On Friday I was lucky enough to attend the One Billion Rising: International Fashion Extravaganza put on by the New England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the AIC Center on Newbury Street. The event, which included a reception and runway show, benefited a women’s shelter in Bosnia and female refugees from Syria.
When my roommate invited me to the International Fashion Extravaganza I had no idea that I was in for such a treat! The night kicked off with a small reception before the runway show where guests enjoyed delicious ethnic hors d'oeuvres from the Middle East. My girlfriends and I were running a little late (per usual) but were relieved to find out that the show was running a bit behind schedule as well.
Once we all took our seats along the catwalk, Edina Skaljic, the AIC Center Senior Programming Manager, introduced herself and played an extremely moving short film created by the One Billion Rising organization that depicted stories of violence against women across the globe.
After the short film concluded, the runway show began. Each model that emerged from backstage was dressed in authentic traditional garb from a different country. We saw models wearing everything from traditional Gypsy outfits of Romania to flashy carnival outfits of Trinidad to delicate silk kimonos of Japan.
The diversity of the clothing and the energy of the models made for a truly entertaining and educational night that benefitted a great cause.
Below is a picture of a few of the volunteer models after the show.
