Senior Madi Brown and MADI Apparel

CLOTHING QUEEN

At MADI Apparel, senior Madi Brown helps out and visits founder Hayley Beesher in the store Oct. 17. (Photo by Keely Schieffer)

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Senior Madi Brown helps put on Runway to Impact “So I sell the products and tell people about the history of MADI and distribute products to women shelters for MADI Apparel as her senior service project. Apparel.” There was a total of 40 volunteers at Runway to Impact, and every volunteer was necessary for the show to go smoothly, BY KEELY SCHIEFFER according to Beesher. REPORTER “At the runway show, they volunteered in our pop up boutique

The feed refreshed and senior Madi Brown began to scroll area,” Beesher said. “They helped check people out which was very helpful because there were a lot of people and we needed help to through her Instagram. She glanced at pictures of peers and handle the load.” fashion posts as she skimmed her feed. A picture for a new MADI Apparel teams up with different organizations that boutique popped up on her feed she had never heard of. house women who are victims of domestic violence such as Brown clicked on the account and discovered MADI Apparel. MOCSA and Amethyst Place. Beesher started this business not

“When I was a freshman I heard about MADI Apparel on only as a job, but a way to benefit others and give back to her Instagram, so I went there and I met the owner community according to Beesher.and founder, Hayley, a graduate from my school,” Brown said. “I connected with her a lot since we both went to Sion and have become very close “ It supports women in need, especially “It supports women in need,” Brown said, “especially for women in domestic violence shelters, like MOCSA or Amethyst Place.”since then.” women in domestic The women lack basic needs like toothpaste Brown has been a customer of MADI apparel since she first discovered the store. Once she violence shelters, like and shampoo, but underwear isn’t commonly thought of to donate. This is where MADI found it, she supported the business and cause MOCSA or Amethyst Apparel comes in. For every pair of underwear through buying their products and helping out behind the scenes. This is why she chose MADI as her senior service project. Place.” - senior Madi Brown sold, it results in the donation of another pair to women who are victims of domestic abuse. Beecher created an organization where they After her senior service trip to Haiti was cancelled, senior Elizabeth Crabtree opted to make their products locally in Kansas City in order to support these women.help Brown with MADI Apparel. She helped with distributing the “It creates empathy for women that could use the help of their sold items from the auction during “Runway to Impact,” to the community,” Beesher said. “It’s initiates empathy in the students’ buyers, as well as giving out products to shelters. lives and it is very cool that Madi and Elizabeth are exploring it.”

“I heard about this through Madi because she shopped there Brown and Crabtree have been quite the help according to and because the lady who started MADI Apparel is a Sion alum,” Beesher. They are aiding the women of their community.Crabtree said. MADI Apparel founder, Hayley Beesher, graduated from “I think it is important that this is their senior service project,” Beesher said.”It shows them the significance of giving back.”Mizzou and didn’t study anything related to business. After graduation, Beesher moved to a small beach town in Florida with LOCALLY MADE her friend. And that is when the idea of starting a clothing business In MADI Apparel, senior Madi Brown works in the shop Oct. 17. The struck the two. She wanted to start a business that benefited others store sells products to help benefit the buy one, give one donation in every way, according to Beesher. Beesher used sustainable fabric program. (Photo by Keely Schieffer) and donated a pair of underwear for any product bought from MADI Apparel.

“This all unfolded a bit randomly,” Beesher said. “After I graduated from Mizzou my friend, Molly, and I had the idea to start a different type of business by reclaiming clothing and turning it into new fashion.”

Every year they put on a fashion show and auction called “Runway to Impact” as a fundraiser to raise money for their organization. They sell items such as travel trips and do many giveaways according to Brown. MADI Apparel sells their products there and it helps raise money and awareness to their cause.

Runway to Impact hosted around 300 people at the show and sold out their VIP tickets. At the boutique, MADI Apparel sold their products during the fashion show to help raise money.

“I work the boutique part of the fashion show,” Brown said.