Sweet dreams are made of fashion and interior designs
Posted by Lucky on Jul 31, 2010
What organizers claim will be the largest fashion show since Coco Chanel is set to hit the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium at 6 p.m. Aug. 7 for the inaugural Designing Dreams fashion show.
Designer Tiana Vega and Northern California fashion public relations firm Couture Connections will join forces to co-produce their first fashion show benefiting the Sweet Dreams Foundation.
The Sweet Dreams Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with life-threatening diseases through the design of their dream bedroom.
CEO and interior designer Jennifer Richards founded the Sweet Dreams Foundation in April 2006.
“The concept of designing dream bedrooms for people suffering from illnesses came to me when I experienced my grandfather going through an illness. He was living in a room with no color, with nothing in it.” Richards said.
“Most children with life-threatening diseases cannot live a normal life and usually require special living conditions,” she added. “I decided to do something to help them cope with their illness. We take the time to personally get to know the child before designing the room.”
The name “Designing Dreams” was inspired by Richards and created by Vega.
Richards and Vega decided to combine their talents, fashion design and interior design, to raise funds for a good cause. The idea came after a brief meeting in February at a charity event benefiting the Sweet Dreams Foundation.
“When I met Jennifer, I was instantly inspired by her,” Vega said. “She is so passionate about her charity, and that inspired me to work with her. We always joke around and say meeting was love at first sight.”
The Designing Dreams fashion show will showcase eight up-and-coming fashion designers along with Vega.
Headliner Vega will be showcasing her Spring/Summer 2010 collection, featuring 16 pieces.
“This collection was inspired by a person’s alter ego,” Vega said. “It’s a classical, poised way of showing a hidden alter ego. It’s about capturing the person you are and the person you lust to be.”
Proceeds from the show will be used to design a dream bedroom for 8-year-old Aimee, who has been battling Xeroderma Pigmentosa since birth.
“The disease that Aimee suffers from makes her skin extremely sensitive to the sun, forcing her to spend most of her time indoors,” Richards said. “She has suffered from 26 different skin cancers.”
Since Aimee’s condition forces her to spend most of her time indoors, Richards decided to design her an ocean-themed bedroom.
“I am so excited to be designing this room,” Richards said. “We have already started working on her room and hope to be done by the end of August. There’s going to be a rock where she can crawl inside of and a waterfall in the room.”
“Seeing the smile on Aimee’s face when the room is complete will make all of the hard work worthwhile,” Richards said.
Their love at first sight has blossomed into one of the biggest fashion show events in Sacramento. Both Vega and Richards are ready and excited to be a part of something big, and all for a good cause.
“I plan to bring Los Angeles fashion to Sacramento. It’s going to be one of the biggest shows to hit Sacramento,” Vega said. “I’m kind of nervous about that pressure, but I’m ready for it, so bring it on
