The museum room at the heritage centre became a catwalk when Anne Livingstone and Beth Campbell organised a very successful Fairtrade fashion show both to raise funds for the Fairtrade organisation and to advance the cause of Lismore becoming a Fairtrade island, only the second in Argyll after Iona.
Pauline Cameron the fashion consultant founder and Chair of Oban and Lorn Fairtrade steering group , arrived with an array of clothes for the eight local volunteer models, who were all given a great reception as they sashayed in and out. Anne Livingstone introduced the evening to a capacity audience and Pauline talked about how fairtrade was all about sustaining rural communities who were producing hand woven, knitted, and organic cotton garments all over Asia. It was also, she said, about gender equality, against child labour and about establishing trade relations long term. A far cry from the cheap garments on offer made in very different conditions throughout Asia.
After the catwalk show there was tea, cakes and scones in the cafe while local crafts people set up stalls selling their own high quality, fairly traded original Lismore produce. The school children’s hand made cards were quickly sold out and Sarah Campbell was busy with her made in Lismore up market textiles under her Mogwaii label. Freda Drysdale offered a great selection of delicious home made cakes and sweets, Tina Walker sold her original textiles and Ina MacColl items from the Museum shop. The atmosphere was buzzing and a real antidote to the relentless rain.
During the show Mairi Campbell played her fiddle and afterwards members of her Lismore Fiddle Workshop entertained the shoppers.
The event was generously supported by Oban Co-operative, Forteith, Booker, Appin Co-operative and local crafts people who all donated prizes for the raffle. The evening donated £271 to the Oban and Lorn Fairtrade Steering Group.