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2013 has undoubtedly been the busiest time in terms of media appearances for this fashion and lifestyle blog, Twenty York Street. I have never been so busy with appearances, features and interviews on TV, radio, online, print for both local and national media and for that, I am eternally grateful. One wonderful consequence of these media appearances is establishing our reputation as the go-to “experts” in our field, the ones with the up-to-the-minute news and how-to skills, including but not limited to, hosting a fashion show!

WHAT IS ART CHILD

Perhaps one of my favourite amongst all the roles I get to perform as one of the foremost Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger in Ottawa. As a former competitive dancer, this is one event that is closest and dearest to my heart – one that supports the art, music, culture fashion and kids. Such is Art Child. An annual event held for the benefit of the kids and youth in our community, Art Child provides almost a whole day event consisting of a number of arts and crafts workshops, and music and dance activities as well as fabulous performances provided by Ottawa’s local talents including a special style workshop by Banana Republic at the Rideau Centre.

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IMG_4050Ms. Danielle Kennedy, Top Stylist, Banana Republic leads the Style Workshop at Art Child.

Though these are not the best photos we’ve ever published at Twenty York Street (I do admit – as much as the Glebe Community Centre is a fantastic venue for community events like this, it is one location that is very hard to photograph.), we really do want to share with you the events of the day, and we do have hundreds of photos to share (Click click below… and please do visit us in Facebook for more) to shed light to such a worthy cause to support and to also give the proper shout-outs to those who came together and made the Art Child event a great success.

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THE DANCE AND FREEZE FASHION SHOW

The highlight this year is the Dance and Freeze Fashion Show, which I had the honour and pleasure to host, alongside Monsieur Yannick Beauvalet, co-owner of L’Hexagone Menswear, a clothing boutique in the Byward Market dedicated to men’s style and fashion. I have hosted many shows in the past, professional events, talent and singing competition and of course fashion shows and I realize it’s a very different vibe and energy when its done for the kids. There’s the playfulness, the carefree abandon and the judgement free anticipation of what’s to come and that in itself is somewhat freeing as a host.

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BABES ‘N GENTS AND ME.TU. STYLE

With two local designers from Ottawa: Babes ‘N Gents by Amir, a brand dedicated to promote awareness of street culture and music  and Me.Tu. Style featuring geometric design and ethnic prints by Canadian Ethiopian Designer Mah Let Seifu, the fashion show was off to a great start with young models hand selected by the Art Child Committee. Setting itself apart from the usual runway show, the Art Child Fashion Show was punctuated by a couple of performances before and during the show – the duo performance by Peter Joynt and Maya Mayne, the adorable skit by three of Ottawa’s top art kids: Rebecca Mellon, Isaac Stroud and Tamaya Sylvester, followed by a unique song number by Carleton University music student Deanna Singh.

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As always, the fashion show itself is culminated with the fun and exciting Celebrity Walk with this year’s roster of Ottawa stars and talents and of course, the Honourable Paul Dewar, MP, Ottawa Centre, who graciously obliged as I called him up as I thought Paul could definitely rock the runway in his dapper L’Hexagone suit. You don’t get to be the Host of a Fashion Show without putting a few people on the spotlight, even if they try to run away from it like Jewne and Danielle did.

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THE CELEBRITY FASHION SHOW

As major sponsors of the event, Banana Republic dressed the women (styled by Kristyanne Brooks and Danielle Kennedy) while L’Hexagone outfitted the men for this year’s roster of Ottawa celebrities:

  • Chava – Host and founder of Radio Latin Vibe FM in Ottawa
  • Deanna Singh – Performing Artist in Classical Voice
  • Kenny – Lead Singer, Black Denim
  • Andrea Rice – Video Producer and Director, GAPC Video Production
  • Stefan Keyes – Television Producer and Journalist, CTV Ottawa and all-around rock star

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IMG_4397Thank you to my sponsors: Nella Bella by Tarek, Banana Republic and Ecco Shoes Canada

All in all, it was an incredibly successful event considering that one, Art Child is run by a group of young volunteer kids and two, it is not sponsored by a Government funding or a huge corporation. It is through the efforts of very dedicated individuals, both on camera and behind the scene, led by a self-made young entrepreneur by the name of Jewne Johnson or Ms. J as I dub her. Jewne has interned as a Media Correspondence for Twenty York Street at one point before she “stalked me” (her words, not mine) to appear at the radio show she produces and hosts at CKCU FM Ottawa. 

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MEET AND CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZER

While there are so many to thank including all the Art Child event sponsors, L’Hexagone and Banana Republic in the Rideau Centre (Ms. Kimberly Ryan, Courtney Dawn, Danielle Kennedy, Chelsea Koski, Carmen Casiño and more) and all the community and business leaders who came and support Art Child, like Hon. Paul Dewar and Fadi Ghaby of Skyfall Blue and of course, special thank you to my family and sweet friends at 613 Style for the big love and support.

In one way, this coverage is in recognition of young ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders like Jewne. Her courage, hard work and determination always see her through the day. I have never seen such tenacity and fortitude in a young woman  – a character that is few and far in between amongst our youth today. Jewne is someone who absolutely cannot take NO as an answer! She got me to host a fashion radio show last year and I can only imagine what more incredible ideas she has up her sleeves! Certainly a role model for young kids in the community, Jewne, who is set to receive a young leadership award at Black History next month, aspires to not only make a name for herself but to inspire change in the community, bravo and more power to you!

As you can see below, the mini after party was just as fun and exciting! Be sure to check out the rest of our photo coverage on Facebook and we’ll see you at next year’s Art Child 2015!

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