Aveda Earth Jam Fashion Benefit in Covel plans to raise funds for earth-friendly charity

At Aveda Institute on Weyburn Avenue, applying makeup or getting a haircut touches on issues deeper than the follicle. The school combines beauty with philanthropy, and today Aveda hosts its annual Aveda Earth Jam Fashion Benefit at 6 p.m. in the Covel Commons Grand Horizon Ballroom.

Since the beauty and cosmetology school’s opening, Aveda has focused on teaching students social responsibility and donates to a different charity every month.

Eric Bachmann, director of education at the L.A. location, said the tips students make from working always get donated, and all cut hair is given to either Locks of Love or an organization that fashions hair into environmentally-friendly nylon netting to soak up oil spills.

“It’s really baked into our corporate DNA. It’s a part of everything we do. There’s the social responsibility in everything,” Bachmann said.

April marks Aveda’s Earth Month, and the school has been fundraising for Surfrider, an organization that protects waterfronts. Earlier in the month, students and instructors set brushes and shears aside to clean up Venice Beach. Bachmann found all sorts of trash ““ plastic, Styrofoam and used syringes.

“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think I found a toupee. It’s a real mess. You really make a difference, when you look back at your trash pick-up … and see it’s a lot cleaner,” Bachmann said.

However, their biggest philanthropic event is the Earth Jam Benefit. Along with collecting money from ticket sales, which range from $15 to $30, Aveda will also hold a silent auction. Last year, Aveda Institute raised $18,000 for Surfrider, and they want to top that success. Bachmann said that Aveda is well on its way to reaching its goal for $25,000.

With 100 Aveda students and 35 models, the student-run fashion show has outgrown the Aveda Institute space. This time, Earth Jam moves to Covel with the help of Fashion and Student Trends, UCLA’s fashion club.

“We’ve been working with Aveda for years, but I wanted to get more involved. We helped market the event, telling all our models about it. We’ll also have a FAST backstage crew, getting everything organized and models dressed,” said Elizabeth Fong, a fourth-year economics student and FAST president.

Fong said she’s excited to give club members a chance to either walk the runway or experience the hectic atmosphere backstage, where last minute hemming and makeup touches take place.

This year’s theme is dedicated to designer fashion houses. Aveda students are split into four teams, which brainstormed stylings inspired by Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Betsey Johnson and Prada.

Though students will be making each outfit, they’re mainly focused on hair and makeup. Nelly Sze, recent alumna and model for the show, went to model tryouts on Saturday but was not asked to catwalk for her audition. Instead, Sze answered Aveda stylists’ questions about how much hair she’d be willing to cut, and whether or not she would like it colored.

“They’re going to tease my hair a lot and make it really big. I’m walking for the Betsey Johnson line,” Sze said.

Models have locks wrapped in foil as Aveda stylists dash around with hair dryers, brushes and styling gel. In the basement of the salon, a group works on colorful wigs shaped with wire. The pieces are at least two feet in height, one braided with red, yellow and green and another fluffy like a giant ball of cotton candy. Bachmann said he’s excited for the end product.

“The show is incredibly stressful but there’s a lot of love at Aveda during this time,” Bachmann said.