Strut their stuff

Film capturing local designers to make its debut

Who says people in the Triangle aren't interested in fashion?

Not TV producer Brian Williams. He and Betzi Hekman have spent months putting together a TV production to be held Saturday night of a local fashion show to showcase homegrown design talent.

And already, all of the front row seats for Strut -- at $100 each -- are gone. In fact, Williams is expecting the entire show, all 750 seats, which range in price from $25 to $100, to sell out by midweek.

It's no doubt an ambitious project. The show will have 54 models wearing pieces from more than a dozen designers and boutiques, all of which have ties to North Carolina. Then the show will air on TV four times in prime-time slots in May.

"I think that people in this area are ready for an upscale fashion show," Williams says. "There is talent here that few people know about."

Some, however, have already established themselves in the fashion business. Among them:

• Amy Stephenson, whose jeans are sold in Bergdorf Goodman and select Nordstrom stores. She grew up in McGee's Crossroads before launching her jeans line last year in New York.
• Miranda Laughlin, who went to Athens Drive High School and worked in New York as a model, including for Zac Posen. She came home to Raleigh in 2006 to start her clothing line Bleighm. On Saturday, she'll show her spring and summer and fall collections.
• Elizabeth Yarborough, who grew up in Louisburg and is making yarn-wrapped bracelets and other whimsical jewelry in her lower East Side studio in New York.
• Holly Aiken, a graduate of N.C. State's College of Design, who is a popular and prolific Raleigh-based handbag designer. Her bags have been sold all over the United States.
• Victor Lytvinenko and Sarah Yarborough (no relation to Elizabeth), who met as students at State. In less than a year, their Verses Jeans collection has taken off and is now available in boutiques such as Fred Segal in Los Angeles.

Other designers include Kerry Catherine Jewelry, Phortiistorm, Metallic Spiral and Meschantes. Stores participating include SoHo Clothing, Uniquities Mix, Scout & Molly's, Bebe and NV Clothes for Men.

The show also will include the "Seven Deadly Sins" collection by State student designer Justin Le-Blanc from State's Art to Wear show almost three weeks ago. And Oprah's black Badgley Mischka dress will be worn on the runway by Othaey Fisher, a spokeswoman for Interact, the Raleigh domestic violence organization. It will be in a silent auction to benefit Interact.

Williams has teamed up with Social the Magazine to produce the show. A 40-foot catwalk will be set up in the old Storehouse location in North Hills in Raleigh.

You have four chances to catch the show on The CW, starting at 8 p.m. May 10.

Find out more or get tickets at www.strut08.com, or get tickets at one of the boutiques participating in the show.

Around town

If you want to meet one of the designers of Strut before her collection hits the runway, plan to be at Uniquities in Cameron Village on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Amy Stephenson will be at the store for a trunk show of her tomboy chic collection of denim.

Stephenson, who graduated from South Johnston High School in Johnston County, has been working nonstop in the last year to build her denim brand. Her collection is in nearly 50 boutiques and department stores around the country, including Henri Bendel in New York and select Nordstrom stores.

Uniquities is the only store in the Triangle to carry Stephenson's line. Get a sneak peek of her work at www.stephensonstudio.com.

Also, look for a Slane & Slane jewelry event of new pieces at Elaine Miller Collection at North Hills in Raleigh on Thursday. And don't forget the annual Handmade Market craft fair with 50 artists, designers and crafters selling their work Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Vintage 21 on West Street in downtown Raleigh.

Mother's Wish List

Psst ... hey moms! Come here. Tell us what you want for Mother's Day. Hugs and kisses? Yeah, of course. Drawings for the fridge. Yes! But a new toaster or a coffee maker? Surely there's something you've been yearning for -- a spa gift card, perhaps? A new lipstick to brighten your look? A pair of jeans to give your behind some umph? We're running a gift guide in advance of Mother's Day and we'd love to share your secret beauty and fashion desires. Send them to samantha.smith@newsobserver.com. Just give us a hint about who you are, age and how many kids you have. And we'll share your wish list with all the right people -- wink, wink.