Withington’s Arts Centre became a spectacular blaze of colour as this year’s fashion show, Spectrum, took to the catwalk, showcasing an array of rainbow inspired designs and raising more than £5,000 for charitable causes.

Billed as a fusion of fashion, fun and colour, Spectrum’s 450-strong audience saw the catwalk explode in a riot of bright shades with a selection of beautiful outfits from local retailers and a kaleidoscope of lighting provided by the school’s Tech Club.

With 15 separate choreographed cameos, the show – which took place on 19th November – featured models from Years 8 to 13, boys from Manchester Grammar School as well as a group of Withington teachers who bravely took to the floor with an energetic dance routine.

Around 100 volunteers in all pitched in to help make the annual event a huge success. Alongside the models, the Spectrum team also included an Upper 6th Fashion Show Committee, choreographers, presenters, the school’s DT department and Tech club, specialist hair and make up artists and members of staff.

Support for the show came from sponsors Beaverbrooks, fashion retailers who kindly loaned the models’ clothes, make-up artists from Trafford College and hairstylists from Red Angel Hair.

Sponsorship and sales of tickets, programmes and refreshments all contributed to the fund raising effort with proceeds going to children’s charity Barnardo’s and Task Brasil, a charity that aims to help improve the quality of life of Brazil’s abandoned street children.

Spectrum’s organisers said: “We hope that the proceeds raised will be able to bring brightness and colour into the bleak lives of many children across UK and Brazil. Here at Withington, we have been fortunate to receive a wonderful education which is why we want to help give others less fortunate than ourselves the best start on life.”

Head of DT, Mrs Cotton, who along with Head of 6th Form Mrs Robinson, oversaw the organisation of the fashion show paid tribute to the Spectrum cohort for their hard work and hailed the show as a great success saying: “It never ceases to amaze me that an event that has been held over a number of consecutive years can still be totally original with new concepts and new ideas. Year on year our girls are never daunted, they are always so enthusiastic and always exceed expectations. ”

The Autumn fashion show is one of Withington’s largest single fund raising events and, says Mrs Cotton, underpins the school’s ethos of community outreach and charitable giving.

Looking ahead to the future, Mrs Cotton added; “We are already very much looking forward to next year’s event. Work starts immediately after the AS exams in the Summer term when the 6th Form committee is selected and it really is an all inclusive event, there are opportunities for all to volunteer. For those who don’t want to model there are various roles behind the scenes and being involved in a show like this teaches so many skills – leadership, man management; team work; communications, organisational skills. It is a fantastic opportunity and I am confident next year’s show will also be spectacular.”

Clothes
were kindly loaned by Lucy’s With
Love, AX Paris, Barnardo’s, Internacionale, Boohoo.com, Fashion Union, Norton Barrie, Vanilla, Forever Unique, Heavenly Way to Dye,
SOS, Pink, and Vicky Martin.