When Ballard High School student Celia Major conceived of the Stylin' and Sharing fashion show and clothing drive, which takes place on May 31 and which will benefit Treehouse, she saw an opportunity to throw on a fun event and help people at the same time.

"I’ve always liked fashion, my mother had a fashion show in college, but she didn’t have a fundraiser. So I thought maybe I could do the same, but maybe help others at the same time," Major said.

Treehouse is a Washington-based nonprofit that serves youth in fostercare, providing education support and childhood experiences, among other services. Clothes brought in by guests to the fashion show will go to a Treehouse warehouse, which will be sorted and in turn donated to foster youth who are in need of new clothes. Major has five bags of clothes waiting to be donated back at her house.

"You don’t realize how important clothes are for those who can’t afford them," Major said. "We take clothes for granted, but there are those who can’t afford clothes, can’t get new clothes, and getting them is just an amazing gift."

Major says she was inspired by the event, "We Day," which brought thousands of youth together in KeyArena to celebrate the power of young people and to inspire them to create change in local and global communities. Wanting to do more than just volunteer at an organization, Major at first tried to start up a food drive, but then came up with the idea of a fashion show and clothing drive.

Having just a month to pull the event together, Major was quick to credit those around her with help and inspiration. Her friend Michael Delk who volunteers at Treehouse -- and who is a professional model and put on his own fashion show when he was in high school -- had helped sway Major to benefit the nonprofit and guided her along the way. Delk has helped guide young Ballard High School models in practicing and perfecting their walks.

Local businesses also stepped up. After putting in over 50 cold calls and asking in person, she received a good response from about 10 businesses, such as Wallingford's Evo ("Evo was very supportive ... one of our very first sponsors"), University District's Moksha ("Had my back since day one") and Greenwood's Fist Full of Metal tattoo ("They were just a blessing out of nowhere"). Other businesses include Monster Art and Clothing, Buffalo exchange, Red Light, Horse Shoe, Pala Pala, Banana Republic and Victoria's Bridal.

In addition, having attended a private school in Shoreline until she transferred just this year to Ballard High School, Major gives credit to the wonderful new community she has come to know. Without coming to Ballard High School, and without making new friends and having the new experiences, Major said she would never have come up with the idea of a fashion show fundraiser.

"Coming up to Ballard opened up my eyes and gave me a new view of everything, I think it gave me a much more positive outlook," Major said. "... It was a big decision transferring junior year, but I’m so glad I did. Here I feel so accepted and have so many people that support me. It’s great."

Major likely won't stop when this fashion show ends. Only a junior, she says she has another year to pull together a new fashion show, possibly in the fall or at the same time as this year's.

"A lot of people ask me if this is my senior project and I say no, because I’m a junior. I have another year to do this and it's really exciting because this whole process has been really fun for me," she said.

Though Major is still young, she already has thoughts of the future. She said she has thought about event planning or being a social worker. Whatever she lands in, she seems destined to be in a career where she works and talks with other people.

"I’m a very social peson, I love people. I feel like I can relate to people and sort of help them," Major said of what she wants to do for work. "I definitely should do what fits me ... You always hear this cliché saying, 'Something you like waking up to every morning.'"

In the meantime, make sure to catch her fashion show.

Stylin' and Sharing takes place on Friday, May 31, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. It will be held at 415 Westlake Ave N. tickets can be purchased for $10 online at stylinandsharing.brownpapertickets.com or $12 at the door.

Guests are encouraged to bring the following types of clothes: infants, toddlers, children sizes 4-18, jeans, new shoes, coats and stylish teen clothing.

Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib

And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib