Sunderland businesswoman launches search for swimwear and festival wear model for Ibiza-inspired range

When Karen Seafield, from Sunderland, began holidaying in Ibiza, she fell in love with what she calls the free spirit, music and vibrant colours of the island.

Unable to visit during lockdown, she used the time to build her Ibiza Festwear business, a new swimwear and festival wear brand. Now, she’s hosting a casting session for a model to become the face of the brand.

Karen has chosen Sunderland’s The Red Sky Foundation as the brand’s charity to support, to help its work raising money and awareness for cardiac care for patients.

Karen said: “The new brand will cater for everyone no matter age and size. Next month I will be launching a plus size collection, as I didn’t want to be known as a brand with the usual thin models.

“I understand the pressure from social media can have a detrimental effect on people’s mental health. This will show the diversity and inclusivity of my brand.”

Karen has teamed up with The Purple Peacock bar in Newcastle, where the event will be held at 7pm on August 19.

The casting will have three stages and models will need to pay a fee of £10 to get involved.

The event will consist of a panel of three judges who will whittle down the contestants, who need to pre-register at www.ibizafestwear.co.uk

Sergio Petrucci, founder of Red Sky Foundation: “We’re delighted to be a part of Ibiza Festwear set up given the huge response to their campaign which will be launching very soon at the newly-refurbished Purple Peacock.

"The funds raised for the Red Sky Foundation will continue to make a huge difference to providing coronary care at the region’s hospitals for babies and the foundation will be able to continue with our community defibrillator project which is saving lives across the North East.”

Kyrie Geach, sales and events manager at The Purple Peacock, said: “The Purple Peacock is vibrant, fun and the ideal venue to the host this amazing event. The fashion line is fantastic with a great team behind it.”

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