Simon Chang acknowledges heartfelt effort of Laurier Senior High School students to give back to the community

Last week I was immensely pleased to attend the Laurier Senior High School 2009 Show With Fashion – Déjà Vu, not only to personally view how students of the school would model my latest collection but also to see these young people in action in a fashion show described to me as an extraordinary expression of dedication and devotion to artistic excellence by 150 teenagers; and to say the least I was most impressed.

When asked last year to become involved in this fashion show, I jumped at the chance to work with the next generation of entrepreneurs. I wanted to inspire them, to build up their self esteem and to encourage them to explore their own individuality. This experience will give them a taste of creativity in the world of fashion. The show, although a fundraiser, allowed them to take part in the whole aspect of staging a fashion event - from dressers, models, lighting, and music – to choreography and of course marketing, public relations and ticket sales.

But in the final analysis what touched me most was their heartfelt effort to give back to their community. The show was more than a success and I was personally thrilled to be part of it.

Simon Chang

(Photo: Maya Alarie Photo)