VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse Fashion Week returns blending style with community impact
Margaret McCann: Bright lights, bold designs, and a showcase of talent—Syracuse Fashion Week is back in its 11th year celebrating local designers and emerging trends. The week, founded and directed by SU alum Lisa Butler, consists of three creative and unique runway shows that showcase local design innovations and shops. The week serves as a platform for local venues and businesses to get exposure and for the community to come together. Beyond the glitz and glamour, though, the event serves a bigger purpose. All proceeds from the fashion show go directly to the Food Bank of Central New York—a cause that’s more urgent than ever.
Lisa Butler: Food and fashion kind of clicked to me. You know, things that are very necessary for survival. You have to eat, and you got to wear clothes.
McCann: The Trump administration announced early this week that it would be cutting funding for some food assistance program– resulting in a loss of 1.7 million pounds of food for the Food Bank of Central New York.
Butler: Every little bit that we can help and raise money and awareness is a step in the right direction.
McCann: Chief Development Officer of the Food Bank of Central New York Lynn Hy says that the proceeds always raise awareness to food insecurity at a lull in their donation season, but the funds are more important now more than ever before.
Lynn Hy: Those funds to help us make sure that there’s enough food out in the community for the children and their families and seniors; it’s so important, and we’re so thankful for Syracuse Fashion Week for continuing to partner with us.
McCann: With stylish looks on the runway and generosity behind the scenes, Syracuse Fashion Week is turning heads and touching hearts. For NCC News, I’m Margaret McCann.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Syracuse Fashion Week is back in its 11th season, celebrating local designers, businesses and creativity. Since 2013, the week has brought a spotlight to Syracuse designers and shops, while giving different venues around town important exposure.
Festivities will be kicking off on April 3 at the Best Western Downtown Syracuse for their Spring Fling show, a runway featuring new lines and emerging designers. The weekend is set to show off the best of the best, with two more shows on Friday and Saturday.
“I really feel like Syracuse is an untapped gem,” said Lisa Butler, founder and executive director of the weekend. Butler founded the weekend to provide a platform for and shine light on the local talent right here in town. She said that bringing audiences to new and exciting venues for shows is also an important part of her business model.
Beyond all of the glitz and glamour, though, lies a huge support for a critical cause. All of the proceeds from the weekend’s events are donated to the Food Bank of Central New York, a philanthropic cause that has been a part of the weekend since its founding.
“Food and fashion kind of clicked to me,” Butler said. “You know, things that are very necessary for survival. You have to eat, and you got to wear clothes.”
These donations come at a critical time for the Food Bank, as the Trump administration announced this week that it plans to cut funding for two local food assistance programs. This will result in a loss of almost 1.7 million pounds of food for the bank.
Chief Development Officer Lynn Hy says that the show’s donations come at a critical time for the bank each year.
“Most people think about food insecurity around the holidays, and we are months away from the holiday season…the awareness that Syracuse Fashion Week brings to food insecurity each year is important,” Hy said.
This year, though, is different. Hy said that certain programs the Bank relies on for food distribution funds are getting cut, and that the Syracuse Fashion Week funds are helping to make up for some of this loss.
“Those funds to help us make sure that there’s enough food out in the community for the children and their families and seniors; it’s so important, and we’re so thankful for Syracuse Fashion Week for continuing to partner with us,” Hy said.
With high fashion on the runway and generosity behind the scenes, Syracuse Fashion Week is turning heads and touching hearts.