Scottish Fashion and Art for Positive Mental Health Action

I'm so excited to finally share with you the backstage images taken by the wonderful Edinburgh fashion photographer Ellie Morag at Coburg House from my charity event #MINDFRAME, a showcase of Scottish fashion and art presented by the Scottish Design Exchange in aid of one of Scotland's largest mental health charities, Penumbra. Find out more about the event below!

About the event

Mindframe was a catwalk showcase of unique clothing from Scottish fashion designers, a drinks reception and an exhibition and sale of original art on canvas by local painters and illustrators, that a selection of artists responded to the question: "What does mental health mean to you" using their own style. It was an unexpected success and so much fun! Best of all, I am thrilled to announce that from ticket sales, donations and we raised around £1000 for Penumbra, a cause very close to my heart.

Firstly, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to the following:

• Seán Ó Cathasaigh for helping me to organise and run the event!

• Becca Davidson for being my right-hand woman on the night!

• Scottish Books for your kind sponsorship!

• The Edinburgh Crisis Centre for representing the charity!

• Lynzi Leroy and Peter Burnett for your endless support of my crazy projects!

• Leah MacGilp and Jason MacGilp for helping on the bar!

About Penumbra

Penumbra is a charity based all over Scotland that constantly pushes for positive mental health action for all. Their work is based on the following core values:

• People can, and do, recover from mental ill health

• People have equal human value regardless of their situation or ability and have the right to dignity, respect, privacy and choice

• People should be enabled to exercise control over their lives by means of real choice and participation and should be free from stigma and discrimination

• Penumbra’s services should provide person-centred support on an ordinary and inclusive basis wherever possible.

Their current Strategic Plan identifies five key aims to help achieve this inspiring vision:

Recovery | To ensure that all mental health services and activities are hopeful, personalised and recovery focused. People | To ensure a highly valued, skilled and involved workforce. Innovation | To develop, support and provide innovative responses that; promote recovery, social inclusion and citizenship for people with mental health problems. Influence | To promote mental health and wellbeing in communities by influencing; policymakers, funders and others. Improvement | To ensure quality and continuous improvement in all business processes to achieve our mission.

Find out more at http://www.penumbra.org.uk

About the Scottish Design Exchange

The Scottish Design Exchange is a not-for-profit shop in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, set up to help Scotland-based artists and designers experience a fair retail model. In the shop, Scottish fashion designers, artists, textile and jewellery designers, book publishers, photographers, musicians and product manufacturers work together to share the costs involved in running a busy store.

Artists (click to learn more!)

• Mark Vice

• Mark Kirkham

• Nathan Allison

• Paul Charles

• Esther Cohen

• Elspeth Mackenzie

• Josie McConnell

• Val Menon

• Seán Ó Cathasaigh

• James Robert Faulkner

• Judy Art

• Alexander Jackson

Fashion designers (click to learn more!)

• Textiles By April

• Victoria Leisa Bowles

• SEIN CLLN

• Cloh

• Studio Five

• Rosamund

• Birds of Prayers Scotland

Models (click to learn more!)

• Sarah Ewen

• Jack Hinks

• Torya Hughes

• Grace Hall

• Moses Anderson

• Clara Shepherd

• Jessica Carr

• Issie Soliman

Makeup artists (click to learn more!)

• Cait Owens

• Suzi Christie

About the photographer

Ellie Morag is a freelance fashion photographer based in Edinburgh. She shoots incredible portraits, lookbooks, fashion editorials, model portfolios, brand campaigns, behind the scenes stills, products and events. With a great love for photojournalism, her style falls somewhere between documentary and portrait photography, and she works with the utmost passion and professionalism.

About Coburg House

Coburg House is a thriving hub of artists, designers and makers in the heart of Leith, Edinburgh. This former granary has housed studios for over 10 years now and is home to a dynamic creative community with a well-established reputation for excellence. My day job is actually managing the shop and gallery space as well as press and marketing for Coburg House art studios!