Modesto fashion show benefits youth program

Paris, Milan, New York, Modesto.

The Sky Trek 6 DC Air Hangar at the Modesto Airport was transformed into a high-fashion runway for the third annual Bridal Couture Magazine Unveiled Runways fashion show Thursday night.

Proceeds went to Project Uplift, a Modesto youth mentoring program.

Event coordinator Mira Jantz, who owns Modesto's Mira Bridal Couture and publishes Bridal Couture Magazine, said she started the runway show to bring a little bit of New York fashion to the Central Valley.

Now in its third year, this is the largest show, doubling in size, and the first to donate all proceeds to an area charity.

"Everything has been donated, all the sponsors and volunteers who are here donated their services," Jantz said. "I was really trying to pull in groups and businesses that appreciated serving the community."

The event had the air of a big city fashion show with a well-coiffed and nicely heeled crowd, but all of the organizers, businesses and models were local.

Also unlike at a haute couture runway, the models received ripples of cheers and applause as they passed family and friends in the audience. The show featured 22 models, including half a dozen male models.

All the clothing was also locally available. Models strutted their stuff in a selection of bridal, lingerie, swimwear and cocktail fashions from Mira Bridal Couture and Kenneth's Fine Menswear.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were provided by Barefoot Wine, High Roller Vodka, Galletto Ristorante and Fuzio Universal Bistro. Use of the private hangar was donated by Modesto entrepreneur Dan Costa and his wife, Denise.

Guests walked a red carpet when they came into the hangar, posing for event photographers. The show sold out, with 400 people attending.

Project Uplift director and founder John Ervin said he was surprised when Jantz approached him to receive proceeds from the event. His group, which mentors at-risk youth ages 9 to 18, has been active since 2007.

"This is really a community event, and to me it's so nice to see all the local businesses come out and support a nonprofit like ours," Ervin said. "We're just happy if we got even $5 out of appreciation. But the scale of this is like something you'd see in Hollywood."

The 30,000-square-foot airplane hangar was transformed for the show. A small lounge was set up on one end and curtains separated the staging area on the other.

Two private jets peeked out from backstage. All the volunteers, many from Project Uplift, were dressed in flight-attendant-themed uniforms.

Modesto resident Jeremiah Williams, whose son Joshua Williams was one of the models, was impressed by the show's scope.

"This is very elegant, and I'm glad they brought it to Modesto," he said. "It's first-class, top-notch, like something you'd see in Paris, Los Angeles or San Francisco."

Bee staff writer Marijke Rowland can be reached at mrowland@modbee.com or (209) 578-2284.