Cumberland Wearable Art Fashion Show
Saturday, September 12, 2026, 6pm to 11pm – Cumberland Cultural Centre
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When friends Katie, Dakota and Aliy first imagined a wearable art show, their goal was to bring the community together in a unique way through art. That vision has become the Cumberland Wearable Art Fashion Show, a celebration of imagination, resourcefulness and community, with proceeds supporting L’Arche Comox Valley.
What’s Wearable Art?
For those unfamiliar, wearable art offers something different from a traditional fashion.
This year’s show challenges participants to transform everyday objects and discarded materials into wearable creations. The result? A collection of pieces that blur the line between fashion and art while encouraging people to rethink what’s possible.
“Wearable art is very accessible,” says Katie. “It invites everyone in. Fashion doesn’t need to be created with traditional fabrics and methods. Often materials themselves become the inspiration. It’s experimental and you start to see possibilities where others might only see scraps.”
Aliy agrees, “It’s valuable to showcase the beauty found in objects and materials already in our daily lives; it empowers people to reimagine, repurpose and reclaim the resources we have. We truly have enough on the planet for everyone, forever.”
With a background in textiles and fashion, and as the owner of West & Co. Consignment Boutique, Dakota is passionate about managing the environmental impact of how we clothe ourselves. “It’s important to use things that already exist instead of creating more waste, which you see in fast fashion. “
Supporting L’Arche – The Anchorage
Selecting L’Arche as the event’s beneficiary was an easy choice. The trio was drawn to L’Arche’s emphasis on community, creativity and finding ways for people to express themselves.
“We love The Anchorage project and L’Arche’s community aspect,” says Katie. “It was very important for us to support a non-profit that values creativity and connecting through art and other crafts.”
That connection to creativity is something Aliy also felt personally when the group chose L’Arche as the beneficiary.
“It felt like a place I’d wanna spend time and create, and knowing L’Arche is supporting the community in the way they do really warms my heart.”
At L’Arche, people use art and craft extensively to express themselves, develop skills and connect with others. Through creative initiatives like The Art of Belonging, L’ArcheWorx, weekly art classes and specialty classes in scrapbooking, recyclable crafts and cardmaking, people with and without intellectual disabilities have the chance to expand their horizons and learn from each other.
For the wearable art team, that shared appreciation for creativity makes L’Arche a natural choice.
The September 12 event is a celebration of connection, inclusion and the ways creativity can help people find a sense of belonging. Once the final creation has made its way down the runway, what will remain is something far more lasting: a reminder of what is possible when creativity brings people together.
