Denver Fashion Week and 303 Magazine recently hosted their first-ever clothing drive to support those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
The initiative took place on Sunday, January 12 during model auditions for the Spring 2025 season of Denver Fashion Week (DFW). The drive was organized just four days after the fires began on January 7.
These ongoing fires have already left a profound impact, claiming at least 29 lives and displacing thousands. Fueled by powerful winds and extreme drought conditions, the fires spread rapidly, consuming entire neighborhoods and reducing thousands of structures to ash.
With nearly 200,000 residents under evacuation orders at one point, many found themselves suddenly homeless, forced to seek refuge in emergency shelters. The financial toll is staggering, with insured losses estimated to surpass $20 billion and total economic damages potentially reaching $50 billion. Officials warn that the full scope of the destruction is still unfolding, as emergency responders continue recovery efforts and brace for the possibility of a rising death toll.
Rapid Response: How Denver’s Fashion Community Took Action
Understanding the immense loss many LA residents faced — losing homes, possessions, and a sense of stability — the Denver Fashion Week team mobilized the city’s community. Attendees of the auditions were encouraged to bring clothing donations, offering a direct way for the fashion community to give back to those in need.
“As fashion industry professionals, we all have clothing to spare, so we thought: what better way to support our LA neighbors than putting these clothes to good use?” shared Nikki Strickler, Head Producer of Denver Fashion Week.
“We’re extremely grateful to the Denver Community for coming together, especially on such short notice. The generosity is overwhelming.
A significant majority of the donations were sent to the LA Mission, an organization that aids individuals experiencing homelessness and hardship in Los Angeles. The LA Mission provides meals, shelter, medical care, and rehabilitation services to those in need, in an effort to restore lives and offer pathways out of homelessness.
In response to the wildfires, LA Mission has been actively working with agencies across Los Angeles to provide critical resources, emergency shelter information, and manpower to assist those in crisis. As the fires continue, the Mission continues to accept fire emergency donations of essential supplies, including canned goods, bottled water, hygiene kits, safety gear, blankets, tarps, and monetary donations.
A Dual-Impact Approach
Due to the ongoing nature of the crisis, the LA Mission and other California organizations are prioritizing donations based on the urgent needs of their community. The Denver Fashion Week team was committed to ensuring that their contributions aligned with these needs, carefully coordinating their efforts so as not to overwhelm or hinder the mission’s critical response work.
As such, though some of the 37,000 pounds of clothing donated did not meet these specifications, the team ensured that every piece of donated clothing found a home. Items that could not be accommodated by the LA Mission were redirected to Denver’s own community.
Many of our Denver neighbors face significant challenges during the harsh winter months, including a growing need for shelter, warm clothing, and essential resources. As such, some donations were taken to Samaritan House, a shelter providing resources and supplies for people experiencing homelessness. As the first facility in the nation built specifically for this purpose, Samaritan House has helped thousands of Denver residents find shelter, nutritious meals and critical support services.
This dual-impact approach allowed the drive to not only support wildfire victims in California but also make a meaningful contribution to Denver’s own community members in need. Through swift organization and the generosity of Denver’s fashion community, the clothing drive showcased the power of unity and compassion in times of crisis.
Find more resources to support those affected by the L.A. fires throught the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
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