Fashion Cares is one of the oldest functioning big fashion charity events - and just like American Idol and Project Runway, Fashion Cares was conceived in England.

Fashion Cares started as UK-based entrepreneur and PR guru Lynne Franks - the inspiration behind the Edina character on the hit British comedy Absolutely Fabulous - came up with the original concept of Fashion Cares in London, England, where the event first took place in 1985.

In 1987 entrepreneur Syd Beder asked permission from Franks to use the Fashion Cares name in Toronto. With her endorsement, Syd Beder, his associate Rick Mugford, and Phillip Ing, the current artistic director/producer of Fashion Cares, collaborated with the local fashion community to successfully execute the first Fashion Cares event in Toronto.

For complete runway coverage check 20th Anniversary of MAC VIVA GLAM FASHION CARES or FASHION CARES Fashion Shows .

Fashion Cares has changed significantly over the past two decades. In 1987, 400 guests attended the gala when it first took place at the Diamond Club, while 5,000 guests attended in 2005. British singing sensation Petula Clark attended Fashion Cares the first year and the event raised $40,000. Over the past 20 years, almost nine million dollars has been raised to benefit ACT. Fashion Cares is the largest HIV/AIDS fundraising event in Canada.

 

Need to refresh your memory or relive those fantastic moments? 20 Years of Fashion Cares takes both an intimate backstage and front of house look at the fashion spectacle. Included are over 1000 photographs by both amateurs and professionals, as well as over 100 interviews with various committee members, performers and designers including Dean and Dan, Patti LaBelle and this year's honorary chair Jeanne Beker.

Inside will also be many exciting pictures taken during past events by photography notables such as Walter Chin and Herb Ritts. A unique feature of the book will be the inclusion of 20 new shots that use various costumes and concepts to reinterpret the themes from past years, which include Fashion Blooms, Sheer Drama and M.A.C Viva Glam Floating World.

"We are very excited to share so many wonderful memories with everyone who supports Fashion Cares" says Phillip Ing, Artistic Director and Producer of the event and editor of the book.

"20 Years of Fashion Cares will allow us all to take a moment and reflect on the major impact the Fashion Cares event has had on HIV/AIDS support and awareness."

This 132 page retrospective is sponsored by Winners, a generous supporter of this year's event. 

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