WEST STOCKBRIDGE, MA (April 8, 2019) – The Berkshires’ premier annual pop-up clothing sale and fundraiser, BerkChique!, returns for its 8th consecutive year on the weekend of Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19. The much-anticipated pop-up will be held at the West Stockbridge Historical Society, located at 9 Main Street, West Stockbridge, MA.
Since its inception in 2012, BerkChique! has donated more than $180,000 to support local nonprofits. This year the sale is being presented by and in support of WAM Theatre and its programs, with additional donations going to the Berkshire Humane Society, Community Access to the Arts, and IS183 Art School of the Berkshires.
The annual event features new and gently-used clothing and accessories in a variety of sizes, including casual and formal tops, dresses, sweaters, blazers, coats, slacks, and jeans collected from some of the most fashionable closets in the Berkshires -– all at amazing prices. In addition, Vicki Bonnington will again be bringing many hard-to-find and one-of-a-kind designer pieces that you will not see anywhere else.
The sale kicks-off on Friday, May 17 with a First Dibs Shopping Party. Those holding $100 VIP tickets get “first dibs” at the racks from 5:30-8:30pm. From 6:30-8:30pm, $25 ticket holders can join in the fun. The Friday First Dibs Shopping Party features hors d’oeuvres compliments of The Red Lion Inn and goodie bags with treats from Blue Q, Iredale Cosmetics and more. All tickets may be purchased online HERE or at the door.
The weekend event will continue with FREE admission for all shoppers on Saturday, May 18 from 10am-4pm and Sunday, May 19 from 10am-2pm.
Vicki Bonnington is the BerkChique! 2019 Event Chair and has been involved with the event since the very first BerkChique! in 2012. “BerkChique! 2019 will be our eighth event – I can hardly believe it! Every year we get a little bit bigger and a little bit better — and this year will be no exception,” said Vicki. “My motto is, ‘if you come to BerkChique, I promise you will go home with a treasure’, and it has been proven to be true. Everywhere I go, someone tells me about that one great skirt or that fantastic pair of shoes or that one-of-a-kind necklace they bought at BerkChique. Come and check it out — you will not be disappointed!”
This year, we are also excited to again have the generous support of Lead Sponsor Annie Selke.
At the close of the sale, unsold items will be donated to the Berkshire Humane Society’s Catwalk Boutique, Shakespeare & Company, The Soldier On Women’s Program, Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, Inc., and Suit YourSelf – a program of Goodwill Berkshires that provides free workplace attire to promote and support residents of Berkshire County and the surrounding area who are entering the workforce.
“WAM Theatre is delighted to be the host of BerkChique! again this year,” said Kristen van Ginhoven, Artistic Director of WAM Theatre. “It was so much fun last year and so many of our ‘WAMily’ members became avid BerkChique! shoppers. They all hoped we would do it again. We are excited that WAM’s mission of creating opportunity for women and girls is such a nice fit for BerkChique!. ”
BerkChique!’s Vicki Bonnington has long been a supporter of WAM Theatre, and Vicki has personally been a source of fashion inspiration for WAM Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven. It seemed a natural fit for WAM Theatre to join with Vicki to put on the 2018 BerkChique! event. Through this new partnership, the 2018 fashion fundraiser broke all previous records for attendance, clothing donations, and sales.
Purchasers of $100 VIP tickets will enjoy ‘first dibs’ access to all clothing and accessories and a fun shopping experience on Friday starting at 5:30pm. General admission tickets for Friday evening starting at 6:30-8:30 pm are $25 or two for $40. All tickets may be purchased online HERE or at the door.
2019 BerkChique! SPONSORS
BerkChique! is made possible with the generous Lead Sponsorship of Annie Selke, as well as the support of in-kind sponsors including Blue Q, Vicki Bonnington, Iredale Cosmetics, Ogden Gigli Photography, Soldier On, and The Red Lion Inn.
ABOUT BerkChique!
Founded by Nancy Fitzpatrick in 2012, BerkChique! is a fun way for donors to clean out closets in support of local non-profits. Since its inception, BerkChique! has donated over $180,000 to support local nonprofits. Everything at BerkChique! is high quality, and either new or gently used. BerkChique! is proud to provide unique yet comfortable fashions and everyday wear for any event from the casual to the formal. For those who are interested in donating new or gently-used women’s and/or men’s clothing and accessories, please contact Event Coordinator Rebecca Weinman at rebecca.weinman@gmail.com.
For more information about BerkChique!, please visit BerkChique.com.
ABOUT WAM THEATRE
Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary of being a place Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as Philanthropy.
Inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls.
Since 2010, WAM Theatre has provided paid work to more than 200 theatre artists and donated more than $56,500 to fifteen local and global organizations taking action for women and girls in areas such as girls education, teen pregnancy prevention, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training and more. In addition to the main stage productions and special events, WAM Theatre’s activities include a comprehensive educational outreach program and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. For more information, visit www.WAMTheatre.com.