CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJBF) — A creative collaboration is bringing international inspiration to Charlotte.
Inclusion Fest producer Kelly Melerine is running the event, while local designer Melanie Caballero connected with organizers in Ukraine, helped select the winning sketches, and turned them into finished pieces for the runway. Local designers Larissa and Felicia Melville will also showcase a piece in the show.
The project started in 2020 when Ukrainian organizers sent sketches for a children’s competition. After 2022, during the war, the competition expanded for children, which is when Melanie Caballero became more involved.
The dresses are based on Ukrainian children’s sketches. Some pieces feature the Melvilles’ Unstoppable line, designed to help kids feel seen and confident.
The sho