By Robert Mackenzie

Published May 30 2017

Fashion Fallies Haliburton County’s whimsical fun outrageous catwalk is returning this fall following a six-year hiatus.

This November the Arts Council and Haliburton School of Art and Design will host the event which is a light-hearted celebration of local creativity. Live music food and dancing will also be part of this licenced event at the college.

The fashion show originated with the Art Hive an artist co-operative that closed last year running four times between 2007 and 2011.

“I’ve had so many people who would ask me would you ever do Fashion Fallies again?” said Erin Lynch founder of the Art Hive current Arts Council board member and one of the organizers of the Fallies revival.

“We had things like a dress made with cabbage leaves and metal forged wings and a flapper dress made of packing material. It was really avante-garde something different than any of the fashion shows that had been done in Haliburton.”

When the Arts Council was looking for a new event Lynch suggested bringing back the fashion show.

Anyone can put in a proposal to have a fashion item in the show. You don’t have to be a fashion designer – or even know how to sew – Lynch said.

“You can duct tape and you can staple. It just has to be adorned for the event” she said.

It also doesn’t have to be an edgy piece; the show is open to hats and scarves jewelry and more traditional clothing.

You can get an application by emailing haliburtonarts@haliburtonarts.on.ca or calling 705-457-8033. Applications must be sent in by Oct. 6.

While that seems like a long way off Lynch said summer in the Highlands tends to fly by so it’s good to start thinking of ideas now. It may also help for scouting materials at garage sales and thrift shops over the summer.

There’s another date to mark in your calendar: on Wednesday June 14 the Visual Arts and Artisans Roundtable is meeting for networking socializing and sharing at 5:30 p.m. at Pinestone Resort. The group which is a part of the Arts Council will be talking about wearable art and there will be a fun activity to get the creative juices flowing.

You do not have to be an Arts Council member to attend the roundtable meeting.

The Fashion Fallies event will take place Friday Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Haliburton School of Art and Design.