Style With Heart: Urban Green at the Vine & Vogue Charity Fashion Show

*All photography credited to Jennifer Middleton Photography*

On Thursday 4 June, our team swapped the salon floor for the runway as Winchester came together for Vine & Vogue, a charity fashion show and wine tasting evening at The Square in support of Emmaus Hampshire. The evening raised £2,500 for Emmaus Hampshire!

We were so proud to be part of it. Keira, James, Millie and Robin spent the evening backstage styling hair for all the female models on the runway, and the result was an evening that proved style and social impact really can go hand in hand.

An Evening of Sustainable Style

The heart of the night was a runway show with a difference. Every outfit was styled entirely from items donated to Emmaus charity shops, with collections inspired by the iconic looks of France, England and Italy. Seeing pre-loved fashion brought to life with such creativity was a brilliant reminder that sustainability and sophistication work beautifully together, something we feel strongly about as an Aveda salon.

Between the fashion, guests enjoyed a guided wine tasting led by Cat Brandwood of The Naked Grape, with wines chosen to match each of the featured countries, alongside canapés, a charity raffle and an Emmaus boutique pop-up stall.

Every outfit was professionally styled by Sarah Sullivan, Owner of Style Solutions by Sarah who is also the Manager of the Emmaus Boutique on Romsey Road. The models were dressed entirely from items donated to Emmaus charity shops, with collections inspired by the iconic looks of France, England and Italy

A Community Effort From Start to Finish

What made the evening truly special was the involvement of the Emmaus Companions, the residents of the Emmaus community at Bar End who are rebuilding their lives after homelessness. Their contributions ran through every part of the night, from upcycled wooden charcuterie boards handmade for each table, to the wine charms and glass tags, to modelling on the runway itself.

Companion Warren ran the raffle, selling out of tickets and compering the draw with real warmth and humour, before sharing his own experience of homelessness with the audience. By all accounts there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

As the team at Emmaus Hampshire told us afterwards, 'We are exceptionally proud of the contributions of the Emmaus Companions.'

Emmaus Hampshire is a Winchester-based charity that empowers people to rebuild their lives beyond homelessness by providing a stable home, tailored support and work experience. Its residential community at Bar End is home to up to 40 people, known as Emmaus Companions, who build the confidence, skills and purpose needed to achieve lasting independence.

The charity generates most of its income through its social enterprise and three charity stores across Hampshire. Every Companion contributes to the best of their ability, working alongside local volunteers in the stores, collecting and delivering household items, repairing and refurbishing furniture, or cooking in the community home and café. It is through this daily activity that Companions build the skills and experience to work towards their future goals.

The Result

The evening raised £2,500 for Emmaus Hampshire, whose mission is to provide accommodation, training and meaningful work opportunities for people recovering from homelessness. Just as importantly, it introduced new supporters to the charity and forged new connections between local businesses, ours included.

Thank you to Emmaus Hampshire for having us, to everyone who came along and supported the evening, and to our brilliant team for making every model runway ready. Winchester is lucky to have a community like this.

To find out more about Emmaus Hampshire and the work they do, visit emmaus.org.uk/hampshire.

Urban Green Winchester is a fully Aveda concept salon in the heart of Winchester. Book your appointment online or pop in and see us.