Madison, WI – Get ready to embark on a cosmic journey of creativity and literacy at the highly anticipated READ(y) to Wear event! Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 11, at The Sylvee, where the doors open and the excitement begins at 6 p.m.

This year’s electrifying theme, "Out of This World!" invites talented design teams from local businesses, students, artists, and book clubs to blend the realms of space and fashion in a one-of-a-kind paper fashion design competition. As we grapple with the mysteries of the universe and the thrill of exploration, our participants will showcase their brilliant, wearable masterpieces crafted from 90% paper.

READ(y) to Wear promises to dazzle and delight, as community design teams featuring students, artists, and businesses take to the catwalk. This spectacle, reminiscent of the beloved “Project Runway,” will surely amaze attendees with creativity that knows no bounds!

The funds raised during this spectacular event will support our essential free literacy programs for children, families, and educators. We are gearing up for our exciting summer programs beginning next week, as well as the return of our Books for Educators initiative in late August, which will provide over 1,000 educators with updated classroom libraries and vital literacy resources for the school year. 

We’re thrilled to welcome back Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc., and the nationally celebrated drag queen Bianca Lynn Breeze as our engaging emcees and fashion commentators. Our esteemed panel of celebrity judges, consisting of talented artists, designers, and community leaders, will evaluate the 16 design teams and 19 models, culminating in a vote for the coveted Best in Show award!

Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with creativity, community spirit, and the promise to propel our readers and programs to new galactic heights! We can’t wait to see you there! Tickets can be purchased via madisonreadingproject.com.