A high-end fashion show a beat poet flown in from Texas a gripping speech from a survivor of the conflict in Southern Sudan and an appearance by singer Matt Wertz – this is how Pepperdine recently took a stand in the historical battle against modern-day slavery. On Sunday1000 people attended the Life Mission Fashion Show and Concert event at Alumni Park from 2 to 7 p.m.
The International Justice Mission (IJM) 215 Pepperdine volunteers and other local and national organizations came together to raise awareness and funds for children who have been forced into different forms of modern-day slavery.
“I thought the event was a tremendous success – just really God’s goodness and the way he worked all of his aspects from the weather to the people that came said senior Sara Ward, Director of Life Mission and special events chair for IJM’s Seaver College chapter. Hopefully someone will take it over next year. It may become a tradition which will be wonderful. It is such a blessing.”
Although exact numbers are still unknown the event raised at least $35000. And with a production cost of $280 Life Mission will likely make a profit of at least $70 according to Ward. The profit from the event will be evenly shared between six different organizations including Nightlight a company in Bangkok Thailand where women once in the sex trade make handmade jewelry.
According to Director of Nightlight Charity Marquis who was at the Life Mission event selling the women’s jewelry Nightlight employs 79 women and 12 are on their waiting list.
“It is a Thai jewelry business so it is not just a charity organization and the women come in and actually get a salary benefits promotions savings plans she said. It is very dark the whole idea of prostitution so our goal is to be a light in that area.”
While Nightlight and other organizations such as Invisible Children Love146 and Lifebread had tables at the event the fashion show took center stage. With a runway and ocean backdrop 52 students representing different campus organizations modeled clothes by four different designers including the world-renowned Armani line.
“[The fashion show] was to raise awareness that there is a really broad range of brands that use fair trade policies from smaller ones to more successful brands like Armani ” said senior Rachel Gray Life Mission’s model manager and fashion show coordinator. “It is definitely worthwhile to put in the effort time and extra money for fair practices.”
Besides Armani other lines included Rock Icon senior Suzan Doe’s line Suzan Doe and 2008 Pepperdine graduate Brett Clouser’s line The Monument of Our Hearts. Clouser also had a table at the event to sell his clothes and said he will donate 25 percent of the revenue.
“I think the event was an awesome experience to bring so many different things together and to really reach out and advocate for issues Clouser said. The show was awesome and the turnout more than I ever anticipated. It definitely took a collective effort to put all of this together and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”
Other features of the day included an informational session from a representative of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking student performances and a personal account from Isaac Amol a man who was separated from his family at the age of seven by Sudanese gunmen.
Actor Keith David attended the fashion show and thanked Pepperdine for inviting him.
“It is great to see young people have an interest in something else other than their own backyard and to be actively doing something about it David said. I commend all the students who participated in any way shape or form even the ones who just came to see the event … It is no longer a them and us mentality. We are the world and it’s like Malcom X said: ‘If you don’t stand up for something you will put up with anything.'”