Yellowcake’s Annual Hullabaloo Fashion Party Has Its Last Hurrah at the Madison

Photo by Rachel Feinstein

Sat 11/3 @ 6PM

Billed as Cleveland’s favorite fashion show, Yellowcake Hullabaloo is the vision of Project Runway alumna Valerie Mayen, who in 2012 started her own local contemporary clothing line, Yellowcake, specializing in high-quality clothing for women.

In an effort to not only raise money but also create a buzz about her fashions, Mayen started the fashion show that quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town. Now the fashion designer has announced the upcoming Yellowcake Hullabaloo, taking place November 3 at the Madison in Cleveland, will be the last.

The show features a guest designer collection from William Frederick Clothing and jewelry highlighting Sasha Handmade, as well as guest vendors Sasha Handmade, Sweet Costo,  Oceanne Jewelry and Ellie Jane Handbags.

CoolCleveland talked to Mayen about the hullabaloo surrounding the end of the Hullabaloo.

CoolCleveland: What exactly is the Yellowcake Hullabaloo?

Valerie Mayen: Basically it’s a fun and exciting way to approach a fashion event that almost anyone can attend — kids, men and women. This year we’re going to have men’s fashion too. It’s a loud, uproarious occasion and it’s a really great time with live music, dancing, drinking, free food, a photo booth and shopping. It’s got everything for everyone, and the cool part too is that our bar proceeds go to a nonprofit every year. This year we’re working with Wigs for Kids.

CC: What was the impetus behind the event?

VM: I started in 2012 when we first opened our store and we didn’t have a bathroom. I decided we should put on a show and earn some money to build a toilet. Then it kind of just really exploded. People loved it so much the first year that they were trying to buy tickets on Facebook and Craigslist. We could only have 300 people, and we actually broke a few fire codes. So the next year we doubled our attendance and it kind of kept growing and doubling after that. Every year we have it somewhere different. This year we’re having it at the Madison, which is a really cool new venue and an amazing space.

CC: What’s this year’s motif?

VM: The collection theme is called “The Sweet Escape.” We decided to inspire a whole collection with sweets from Cleveland, which is a food town. If anything, Cleveland loves pierogies, bacon, donuts, cupcakes. So we decided why not build it on that, because people already think we make cupcakes since we’re called Yellowcake. So we decided to be literal, tongue in cheek, and say this is who we are, but we also make fashion.

CC: So how does the motif inform the fashion sense of the Yellowcake Hullabaloo?

VM: All of the garments are inspired by flavors, sweets and fair foods. So we have a look that is a raspberry lemonade-inspired garment. We have peanut butter and jelly and cookies & cream. It’s kind of fun to see what fashion would look like if they were all pastries and sugary confections. And we even partnered with local food vendors and have co-created garments with them inspired by some of their best flavors. Like Shelby (Costo) from Sweet Costo. We made a garment inspired by her macaroons that are caramelized with whiskey. It’s really cool.

CC: Considering all of the positive attention surrounding Yellowcake Hullabaloo, why are you pulling the plug?

VM: Hullabaloo was always the entertainment, runway, avant-garde collection portion of our brand. It was kind of a way for me exercise my creative muscles to make really fun, unique, outlandish garments aside from the ready-to-wear we make for Yellowcake. Our ready-to-wear is kind of what we make all year round. It’s every-day, approachable wear. There are garments that we make multiples of, but Hullabaloo was our one-of-a-kind runway pieces that we sell that night. Hullabaloo has grown to such big proportions that it’s become a second company. It’s become a second job. As Yellowcake is growing — we’re actually starting to get into stores nationwide — we just don’t have the time to do both. We just had to kind of put Hullabaloo to bed so we can really be great at one thing instead of doing everything. And I love Hullabaloo. It’s my favorite time of the year as kind of a labor of love for us, but I have a two-year-old now and have a business that’s requiring more of my time. I felt it was best for me to say no to something so I could say yes to other things.

CC: Finally, is there any chance you restart Yellowcake Hullabaloo in the future?

VM:  If someone wanted to buy the event, I would definitely create garments for it. I just don’t have the time to do the planning, the production, the fundraising and the logistics. It takes us about a year to plan it. It’s just a lot of work.

doyoubaloo.com

Cleveland, OH 44103

Cleveland, OH 44103

 

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