It appears that the old adage, “two heads are better than one,” can apply to organizations as well as individuals.
The Summerland Museum and Heritage Society has joined forces with Quest, Summerland Society for Hearing Enhancement in order to fundraise. A fashion show, tea and silent auction are being planned.
“We have so many clothes,” said Andrea Sanders, administrator for the museum. “That is why we thought of a fashion show. We wanted people to actually get to see the clothes, because we just don’t have the space to display them.”
Although the museum had started to entertain the idea of a fashion show and tea as a fundraiser, it wasn’t until the members of Quest got involved that it really took off.
“We said maybe it was something we could collaborate on,” said Maureen Downey. “Quest has actually done fashion shows in the past. We know that aspect of it.”
“It’s good that it has gotten a lot bigger than we initially planned,” explained Sanders. “They added in a silent auction and lots of local businesses have been really generous. It is nice that we are going to have that.”
Ruth ten Veen is the archivist/acquisitions registrar for the museum. Her focus is on the clothing itself.
“It’s a colossal amount of work,” she said. “We have to be very careful with our artifacts. I will take the clothes because a lot of them have to be handled very carefully because they are so fragile.”
The show is called Fashions of a Century. Clothes modelled will be from the 20th century, with at least two outfits from each decade spanning 1900 to the 1990s.
Modelling the clothes will be Summerland’s reigning Royalty and the Blossom Pageant candidates from 2014.
Fashion designer Susan Lopateki will be the commentator.
The models will be fitted with their outfits ahead of time and each outfit will have the appropriate shoes and jewelry to be worn with it. This was proving to be a challenge, ten Veen explained, due to the fact that in the early 1900s people were much smaller than today. “They were a tiny foot size and waist size,” she said.
Most of the clothes that will be modelled have been donated to the museum by Summerland residents.
Over the years Betty Raymond has kept an eye out for vintage clothing while volunteering at the Thrift Shop and these items have been given to the museum as well.
“I think young people will be very interested in seeing some of the things their parents and grandparents wore,” said ten Veen. “I think it will bring back a lot of memories for those who are middle aged. There will be lots of fashion from the 50s, 60s and 70s that we wore and remember. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see them again.”
Members from both organizations are volunteering their time for the planning and setting up of the event. There will be tea, coffee, fruit, cheese and goodies that they have donated and that will be served throughout the show. “The silent auction is going to have some really beautiful things,” said Downey.
All of the funds raised will be split equally between the two organizations.
“The money we raise from it will help to look after and preserve Summerland’s history,” said ten Veen.
Quest’s mandate is to improve the lives of the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired and to assist adults and children in need. “All the money raised will go straight back out into the community,” said Downey.
If you would like to support these two organizations, tickets for Fashions of a Century can be purchased at Sass, The Beanery and the Museum. The show will be held Sunday, May 24, at the Harold Simpson Memorial Youth Centre on Peach Orchard Road, in Summerland. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.