Fashion and Freedom Unite in Los Angeles

UCLA graduate student Bonnie Kim’s vision finally came into reality at the first “Freedom and Fashion” event.

TOYS FOR A CAUSE: Products for the child in us from the Freedom and Fashion fashion show. Annabel Park, www.aparkphotography.com

LOS ANGELES—UCLA graduate student Bonnie Kim’s vision finally came into reality at the first “Freedom and Fashion” event on Thursday, Nov. 19, at UCLA. The event used a fashion show to raise awareness about modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

Last year, Kim visited Bangkok with a program called NightLight that works to help get women out of prostitution. At one of the strip bars, she saw a woman her age performing. They locked eyes and, feeling the connection, Kim started crying. After that, she was inspired to start a fashion show that would educate people about sex trafficking.

Kim had always been interested in fashion, but when she was younger, she was drawn to teaching. She felt that her life was a blessing. “I live in West LA. I drive a car. I have food to eat,” she said. She wanted to give back, inspired by her religious faith to “love others.”

Adam Edgerly is the pastor at New Song LA in Culver City, the church Kim attends. Seeing this event happen was like “watching someone give birth,” he said. He feels that social justice is a core part of Christian teachings, noting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as an example, and he feels it has been lost.