EDWARDSVILLE – The Wildey Theater will celebrate “The Art of Fashion” on Saturday. This will be the ninth annual Art of Fashion runway show and will feature the fashions of 12+ Metro-East vendors, entrepreneurs and curators.
Two Edwardsville moms, Brandy Smith and Kelly Schlechte, are especially excited to attend. Smith and Schlechte own Local 618, a clothing company that creates unique, country-inspired designs.
The Art of Fashion event will be held on Saturday at 19.00. VIP seating is $50 (includes a gift bag and 6:00 reception in the Chandelier Room) and reserved seating is $25.
Local 618 will be participating in the fashion show showcasing their unique designs along with many other local fashion businesses. Other businesses taking part include: Minerva Boutique, The Charlie Bell Shop, Gabi and Grace Clothing Co, Cassandra’s Closet Boutique, One Closet to the Next, Rushmore Boutique, Josephine’s Tea Room and Gifts, Boheme Boutique, Loverly Clothing and My Textile , Mother’s Dress (Kae Schmitt), and Gliks. Schlecte explains, not only do we have the amazing opportunity to see our models walk the runway, but throughout the evening we will also be hosting a pop-up boutique in the Wildey lobby.
This local dynamic duo runs the entire business themselves, from the design process where they choose every material, color and font, to the marketing plan where they design their website and share hundreds of local photos of community members wearing Local 618 gear on Facebook. Smith explains, “The art and design behind the clothes is very special to us and we are excited to showcase 12 looks on the runway during the fashion show.”
Smith continues, “We are very honored to be a part of this wonderful event that supports, showcases and encourages local businesses. We know we’ll be sharing the runway with other local fashion businesses that we also support, respect and love. This community definitely supports local business and this fashion show is a perfect example of why we love this community that inspired our brand.”
