Special international model to kick off Birmingham Fashion Week
Madeline Stuart will lead off Birmingham Fashion Week at Boutwell Auditorium tonight. (contributed)
A special guest model from Down Under will lead off Fashion Week in the Magic City.
Madeline Stuart, the first globally recognized model with Down syndrome, will kick off Birmingham Fashion Week at Boutwell Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25.
Officials confirmed Wednesday the 19-year-old model from Brisbane, Australia, will lead off the three-day fashion event in Birmingham.
“Down syndrome is a blessing, something to be celebrated,” Stuart has said.
TLC’s “Bride by Design” star Heidi Elnora, a Birmingham-based bridal designer and founder of Birmingham Fashion Week, created a high-low skirt for Stuart to wear during her Birmingham debut. The couture uses custom patterns with a light pink, duchess satin from Italy and a light pink ruffle lining detail.
“I am so honored to have the opportunity to design a custom piece for the inspiring and sweet Madeline,” Heidi Elnora said in a statement. “She is a true pioneer in the fashion industry and we are overjoyed to show her the love and support the city of Birmingham has for her as she continues her career in the modeling industry.”
Stuart has modeled in New York Fashion Week twice and been featured in leading publications such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Paper, Women’s Day, Elle, Marie Claire, and People.
Birmingham Fashion Week is Aug. 25-27 at Boutwell Auditorium.
Leading designers for each night include:
Thursday – Hale Bob, by Smith designer Smith Sinrod, and Abbey Glass.
Friday – Benjamin Jay, Bradford Billingsley, Rails founded by Jeff Abrams.
Saturday- Alice & Trixie founded by Angela Taylor George, and Alabama-based heidi elnora.
Alabama Power, Savannah College of Art and Design, the University of Alabama, Mercedes Benz of Birmingham, Schaeffer Eye Center and the city of Birmingham are sponsors of the event.
Birmingham Fashion Week details, ticket sales, a complete schedule of events, and participating designers and partners can be found at the event’s website.
