A new punk-inspired fashion competition Defying Gravity is set to rock East Belfast's Banana Block this March.
The event is a unique celebration of homegrown talent and a fashion competition honouring punk and style icon Jordan Mooney who sadly passed away in April 2022.
Honouring her towering legacy while showcasing the best of Belfast’s creative sector, it will give a diverse range of local fashion designers the chance to showcase their work and walk away with immersive work experience with a major TV network and a £1,000 cash prize.
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Compared by NI broadcasting legend Julian Simmons, Defying Gravity is also a carefully-curated celebration of Belfast’s rich musical heritage, namely punk in all its various iterations and its expression right across Belfast’s creative sector.
Offering their world-beating expertise on the night are special guest judges, legendary Glasgow fashion designer Pam Hogg, award-winning Belfast hairdresser and stylist Paul Stafford, fashion designer and illustrator Sara O’Neill and London musician Marco Pirroni.
Defying Gravity co-founder Sinead Green said: “We are holding this event at The Banana Block, a living museum in the heart of East Belfast which is fast becoming a favourite venue for the music community in Belfast.
"It is borne from our friendship with Jordan Mooney, and in tribute to her - hence the name Defying Gravity, the title of her memoirs detailing her life and career from its beginnings working in Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s King Road boutique to becoming a countercultural icon.
"She was our original guest judge and as she passed away last year, we wanted to continue with the show in her memory and deliver something that she would be proud to be a part of.”
It will feature models and choreography by Style Academy, a live soundtrack by acclaimed Belfast producer & DJ Phil Kieran based on his club night Leatherette at Ulster Sports Club, A/V from Visual Spectrum, visuals and film courtesy of Stephen Hackett and costume design experience by Derry Girls costume designer Cathy Prior.
Sinead added: "We want to create an annual event that showcases and engages with multiple disciplines across the creative industries in Belfast, but with a celebration of music being at its core.
"We believe that in doing this collaboratively, we can build a strong team of industry professionals to ensure that this musically-inspired showcases can be a fixture in Belfast’s calendars, as not only a musical event but also a fashion and AV event too.”
Tickets for Defying Gravity taking place at The Banana Block on March 16 are available here
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