Young Ideas’ Anne Wright spearheaded the inaugural event, turning St John’s Street into a red-carpet runway
Independent retailers in Ashbourne joined forces to stage the town’s first-ever Big Fashion Day Out, transforming St John’s Street into a festival of fashion, food and live entertainment.
Henmores, Sinfoil & Slater, Betty’s Sewing Box, Sacs, Young Ideas and Chic & Mini Chic took part in the community event, which featured three outdoor fashion shows on a red-carpet runway alongside live music and hospitality. Despite a few rain showers, hundreds of shoppers turned out to support the occasion, organised to showcase Ashbourne’s unique mix of independents and strong community spirit.
The celebration also marked a key milestone in the £15m government-funded Ashbourne Reborn regeneration programme. Taking place the day before St John’s Street officially reopened to traffic following a major renovation, the event showcased the fresh new streetscape and the town’s independent retail offer.
Young Ideas owner Anne Wright, who is also chair of Ashbourne Town Team, led the initiative. She said: “The Big Fashion Day Out was everything we hoped it would be – an uplifting celebration of fashion, community and regeneration. The response has been incredible, and it’s clear there is huge demand for this to become an annual event.”
With its debut success, the Big Fashion Day Out looks set to establish itself as a fixture in Ashbourne’s calendar, cementing the Derbyshire market town as a leading destination for independent retail.