Without music, a fashion show is little more than a model walking down a catwalk in high heels and stylish duds. In a word, lackluster. Music makes the show dynamic, it sets the tone, and provides the model with a beat to strut her stuff to and an attitude to exude. Three Bay area designers celebrate this symbiotic relationship during Sweatshop, a runway show set to live music. Ben Chmura's "Welcome to the Jungle" collection — previewed a few weeks ago at the Wearable Art Fashion Show — is presented in its entirety against the soulful, 1960s-inspired garage pop of Clearwater's Très Bien. Raven, a designer for Suspicious Package, goes solo in this show and displays her classy retro styles to the modish indie rock of Lakeland's Mouse Fire. Finally, Paul Raymond shows his punk rock formalwear to the soundtrack of The Urbane Cowboys' twangy rock 'n' roll. A fine art exhibit consists of works by Pyramid Photography, Brandon Dunlap, Melisa Taylor, Ryan Prado, William Reeves, Blue Devil Tattoo and others, and fashion show attendees enjoy drink specials courtesy of Effen Vodka. Sun., Sept. 2, 11 p.m., Czar, 1420 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, $13, myspace.com/sweatshop2007.
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2007.