Here in Portland, we like to throw sexy fundraisers for good causes.

And we think saving wild elephants is definitely worth a party. On Friday, December 10, Portland’s fashion community is joining forces with the conservation community to throw a wild couture fashion show featuring local, eco designers in an effort to save wild African elephants from the illegal ivory trade.

“Conservation, and spreading awareness, for the well being of our planet and the lives on it comes in all forms,” said Jillian Rabe, Fashion Show Producer. “It’s a privilege to be able to join forces with this team and create an avenue for the fashion community to help support the cause.”

Local company Boothster has agreed to host the wild night at their warehouse.

“We value working with creative and socially conscious businesses and utilizing all of our talents to amplify an important issue. Hosting Go Wild was an obvious fit,” said John-Paull Founder and Creative Director of Boothster. “We’re excited that our space gets to be used to promote such a great cause and bring two of Portland’s key communities together for good!”

Poachers are killing elephants for their ivory at a rate of 10 percent per year — that means that in just a few years, wild elephant populations may not exist anymore. So, in January, National Geographic Explorers Andy Maser and Trip Jennings of EP Films, a Portland-based production company, is embarking on a forensic biology expedition to the remote jungle of the Democratic Republic of Congo to help the Center for Conservation Biology complete their elephant DNA map of Africa. The goal: send resources to poaching hot spots and save wild elephants from the illegal ivory trade. Learn more here: http://elephantivoryproject.org/

“It’s shocking to realize that on average 105 elephants are killed by poachers every single day, but it’s not hopeless. In 1989, with a global upwelling of support, the ivory trade was stopped, nearly overnight. We can do that again,” Andy Maser of EP Films said. “And it starts here with us.”

Wild Couture Fashion Show + Party to Benefit Elephant Ivory Project

When: December 10, 2010 – Doors: 8pm, Fashion Show: 9:30pm

Where: Boothster – 521 NE Davis in PDX

If you’re in Portland, we expect to see you tonight. If you can’t make it, don’t worry, you can still donate online to the team here. And we’ll make sure to post a hawt photo gallery on Elephant next week.

Huge thanks to the designers in the fashion show and companies who donated raffle items!

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