04/16/2019
To our dear Modify Style community,
We are saddened to announce that we will be unable to host our annual sustainable fashion show this year. Since its inception ten years ago the event has been completely volunteer run. This model has been a wonderful way for our board members to give back to the community but leaves the organization vulnerable to staffing shortages as our volunteers respond to personal economic realities. When we announced the show, half of our board members were working well over 40 hours a week, now three of the four are facing significant time shortages and as team are unable to fulfill the duties required to organize a fashion show. Seeing this situation as a possibility, we tried to secure grant funding for a part time position. We were unable to find a funder willing to support an organization that fights global pollution and climate change: most grant organizations only fund local environmental projects.
All designers who signed up for this year will be refunded their entry fees. We will still be hosting clothing swaps at a new location on the eastside of Portland, and perhaps we will be able to bring back the show next year. If you would like to see the show return, we have the following opportunities to get involved: we are recruiting board members with skills in event planning, financial management, nonprofit management, fundraising, grant writing, digital marketing, and print marketing. If you are part of an organization that wants to reach an audience that cares about sustainability, consider sponsoring us. If ten local businesses give $1,000 we would be able to fund a temporary position to assist in planning the event. Please contact us through our website at www.modifystyle.org if you would like to get involved.
Last year was our best show thus far: we increased the amount we were able to fundraise and won Best Fashion Show Producer from the Portland Fashion and Style Awards. The amount of support from the community has been remarkable, and seeing designers return and progress through the years has been immensely rewarding. We hope we have inspired you to live more creative and sustainable lives.
Best wishes,
The Modify Style Team
Kelly Raynor, Executive Director
Heather Sikorski, Vice President
Sion Dean, Treasurer
Kacey Curtin, Secretary
Modified Style Portland is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable fashion by hosting artistic, community, and educational events in Portland, Oregon.
