I know it’s short notice, but tonight at 8:00 we are having a party at Satellite Bar and Lounge for the girls of Triangle!

Voting kicks off today at 3:00 and runs until August 10 at 2:59am!  We would like to generate as many votes for them as possible, as early as possible, and then keep the momentum going all day/night long!

Here’s how you vote:

We will be serving up pizza and DELICIOUS HOMEMADE TREATS- including VEGAN TREATS! and the bar staff will keep the drinks coming!  We will have a computer set up so you can vote, and maybe get a prize for participating.

And on stage will be Fred Champion and later, Knives & Daggers!

Please come out and show your support!

For a little more information on Triangle, here’s the Press Release:

Nine years ago, Edge of Urge opened its doors to the world, welcoming all of us into the creative mind of, owner, Jessie Williams.  One of the first and longest lasting boutiques in downtown Wilmington, today, Edge of Urge remains in the forefront of the minds of tourists, locals, and online fashion fans.  With recent national coverage (Seventeen Magazine, InStyle, Glamour, New York Post), the handmade feather earrings by Jessie Williams have been in high demand and quickly replicated by other vendors.  However, like any successful business and business owner, Williams’ and team- Jess Young and Jess Yeager- are staying ahead of the trends with their new brand, Triangle.

Together, the three Jess’s are creating amazing new jewelry and accessories.  Jess Young designs a line called Remnant by Mimic, creating beautiful crocheted and braided pieces of jewelry, taking inspiration from nature, featuring the use of metals, feathers, beads and dream catcher style weaving.  Continuing with the creative Jess’s is Jess Yeager. With I LIKE IT HERE CLUB, taking its name from a “club” her grandfather created while held as a POW in the WW2, Yeager melts and repurposes metal into amazing ear cuffs, earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets.  Combined with Williams’, who is known for the beautiful feather creations, these 3 women are the foundation for Triangle.  From the scraps from Williams’ (Edge of Urge) designs, Young (Remnant) uses the strings for her pieces; while Yeager (ILIHC) takes any salvageable metals and melts them down to create her jewelry.  Through Edge of Urge, you will also see evidence of this “full triangle”- since it’s not technically a circle- as scraps are tied onto your bags, recycled as packaging material for products shipped from the store, as well as simply used for employee key rings.  Nothing is wasted – fabric, paper, or creative ability.

Triangle will be more than just a collaboration of the three different lines (EOU, Remnant and ILIHC) but also a means of channeling their abilities and resources to preserve the manufacturing industry in the United States.  The ultimate goal for Triangle is establish a network of manufacturers, artists, and designers with the purpose of creating a “compound” type safe haven for US-based independent designers and artists providing a platform from which their ideas can take life.  Each side of this Triangle has experienced difficulties and shortfalls along the way while trying to make their place among the design world, therefore, they decided to team together as a powerful, and more impactful entity and have the desire to be the foundation for the art community providing resources from manufacturing and textiles to finance and business management, which tends to not be an artist’s strongest suit.  Not only will the textile industry of North Carolina be appreciated and rewarded but also the people, the actual hands that run the machines and touch the fabric, will continue to have a place to work.

With the support of their community, loyal customers, friends and family, Triangle will become a modern day, business incubator on steroids.  Our trio is currently competing in a national competition sponsored by Yoxi called “Trim the Waste in Fashion”- which will award a design team with up to $40,000 to continue their efforts to work more efficiently with more efficient means to create new fashion ideas, concepts, and products. Round 1 Voting starts on August 8, 2011.  There will be 2 subsequent rounds for the winning teams, until one team is left standing.  The hope of Triangle and Edge of Urge is to do so, all while remaining as North Carolina focused as possible, taking advantage of the vast, local agricultural and textile industry.  This idea is not new, and the basis is not original- however, this time, with the passion and drive of the Triangle, together with North Carolina and the strong, local artist community, this simple idea could change many lives along the way.

If the past is any indication of the future, Triangle and Edge of Urge are on the edge of something monumental!

Hope to see you there!  Oh Yea!!!

XOXO,

Me.

Saturday, July 23rd from 5-7- Edge of Urge hosted a FUNdraiser for The Story Collective.  The Story Collective and The Dollhouse performers arrived promptly at 4:45 and took over our window displays.

Their efforts are to raise awareness and put an end to human trafficking.  I, personally, knew little of this topic prior to a meeting over coffee with Abbye Printy, one of the founders of The Story Collective.   Coming up this Friday and Saturday, the 29th and 30th, The Story Collective will take the stage at the Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews with their contemporary dance performance called, The Dollhouse. 

Please show your support and come out this weekend!  Based on what we saw in-store, I can’t wait to see what’s, well, in store!  Take a look at the pictures and see what you have to look forward to! 
A big THANK YOU to Coastal Cupcakes, Michael Scott Marlowe Photography, The Story Collective, and the performers from The Dollhouse! 

Get your tickets for The Dollhouse HERE!

Hope to see you there!

XOXO,

Me.

“There are a lot of charities and causes out there, but this is the one that really,”—emphasizing the next words with a widened mouth and a hand to the chest–,”grabbed me”, Abbye said to me as I listened with watering eyes.   

The Story Collective.  A group of artists, artists of different mediums- dancers, painters, designers, writers- joining forces to raise awareness for a central cause.  What started as a simple interview about an upcoming event at the Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews, evolved into an afternoon of researching, thinking and processing something I knew little about – human trafficking.

When trying to decide an angle to approach the subject and the event, there really is no easy way to put it.  There’s no sugar coating the cause.  Abbye Printy, one of the 3 creators of The Story Collective, the others being Laura Valentine and Melanie Haulman, met with me for a coffee and a conversation and exposed me to a topic, an event, and an effort deserving of attention.

The cause is human trafficking.  In the United States.  In our state.  In our county.  In our city.  Legally, human trafficking involves the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them.  Men, women, children, boys, and girls are manipulated into this lifestyle where they feel trapped, unable to escape, and are used.  Plain and simple- used.  According to love146.org, it is estimated that this type of “business” generates $32 billion annually- which makes this the 2^nd most lucrative crime in the world.  However, in America, the victims of this crime have only 100 beds in shelters and facilities to where they can flee and take refuge. 

“I couldn’t not do something about this.” –Abbye Printy

“Fear, violence, and forced drug use are often part of the slavery equation.” – love146.org

I will avoid going into details, but I am not ignoring the issue.  Please check out www.thestorycollective.org and www.love146.org for more information. 

Hopefully, but this point you are feeling what I feel.  Vulnerable, oblivious, enraged, lost.  Take these feelings and put them into action. 

The Story Collective will be hosting an event to raise awareness and money, educate and create community involvement through a unique experience on Friday, June 28^th, and Saturday, June 29^th.

The Story Collective presents The Dollhouse.  An evening of contemporary dance- but not just any dancing.  The local efforts of choreographers, composers, graphic designers, photographers, costume makers, dancers, actors, and a team of volunteers- this performance is one to be as entertaining as educational. 
Why dance?  Because it’s not just a hobby for Laura, Abbye, and Melanie- it’s a passion.  They have found a way to unite two of their passions, dancing and The Story Collective, into 1 evening for 1 cause. 

Tickets are on sale through www.brooklynartsnc.com and available at Edge of Urge in downtown Wilmington.  Tickets are $20- or $10 with a valid student ID  and available for both the Friday and Saturday night performance, both beginning at 8:00pm. 

This event, the concept and the cause have awed me.  I am humbled by the effort, my ignorance to the issue, however, like Abbye said “I couldn’t not do something about this.” 

Today’s HDYEOU is all about Aileen Haugh!  Tonight she will hit the stage again with Dance 4 Liberation Presents La Vie in Raleigh, North Carolina.  This is the first time the D4L crew has ventured outside of Wilmington- and we wish you all the success you’ve had here!  Good luck Aileen!

Name: Aileen Haugh

Nickname? Ails

Hometown: Manila, Philippines 

Where do you live now? Downtown Wilmington, NC

Occupation: Event Planner/Receptionist at Nsalo Salon

What EOU item are you wearing? A yellow burnout tee by CastlesCouture, on the day of her interview.  Seen in the picture rocking Jessie Williams’ feather earrings.

Compliments remembered or responses from item? Perfect summer clothing item. People notice how useful it is in the summer time to put over a bikini top, or just for extra layer to add to your outfit.

What you’d like to see more of? I love off the shoulder tops so I can always see more of those. I am also getting into guy’s button down tops. The women wearing men’s clothes trend is a fun one.

If you had any super power, what would it be? I would love to have the ability to zap myself to be anywhere whenever I want. Distance is such a pain, and traveling costs lots of money these days. If I could travel anywhere around the world in an instant that would be the greatest super power.

What is one thing (concert, movie, event, book, album, etc) that you are looking forward to? I am looking forward to Dance 4 Liberation’s LA VIE in Raleigh June 3rd. Also I am probably going to see Bon Iver in concert in the end of July, so I am super excited for that!

Favorite Album/Artist: I have so many! A few of my favorite are Lykke Li, Crystal Castles, Passion Pit, Yelle, and Bon Iver! 

Favorite Movie: 500 Days of Summer

Who do you admire? I really look up to my two sisters. My younger sister Vanessa is spending the summer interning for Greenpeace in Chicago and DC. My older sister, Shannon; followed her dreams and moved to California a year ago. They are both brave and beautiful people.

We would also like to add that Aileen is one of the founding members of Dance4Liberation!  Check out their cause and get more information at http://dance4liberation.blogspot.com/ and find them on Facebook! 

Aileen, thank you for all that you are doing to raise awareness of different causes and charities!  We love seeing you around time, rocking your signature style, and making it too so easy and effortless!  Keep up the great work!

I couldn’t help but include this photo!  Love it!

Check out some pieces that we think Aileen would look great in!

http://www.edgeofurge.com/boutique/clothing/womens/tees/canonberry_hemp_tee.php

http://www.edgeofurge.com/boutique/clothing/womens/tees/check_meowt_tee.php

Oh yea, and of course these: http://www.edgeofurge.com/boutique/jessie_williams_designs/jewelry/long_vegan_feather.php

StºC are original designs by Cherylnina Stewart, that strives to appeal to a wide variety of women. We seek to flatter and emphasize– not overpower women’s personalities. Our materials evoke luxury and richness, and we focus on cut and fit. We design for the woman who is a bit of an urban warrior on a global stage; one who conquers the world on her own terms.

Cherylnina’s line will be shown at the D4L fashion show on February 25th at Sputnik in Downtown Wilmington, NC. For more details on the show go here!

To see some of Cherylnina’s work available now at Edge of Urge go here!