Design & Shine: March 12 Fashion Show Featuring the Artistic Creations of Four Columbia Females Living with Disabilities

A Camp Cole, South Carolina + Alivia, NYC Collaboration

Four young women in Columbia, South Carolina, each living with a special need, are watching their fashion dreams come true thanks to a chance encounter between Camp Cole Co-Founder Margaret Deans Grantz and Alivia Fashion Brand Co-Founder Jovanna Mullins.

The original artwork-turned-fashion of Kate Liggitt, Ann Mealing, Lila Mozingo, and Liz Twitty will take to the runway on Thursday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Camp Cole’s Camp & Retreat Center, located at 1571 Crossing Creek Road, Eastover.

Guests will experience an up-close look at four seasonal collections that began as inspirational art and transformed into everyday, wearable fashion for women of all ages. The show will feature the four designers, their friends, and other local models wearing dresses, skirts, tops, sweaters, and accessories, and attendees will get the chance to shop the items at an on-site Alivia boutique pop-up. 

Jovana Mullins will emcee the event alongside popular Netflix star Tanner Smith from Love on the Spectrum. 

The collaboration began when Grantz stumbled upon the Alivia brand last spring while shopping for something to wear to a special event on their 40-acre campus, where individuals with illnesses, disabilities, and other complex life challenges have the opportunity to “shine.” 

When she realized Alivia worked with creators with disabilities, she tagged the brand in a social media post and reached out to Jovanna. The women connected on FaceTime, and the rest is fashion history. 

“Being a fashion designer is one of my life goals,” said creator Kate Liggitt. “Art and fashion are the two things that make me really happy, and I love to wear anything that makes a statement.”

Alivia’s inclusive womenswear line was launched in 2020 by Mullins and her husband and co-founder, Brandon, following an inspirational volunteer experience at an art therapy program for individuals with disabilities. The couple set out to turn their lightbulb moment into a successful brand and platform that recognizes and celebrates the talent and imagination of people previously unheard in the fashion industry. 

“Our designers work to meticulously transform artwork from the beautiful minds of creators with disabilities into bold prints and embroideries,” Mullins said.  “The collections preserve the integrity of their unparalleled conception while reflecting each artist’s personality, vision, and point of view.”

The fall and holiday collections designed by Kate and Lila have been available at shopalivia.com and in retail stores across the country since last September. 10% of the sale price of every clothing piece designed with art by Kate, Ann, Liz, and Lila goes to support Camp Cole.

“Our mission is about so much more than being a camp,” Grantz said. “We connect people with disabilities, illnesses, and life challenges to experiences they might not otherwise encounter. Alivia is doing something similar, so finding each other led to the perfect collaboration.”

Camp Cole and Alivia plan to take their collaboration forward with an art and fashion summer camp launching this fall.