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BC Fashion Week Cancelled: Crime Scene and Credit Card Fraud

by Blaine Metzgar | October 2, 2009 at 05:19 pm

1299 views | 20 Recommendations | 9 comments

BC Fashion Week has been cancelled and rumor has it that credit card fraud may be involved. Although no major media outlets have picked up the story, Vancouver's Twitter scene is abuzz with chatter surrounding the #BCFW incident. Tweets started to pop up around 4 p.m. PST about police being on the scene of BC Fashion Week and local designers being ripped off.

Former NowPublic style editor and Vancouver fashion blogger Terri Potratz retweeted some information on exactly what was going on saying,

RT @granvillemag:#BCFW closed, police on scene, @604Socialist says its credit card fraud! defrauding already-broke local designers.

Twitter users are still trying to get some legitimate information but thus far all that there is to go off of is straight from the community.

Police shut down #BCFW "ppl in tears" no runway, stage is bare, everyone milling around not knowing what to do

BC Fashion week started tweeting again with no mention of the apparent credit card fraud as some shows are still scheduled to run. But the organization can't play the whole ignorance is bliss game as within four minutes of sending out their latest tweet the community responded, and they wanted answers.

@BCFashionWeek noticed u guys r actively tweeting as of 4 mins ago but seem to be pretending this isnt happening. pls provide a statement!

Models from local agencies have pulled their models from the remainder of the shows and designers have already reported that they have been scammed out of $600.

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Ruth Wilson (not verified)

at 18:20 on October 2nd, 2009

I find it interesting that someone showed up with media in tow in the middle of a show and starting taking down the backdrop!!! Totally classless and hurts so many people - designers, people watching and the models backstage. It was also dangerous. If you have a valid beef fine, then do it professionally. Show up a the start of the day before the shows and don't bother with the media. You can release a statment.

Alex Pina (not verified)

at 08:56 on October 3rd, 2009

I totally agree with you Ruth,They are so desperate to sabotage BCFW shows that they couldn't wait 2 minutes to get their old equipment!!!Further more how can a police officer allow construction man to do it while teenagers are getting changed? how can a police officer standing right there let that happen? I guess some police you can still pay for? lolInteresting to see how the police was quick in making a call on what should take place!I guess when you have 3 black people running the show and a white construction company involved you should not except anything less really!?!!I mean, how quick do they show up on gunfire or car accident or a child being abused by their parents incident? yet on fashion show they were there on a hurry! One cop made one call and from that call determined that the company had the right to tear it down!Shouldn't cops only really interfere with a court order? Yet they decided to take the law in their own hands!!! 6 cops showed up!!! I am amazed that in a city that is run by every other race but Canadians there is still racism!!!I am happy to hear that BCFW is taking the Police and the Construction company to court!Well if you are into fashion, enjoy great people and love watching models doing their thing, join us today at the Chinese Cultural Center 11AM, 2PM, 5PM and 8PM and the after party at Circa Lounge for some food and mingling! the party will last till later at Tunnel Multi Lounge. Thank you for reading. Alex PinaAlso would like to thank all the models, volunteers and back stage crew for their unconditional support.

AmandaW (not verified)

at 09:14 on October 3rd, 2009

Interesting or not, I doubt that the decision was to 'show up' in the middle of a show in order to humiliate the designer(s). If someone used my credit card for fraudulent purposes, I'm shutting it down when I find it, show or no show. Granted, the media could have been left out, but my understanding is that someone who is directly involved with the show (not with the organization itself) had their credit card information stolen and used for the purpose of putting on those shows. Period. Maybe you should look a little deeper into the facts before you go posting "totally classless" comments.

ColleenC (not verified)

at 23:54 on October 2nd, 2009

@Ruth, I beg to differ. As an ex-PR person, had I been with the production company who allegedly showed up to tear down the stage, I absolutely would have brought the media - any and all who were interested - with me. This appears to have gone beyond a "beef" and isn't "dangerous" by any stretch of the imagination. No one could be physically damaged when an experienced crew tore down the stage. Statements aren't effective in situations such as this.

Alex Pina (not verified)

at 08:30 on October 3rd, 2009

Funny how, at the open gala most media decided to not attend and as soon as a nobody calls the media with a rumor they all decito criticize instead of supporting!Yesterday's event took place due to lack of heart, consideration and business etiquette end of!!!The production company that is now been sued by BCFW could have called, text and or even just show up and talk to fix whatever issues they had. Instead knowing the show times they decided to show up with the police that are also now being sued by BCFW to tear the place down during the fashion show!Where I am from this is called heartless and cold! This is to show that unless Vancouver comes together a whole and open their eyes to the much bigger picture, besides it's beauty, will never be joining bigger cities such as London, Paris, New York.With some girls changing back stage and BCFW staff begging the police to ask them to wait, the production company could'nt wait to use this opportunity to look at naked models getting changed, BCFW sponsor even offered to pay them to stop the tear down and they refused to accept. Their only goal was to sabotage BCFW! "... at this point I do not want any money, just the my equipment..." said the many behind the production company.You may ask why, and I tell you why. They have no principles and that is why BCFW canceled their contract for next season and that is why they sabotaged the show!BCFW team has shown face by finishing the show with FRANCIS HENDY Man's and Woman's collection! Great show!!!The models and back stage team stood by BCFW and delivered a great show!Today, Saturday October 3rd, BCFW will show the city how show business is done!

AmandaW (not verified)

at 09:28 on October 3rd, 2009

Oh God..."Instead knowing the show times they decided to show up with the police..." That's hilarious. Seriously...do you think they cared about the show times?? Do you honestly think that the VPD had a meeting that morning, in which they included the BCFW show schedule, and decided that it would be to their best advantage to 'show up' in the middle of a show (God knows whose it was, and I'm sure VPD doesn't know or care), merely for the sake of humiliating the designer? Maybe this is part of the problem. Some of you Vancouver 'business people' aren't considering where this shit storm started. SOMEONE USED SOMEONE ELSE'S CREDIT CARD FRAUDULENTLY within the context of BCFW. Why don't you hop off of the VPD, and the poor bastard(s) who's cards were used (without their consent mind u), and focus on where this shit started?? How about, "Who the hell is stupid enough to use someone else's credit card without their permission in the first place??" You want to be on par with London, Paris, even Toronto (for God's sake), get a grip. Seriously? How about you put your energy into knowing what DID happen, and taking steps to make sure that this shit doesn't happen again? Hmmm?