From Concept to Sold Out
A Desert Sunrise in Charleston
Bringing the Jahde Leather Atelier AW18 Fashion Show to Life
Have you ever had a big idea -- a vision -- but weren’t quite sure how to pull it off? That was the case with our client, Jahde Leather Atelier. The owner, Andrea, had an incredible vision to launch her AW18 Accessory Collection by hosting the brand’s first official runway show. She dreamt of a high-end event that would not only enable her to showcase the Jahde leathergoods, but also serve as a platform for collaboration and giving back. But to pull something like that off, it would take a ton of detailed planning, outreach, and logistical expertise -- things Andrea simply could not do alone while also running her company, making all of her products by hand, and gearing up for her third collection release.
So, our team came on-board to bring the idea to life!
A bold vision: Using fashion for good
Creative visions don’t care about timing. They hit you when you least expect it. In this case, Andrea Jahde’s vision hit her just eight weeks before her collection was set to launch.
When she first began designing her Autumn/Winter 2018 collection of handmade leather bags and jewelry, Andrea was inspired by Southwestern style and the vibrant colors of the desert sunrise. That initial inspiration -- and the vibe, materials, and textures of her newest products -- served as a springboard for her fashion show concept. Beyond having a theme, Andrea had two additional goals for the event. First, to collaborate with fellow women-owned businesses like Hampden Clothing and The Vault on King. And, second, to raise funds for arts programming at Meeting Street Academy, a groundbreaking school founded upon the belief that all children deserve an excellent education regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic circumstances.
With these goals in mind, and only eight weeks to pull it off, we hit the ground running.
From concept to sold-out event
To ensure a successful (and, most importantly, efficient) planning process, our team immediately developed a project roadmap, creating a detailed spreadsheet to track every element of the event, including vendor information, budgets, volunteer contacts, and assignments and deadlines for each person involved.
We created custom sponsorship packages and managed the sponsor outreach process, on-boarding local organizations who wanted their brand aligned with the fundraising event. Leveraging our experience in event production and management, we also developed a detailed run-of-show, including set-up, vendor load-in, volunteer shifts and tasks, and breakdown for the day of the event. Throughout the course of our quick, eight-week planning timeline, we coordinated logistics with 15+ event partners and Silent Auction donors, 30+ volunteers, 12 runway models, multiple food and beverage vendors, two photographers, videographer and a DJ. Our team also handled the nitty-gritty details like permitting, fire code, and vendor contracts. We set up and managed online ticketing, offering multiple pricing tiers and creating high-end VIP ticket packages. We even helped plan and coordinate the day-of hair and makeup for the models.
Results
After a fast-paced planning process, our hard work paid off. Thanks to local news coverage in the Charleston City Paper and on a Lowcountry Live TV segment, the event was completely sold out. We were able to bring together countless creative business owners who may not have connected otherwise, including Hampden Clothing, ten female artists at The Vault, Jonny Cosmetics, Dry Bar Charleston, and many others. Best of all, through ticket sales and the Silent Auction, we were able to raise $6,000 for Meeting Street Academy, which we presented to a classroom of excited art students during a check presentation ceremony at the school.
And while we certainly worked hard to pull it off, we wouldn’t dare take all the credit. This event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors: Hampden Clothing, The Vault on King, Jonny Cosmetics, Dry Bar, and partners/vendors: The Aspen Agency, Samira Miche, Hybrid Audio Solutions, A&E Printing, The Harbinger Cafe, Harold’s Cabin, and our many Silent Auction donors.
Services Offered:
Event Planning and Execution
Event Budgeting
Event Marketing and PR
Online Ticketing
Sponsorship Sales and Fundraising
Vendor Coordination
Volunteer Management
Venue Layout and Design
If you have a creative vision, whether for a special event, a product launch, or a new business concept, we’d love to help you bring it to life. Contact us below to set up an introductory meeting!