INDEvents

INDStyle 2016: Fashion with a Purpose. Shopping for a Cause. Local retailers band together to benefit seven local nonprofits

by Cherry Fisher May

Local retailers band together to benefit seven local nonprofits.

Retail partners for the 2016 INDStyle Awards include, L to R: Lindsey Falgout, Vanessa V; Laura Rafferty, Pure Barre; Bella Castille and Tania Johnson, Brother’s; Hannah Herrington Laverne and Claire Kostelka, HerringStone’s; Mary Jane Johnson and Amy Chappuis, Little Town; and Brooke Sullivan, Aria. Not pictured: Ross Fontenot, Genterie Supply.
Photo by Robin May

Seven local stores will each host a day of shopping to benefit seven different local nonprofit organizations as part of IND- Style 2016, a promotional campaign with the mission: “Fashion with a purpose. Shopping for a cause.”

Produced by The Independent’s events division, the INDStyle Awards is a highfashion runway show held annually at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. It was launched five years ago with three objectives: to promote the importance of shopping local, to build awareness that clothing retailers in Lafayette offer au courant, on trend shopping experiences and to create a fashion event in support of a local nonprofit organization. Each year a portion of the INDStyle proceeds has been donated to the early childhood reading program founded by the Women’s Leadership Council of The United Way of Acadiana. This year the fundraising capacity of the promotional campaign has been expanded to benefit an additional six local nonprofit organizations.

The in-store shopping events will begin in mid-October and culminate in early November. The matchups and dates include Genterie Supply - The705 and HerringStone’s - Healing House on Oct. 12; Vanessa V. - Hospice of Acadiana on Oct. 13; Little Town - Go Red for Women and Brother’s on the Blvd. - Catholic Services of Acadiana on Oct. 20; and Aria - the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana on Nov. 2. Each store will offer refreshments, door prizes and more while donating a minimum of 10 percent of the day’s sales to its nonprofit partner.

Additional sponsors include Moss Motors, Ruffino’s on the River, Party Central, Pure Barre, Shop Lafayette and The Aveda Institute. Salon partners include Bleu Hair Studio, Cut House, Frederick Hair Studio, Mon Reve, Robert M’s and Studio One-2-One.

INDStyle honorees for 2016 are Michelle Colón, Kelly Dugas, Giorgio Floridia, Kevin Gordon, Dale Miniex, Valerie Miniex, Asbel Montes, and Andrea and Ken Veron (profiled in this month’s cover story). The awards and runway show are slated for Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8:15. VIP tickets are $75 and include runway seating, the VIP loft party and goody bags. Mezzanine seating is $45, and SRO tickets are $25. More information is available online at www.theind.com/event.