Another successful Fashion Fusion, raising over £5,000 for St Nicholas Hospice. Well done Julie Warren!

Bury St Edmunds: Stores put on the style to raise funds for hospice

Models on the catwalk at Fashion Fusion.

Liz Nice –

Monday, May 12, 2014
4:39 PM

The annual Fashion Fusion event at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds has raised over £5000 for St Nicholas Hospice Care.

The event, now in its fourth year, features local models taking to the catwalk, often for the first time.

The models were mainly drawn from staff who work at the stores on show, including Rob Yule and Marcus Benjamin from TK Maxx and Marks and Spencer general merchandise manager, Charlotte Hallett, 25, and her sister, Georgie, 19.

“It’s mainly staff, friends and family helping out.

“It’s a great cause as well as a brilliant opportunity for stores to show off their clothes,” Georgie said.

About 20 stores took part. High street fashion had a strong showing, with Mothercare and Wallis taking part, alongside Palmers, Joules, Hobbs, Phase 8, East and Jojo Maman Bebe.

Elizabeth Gash was also represented, while fashion for men came from Debenhams, Fat Face and in the form of some rather dramatic dancing by models from Gerald Boughton.

Nicola Sexton’s show, featuring models in ‘boob tubes’ made from bin bags, was show-stopping, while another highlight was the wedding dress display by art and design students from West Suffolk College.

These included a gender-neutral outfit by Oliver Davis, 21, and Katlin Sivertsen’s statement outfit about ‘not growing up.’

“I wanted to show that when you are a child you’re told you can be whatever you want to be,” she said, “but when you grow up, that stops.”