Walk the walk: Bra-vo for fun night in aid of cancer charity

It’s not the sort of thing you expect to see in one of Knightsbridge’s venerable museums.

But specially-created bras were showcased for one night only at Walking Works of Art, a unique show at London’s famous V&A Museum.

A selection of incredible one-off bras created by some of the UK’s most renowned designers including Dame Zandra Rhodes, Julien Macdonald, Bruce Oldfield, Jeff Banks and Jimmy Choo graced the catwalk.

The stylish occasion marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month and highlighted the achievements of grant-making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk over the past 23 years.

Walk the Walk’s unique trademark is the decorated bra. It is thanks to walkers wearing elaborate creations as they take part in the charity’s famous midnight MoonWalks that almost £133 million has been raised to help fight breast cancer.

Since it was founded in 1996, Walk the Walk has been expanding its collection of bras, created and signed by a vast array of talented and leading designers, sculptors, celebrities and personalities, each one with a unique and very personal interpretation.

Fashion designer Patrick McDowell, just 23, graduated last year from Central Saint Martins, presenting his most recent collection at London Fashion Week 2019.

He created one of the incredible bras being showcased at the V&A and says: “My work is so closely linked to my family and where I come from, and part of my family story involves losing loved ones to cancer.

“Using upcycled Swarovski crystal and Burberry dead-stock fabrics, I hope this piece can draw attention, support Walk the Walk and help raise money and awareness for their amazing work.”

Nina Barough, founder of Walk the Walk, adds: “Walk the Walk is a charity of many different sides and faces and it was a pleasure to be able to exhibit some of our fabulous bras at the V&A.

“The bras are synonymous with Walk the Walk – it’s our trademark and it’s not often that we get the chance to show the collection we’ve had created by a real raft of people.

“It was wonderful to have such a lovely crew of make-up artists and models, stylists and choreographers all donating their time, because it meant something to them.

“But it was also fantastic for us to hold a very different event to our usual marathons and I think that surprised a lot of people.

“We called our exhibition Walking Works of Art but the whole day was a work of art, just by the sheer bringing together of people who didn’t know each other.

“Their skills and combined energy were incredible, I don’t think it gets better than that.”

TV and radio presenter Gaby Roslin hosted this very special event, having supported the charity for a number of years and most recently taking part in The MoonWalk London 2019.

Gaby says: “The reason I was there was that, number one, I love Nina! Number two I love walking!

“I’ve also lost too many friends to breast cancer, one very recently and more of them are fighting.

“That’s why I was delighted to host this fantastic event and why I will always support Walk the Walk.”

Walk the Walk makes grants to fund both research into breast cancer and to help improve the lives of those living with cancer now.

For more information visit www.walkthewalk.org