Creative director Wayne Hemingway MBE has accepted an invitation from the city of Liverpool to curate a weekend of 4th of July celebrations, which will help mark Liverpool’s 175th anniversary of its transatlantic links.
A world-record breaking attempt will be made as part of the event, organised by Culture Liverpool and sponsored by Liverpool-based online retail giant Very. The event will take place directly in front of the Three Graces as part of the “One Magnificent City” programme to recognise Liverpool’s historic links with North America.
In an attempt to obliterate the current Guiness World Record for “most models on a catwalk”, the event will no doubt result in what will be the UK’s biggest ever 4th of July celebrations.
All aspects of Liverpool’s lively local culture will be represented; schools to community groups, families and fashionistas all joining together to take part in “The Very Big Catwalk” with an anticipated 3,500 participants.
Wayne Hemingway MBE, said:
“Liverpool’s cool roots and well-documented heritage will play out on the catwalk as the heart and soul of the city come together, from dance troops to twins, from pensioners to the police, from couture to cadets in this once in a life time public celebration of all that’s fashionable.
“This once in a lifetime record-breaking carnival will be an audio, visual feast designed to showcase the city’s diverse, welcoming, expressive, humorous and fun-loving spirit that characterises it around the world. But, we need people to make it happen, thousands of them. So, this is a shout out to all the city’s folk from every aspect of life to come and help us make history.”
The partnership with Very.co.uk means that a few famous faces will inevitably make the line-up to show off some of the retailer’s latest collections.
Very.co.uk marketing director Kenyatte Nelson said:
“Being Liverpool-based is an important part of Very.co.uk’s DNA and we’re thrilled to help put on this massive show in the city. Like our brand, the catwalk attempt is fun, fresh and bold.
“Liverpool girls love clothes so I’d like to urge all of you to come out in your best dresses and strut down the catwalk to help put this city on the fashion map.”
Jane Galpin, the TV and live event fashion producer from BBC’s Clothes Show and Channel 4 shows such as How to Look Good Naked, will help coordinate the mammoth catwalk show.
Jane Galpin said:
“This is going to be a magnificent and unforgettable moment for the city. People from all walks of Liverpool life will join forces and sashay down the Pier Head runway. It’s history in the making and a fashion show and carnival that will reflect Liverpool’s passion for fashion, along with its musical links with America. This incredible once in a lifetime opportunity is not to be missed, and one that we want everyone, no matter who you are, to be part of.”
All this will take place in the shade of the RMS Queen Mary 2, which will be docked at Liverpool Pier Hear in preparation to re-enact its inaugural voyage to Boston. The Very Big Catwalk will of course be followed by “The Very Big After Party” with all invited to a huge free disco on the docks.
Merseyside legend Greg Wilson will DJ at The Very Big After Party , and aims to draw attention to Liverpool’s diverse musical influences by playing influential sounds the city first heard from across the pond, including the authentic American sounds of R&B, Motown, Northern Soul, disco and funk.
After the party, when the Queen Mary 2 has departed Liverpool’s shores, the vessel, its passengers and the entire Pier Head audience will all be part of an unforgettable send-off spectacular, which is not to be missed.
The finale weekend of Liverpool’s “One Magnificent City” will also see the city play host to the glitz and glamour of the early 20th Century as a Liverpool-centric version of Wayne Hemingway MBE’s acclaimed Vintage Festival comes to town.
“Vintage on the Docks” at The Albert Dock will celebrate the fashion, music, film and food that travelled across the Atlantic, from the decadent dresses of the 20’s to the swinging songs of the 60’s.
Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, said:
“We are very excited to be working with the city council, Wayne Hemingway and our waterfront partners in making One Magnificent City an unforgettable event for all our visitors this summer.
“Albert Dock is proud to be at the heart of this monumental celebration, and when coupled with the International Mersey River Festival, Northern Boat Show, Red Bull Harbour Reach, Tate Liverpool’s new exhibition – Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots and the landmark 25th anniversary of the Beatles Story, 2015 is shaping up to be one of our busiest and most exciting years to date.”
The weekend festivities will also give visitors the chance to “Eat the Atlantic” as part of a huge free food festival on Mann Island. Food demonstrations, street theatre and workshops will span the world famous waterfront, with a variety of speciality food paying tribute to the dishes from both sides of the ocean.
Independence Day celebrations will culminate with a recreation of Cunard’s first transatlantic crossing. Its flagship RMS Queen Mary 2 will set sail from Liverpool Pier Head, imitating the original journey of RMS Britannia from Liverpool to Boston, which first set sail on 4 July 1840 (though this latest voyage will see the RMS Britannia arrive in New York). This historic maiden voyage marked Liverpool as the birthplace of passenger shipping and started a new era for international travel.
On Sunday 5 July, 175 vehicles from British and the US, both vintage and futuristic, will create a “Classic Car Cavalcade”, cruising throughout the Liverpool city streets. The parade will consist of car enthusiasts, clubs and collectors and will follow a route taking in famous Liverpool landmarks along the way such as the Chinese Arch, the city’s two iconic cathedrals, and St George’s Hall.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said:
“The city has deep historical and cultural connections with the USA, born from the shipping industry and the great docks. We wanted to work with an artist who could mine this creative history and bring a new story to the city and we are delighted with the programme which Wayne has developed.
“This city has always been a magnet for great thinkers, poets and entrepreneurs and once again we will showcase this to the world.”
To represent Liverpool on the catwalk and be part of Liverpool’s Guinness World Record-breaking runway or to enter a vintage vehicle to cruise the city streets as part of the classic cavalcade, register at www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk.
This summer’s seven week celebrations will also include a series of art and history exhibitions hosted in Liverpool’s famous museums and art galleries, city-wide photography exhibitions, gigantic audio and visual projections coming to life across the city, as well as tall ships, live music and street performers taking over the waterfront.
For all the latest information on events visit www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk or follow @OMCLpool on Twitter and One Magnificent City Liverpool on Facebook.
Words: Peter Cribley