Fashion in Motion: Where Body Meets Art, and Soul Meets Community

Dance has always felt like the truest artistic expression of the soul… an untamed yet measured outburst of our innate and most intimate instrument – our body. Similarly, fashion feels like the truest artistic expression of the body… a chance to show the world the hues, textures, and lines – framed by the canvas of the human form – that define the timbre of one’s soul. 

So it is no surprise that these colorful forces collide on October 15^th at Santa Barbara’s Art & Soul Gallery where Fashion in Motion, will be held. This collaboration between the New York fashion house Merlette and Move with Purpose – a nonprofit that empowers young people through dance – will merge fashion, photography, and movement into a night of art through bodies, gestures, and communities. 

The event centers on the work of photographer Lily Hahn Shining, whose images capture Move With Purpose dancers wearing Merlette’s fluid silhouettes. These portraits will line the gallery walls, but they’re not static; they’re echoes of the real-time performances unfolding during the evening. Guests will see the same movement and fabric come alive before their eyes, blurring the line between photograph and performance.

In addition to dance and photography, the program includes a live auction with artist Pedro De La Cruz, light bites, cocktails, and the chance to browse Merlette’s collection. A portion of sales from Merlette’s Montecito boutique in October will also benefit Move With Purpose, ensuring the event has a lasting impact. All proceeds from tickets and donations will go directly toward funding youth dance classes in Santa Barbara, expanding access to programs that build confidence and resilience through the arts

A Purpose Within Movement

Move With Purpose Founder Alana Tillim describes dance as a vehicle for empowerment: “This [event] highlights the transformative power of dance in building confidence, resilience, and leadership.” For the young people the organization serves, access to movement isn’t just about technique – it’s a means of identity and belonging.

Merlette’s Founder, Marina Cortbawi, echoes the sentiment from the fashion side: “We believe fashion can be a catalyst for meaningful change.” For her, clothing isn’t only about appearance—it’s about how design can uplift communities and create opportunities

Cozily ensconced inside Art & Soul, these missions resonate even more. The gallery itself is a family collaboration, with mother Kim McIntyre and teenage daughter Bella curating side by side. It’s a daily example of mentorship, creativity, and growth across generations – the same values that Move With Purpose fosters through dance.

The gallery was founded on the idea that art should be approachable, connective, and part of everyday life. Their space doesn’t stop at exhibitions. It hosts workshops, sound baths, yoga classes, and even a podcast studio. The result is a gallery that feels alive… a place where creativity has room to move.

A Montecito Outpost with a New York Flair

Merlette is a New York-based atelier founded in 2016 with a focus on refined shapes, delicate textures, and carefully considered details. The brand creates garments that allow women to feel both elegant and at ease. Each piece is designed with thoughtfulness and thoroughness, from the choice of natural, high-quality fabrics like airy silks, versatile wools, and signature luxurious cottons to the bespoke finishes of embroidery and smocking. 

Merlette has built a reputation for offering timeless pieces that balance beauty with versatility, inviting women to build wardrobes that are both essential and enduring. This is clothing that feels as good as it looks: easy to wear, graceful in motion, and grounded in a philosophy of responsible design. Now with a boutique at The Post in Montecito, Merlette brings its global vision of effortless luxury directly into the heart of the Montecito community.

Between these collaborators, Fashion in Motion promises an unforgettable evening that captures art through bodies that dance and garments that move, remembered forever in the Art & Soul of the audience.  

Fashion in Motion: Move With Purpose x Merlette will take place on October 15 from 6-8 pm at Art & Soul Gallery (1323 State Street). Visit movewithpurposesb.org for more information, tickets, and donations.