Candy Harris and Mandy Fry on upcoming Design for Humanity

Billabong’s notable Design for Humanity event returns next Wednesday for the sixth year to Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

The fashion, music, and art block party will have three concert stages, DJ dance parties, a runway fashion show, organic food trucks, custom art gallery, a VIP street, and more.

We asked Billabong’s Mandy Fry, Billabong Women’s Senior Design Director, and Candy Harris, Global Creative Consultant, some questions about the benefit, which this year will raise money for the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.

Tell me about the fashion show. I understand some of the designs will be available to buy that same day?

A style from last year’s fashion show

Mandy Fry: This year our runway show was greatly inspired by our Spring 13 collection in addition to some amazing product that will be available online and in-store the day of the event.

The team has been busy developing “DIY” projects using our Spring 2013 prints and trims, creating custom one-of-a-kind looks in combination with in-line styles.

We’re also excited to showcase the swim collaboration we did with Brooklyn artist Maya Hayuk. Her art was featured in the Design for Humanity event creative and now her work will make its debut on the runway and give a tease of what’s to come for Spring 13.

How are you promoting DFH this year? How are you getting the word out about the designs and how to purchase them? How are you connecting it all to retail?

Candy Harris: Promoting Design for Humanity (DFH) has become a multimedia approach, hitting all channels from print to TV, radio, and an abundance of social media. You will have seen the event message across fashion sites like Refinery 29, to radio spots on KROQ.

A style that will be available to purchase the day of the show

With over 15 various partners including sponsors, record labels, modeling agencies, vendors, retailers, etc., there are a lot of passionate advocates talking about the big night and the product associated with Design For Humanity.

In regards to connecting DFH back to retail, we have created several ways for accounts across the country to participate, ranging from a nationwide window contest to displays on the retail floor that will feature styles showcased on the runway.

In addition, event T-shirts are being sold and we will donate a percentage of proceeds to the Cultivate Foundation. These funds will join the 100% of ticket sales and art auction items that will also be donated to the foundation.

See Page 2 for details about the bands playing, more

What is new on the music front? It seems like more bands are playing this year?

Candy: We wanted to find a way to kick it up a notch this year so we’ve gone to more of a festival format with four notable acts vs. smaller opening bands.

The scene at the Paramount Studios during Design for Humanity

Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, The Lumineers and the Joy Formidable will all be performing on three concert stages throughout the Paramount Studios back lot in Hollywood. It really is like the ultimate fashion week block party with a music festival soundtrack.

The doors open at 7 p.m., and the first band will go on just after 8:45pm and we will rotate stages back-to-back until midnight. It’s a huge logistical undertaking but will result in one jam-packed night of great entertainment all in the name of celebrating creativity and raising funds for a good cause.

Why did you choose Cultivate Foundation as the beneficiary this year?

Candy: It’s always a fun process selecting the various charities we work with, and for the first time this year we took a focus on food.

Another style available for purchase the day of the event

When you dive into the topic, you really learn that we’ve become a culture that has lost sight of where our food is coming from and questioning how it is produced.

As a country we slacked on policing the nutrition practices of a younger generation – for the majority of American families food became about how fast you could order it and how cheap you could make it.

But that tide has begun to turn and a new movement towards sustainable agriculture, youth education and supporting local family farms has become a priority.

The cool thing about the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is that in addition to its own programs, it also works with several specialized nonprofit groups including Veggie U (which provides garden kits to area schools), and the Ecology Center which educates young people on the process of sustainable agriculture among other things.

This event is one of the biggest aimed at young women consumers. Mandy, can you tell us what kind of trends are resonating with the Billabong Girls customer, and what you see happening with young women shoppers in general these days?

Mandy: At Billabong, we are known for our love of prints and color. Our customer looks forward to seeing what the new, featured prints will be each season and this fashion show will make the most of our specialty with beautiful prints inspired by Guatemalan and Peruvian textiles.

Are tickets still available? What about the VIP ones that give people great access?

Candy: There are a few general admissions tickets left for purchase, but they will likely be gone by the end of the week. We sold out of our VIP passes but decided to expand the area and add a bar so we’ve posted another 50, which should go in the next day or two.

Selling out is always a good problem to have, unless you are the one without a ticket. We have capacity for 5,000 people so make sure you are one of them! You can get all of the details regarding the event and purchase tickets at designforhumanity.com