Nonprofit organizations like the Maine State Music Theater (MSMT) rely on donations and sponsors to keep themselves funded, and when MSMT’s director approached board member Will Johnson with a new fundraising idea—a fashion show—Johnson knew he could pull it off. “I’ve always been a fashionista,” Johnson laughs. “My grandmothers sewed and made their own patterns, so it’s in my DNA.” Having walked the runway and planned fashion shows himself in his previous home of Charlotte, North Carolina, Johnson looks forward to showcasing the clothing and creativity of Maine, his current home.
The Curtain Call Couture charity fashion show, which will be held at MSMT on September 20, aims to drum up business for local boutiques in addition to raising money for the theater. Johnson held two open model calls to find participants interested in walking the runway, many of whom have no prior modeling experience. “Modeling isn’t all about looks—it’s about the energy people possess," he says. “I enjoy coaching new models and helping them build confidence. When you slow things down and really focus, people begin to see themselves and the confidence that's always been hiding underneath.”
The designs you'll see on the runway at Johnson's event won't be projected two seasons ahead like at Fashion Week, as the runway will instead focus on styles that will be on sale this fall and winter. To complement the pieces from southern Maine boutiques, Johnson is inviting two out-of-state designers to join the show: one has been part of the fashion industry in North Carolina for more than 30 years, and the other is a Atlanta-based celebrity designer Gege Gilzene.
“I’ve seen firsthand how people come together in Maine, and it warms my heart,” Johnson says. “We don’t have a ton of big box stores here, so it’s up to the community to keep everything going. Our boutiques and shops need our support, and I’m excited to be giving back to the theater while showing off what the area has to offer.”
Visit msmt.org to purchase tickets to the Curtain Call Couture charity fashion show.
“I’ve seen firsthand how people come together in Maine, and it warms my heart. Our boutiques and shops need our support, and I’m excited to give back to the theater while showing off what the area has to offer.”