Robinson’s of Bawtry fashion show is a record breaking success

The show is always a glittering occasion and this year’s event was no different.

Iconic British fashion designer Amanda Wakeley attended and watched her two new collections go down the catwalk at the China Rose restaurant.

The event raised £15,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research, bringing the total raised by Robinsons over the last two decades to more than £260,000.

After the usual Robinson’s Fashion Show, which showcased the boutique’s fabulous autumn/winter ladies and menswear collections from the likes of Hugo Boss, Armani and Ralph Lauren, guests were delighted to receive an extra treat as Amanda’s autumn/winter 2012 collection was shown, as well as a preview of her spring/summer 2013 show, hot off the catwalks of London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks.

Amanda launched her signature label in 1990 and is renowned for her ready-to-wear and bridal collections. She has dressed A-list stars such as Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet and Demi Moore and was awarded an OBE in 2009 for her contribution to fashion and ongoing work for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

She said: “I think it’s fantastic that for 20 years Robinsons has been holding this show and raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research – it’s just brilliant.”

The annual fashion show was initially launched by the boutique’s previous owner, Tony Robinson, with current owners Russell and Wendy Jones carrying on the tradition since they took over three-and-a-half years ago.

“The event went better than we could have imagined,” said Russell. “For the 20th show we wanted to put a bit of extra sparkle into the night and I think the combination of our regular fashion show and the Amanda Wakeley show was fabulous.”

“Amanda was fantastic and talked to our customers all night. To then raise the best part of £15,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research was just beyond our wildest dreams. It was a really breathtaking night.”

The top auction prize – The Amanda Wakeley Experience – consisted of a personalised clutch bag, £1,000 gift voucher and personal shopping experience with Amanda at her Fulham Road flagship store. It was snapped up by one lucky bidder for the generous sum of £6,500.

Other prizes on offer were an FA Cup semi final package for two, sponsored by Paul and Hilary Levack; a box at the races plus 24 badges, courtesy of Doncaster Racecourse; two tickets for an X Factor Finals night, from Robinsons; a VIP tour for four people around the set of Emmerdale, sponsored by Howard and Elaine Huntridge and an Armani Collezioni dress. There was also the chance to win a chocolate brown Mulberry handbag worth £695 and bottles of bubbly in the Champagne draw.

“It was an amazing, professionally-organised evening and we are really thrilled to be involved,” said Sally Crerar, head of community fundraising at Yorkshire Cancer Research. Raising funds for charity is very hard work and I know that Russ and Wendy put in a lot of effort to get people involved.”

“To have something like this annually is terrific and they have raised a staggering figure over the years. It is the continued commitment and support for the charity that makes such an enormous difference to us.”