Arkansas Alumna Anna Taylor Debuts Nonprofit at Fashion Week
Anna Taylor, a graduate of the apparel studies program in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, launched the Judith & James fall/winter 2014 collection Sunday, Feb. 9, marking the 23-year-old’s second appearance at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. Taylor also introduced her nonprofit James127 Foundation during Judith & James’ Fashion show, where viewers were able to learn about the organization and could sponsor free sewing and jewelry training to empower women in Kenya.
Taylor, a Little Rock native, founded James127 Foundation after graduating from the University of Arkansas in response to the need for vocational training among impoverished Kenyan women. Foundation staff includes Hannah King, also a University of Arkansas graduate and vice president and chief operating officer. The foundation provides women with the opportunity to attend sewing and jewelry-making training programs. Fourteen women graduated from the sewing program in July 2013, and new participants will begin the program in March. Clothing company namesake and Kenyan seamstress, Judith, supervises trainees.
Plans for September Fashion Week 2014 are already underway. And that’s not all, Taylor and King return to Arkansas for a James127 Foundation fashion show fundraiser set for Feb. 20 on University of Arkansas campus. “We love our Arkansas roots and the university we attended. We wanted to return to our alma mater to share our story and get the University and students involved. This will be our first fundraiser so we are really excited. We hope this will be a recurring event that many people look forward to,” said King.
The campus event, Walk for Widows//Fashion Edition, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Arkansas Union Verizon Ballroom. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a $5 entry fee. All money raised will benefit James127 Foundation in empowering the poor.
To learn more on James127 Foundation, go to www.j127foundation.com.
Contacts
Laura Beth Moore, James127 Public Relations
James127 Foundation Public Relations
(501)680-8776,
laurabeth@j127foundation.com
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