Raw Couture Brings Unique Event to Rapid City

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Lights, models, and raw materials. A fun trendy night perfect for a date with your significant other. Raw Couture kicked off its third annual event with over 400 people in the audience, 13 models, and 3 judges in "Forgotten Toys." Evergreen Media does an amazing job throwing the event. Each year is a little different, but it is always extremely entertaining. The benefits and proceeds from the ticket sales goes to a benefactor; the 2019 benefactor was Feeding South Dakota.

Before the show began, the audience was invited to join in a cocktail and formal hour with bar access, fun forgotten toys - the main attraction was a homemade Operation game from Regional Health - Caricatures by Alyssa, and music by high school harpist Joelle Simpson.

The emcee for the event, Travis Cummings, kept the show going as well. He really interacted with the audience and did a spectacular job keeping the interest for results up.

Cummings is originally from New Orleans, and for the past two years he's been bringing the area top news and stories as a weekend anchor for Black Hills FOX and KOTA Territory News. Events like Raw Couture are important to him because they reflect a strong sense of community; when he's not on air, Cummings can be found hosting or steering the Black Hills Party Pedaler if he's not traveling or spending time with family.

Participating companies had only one rule - create a costume using the raw materials in your office based on a theme. Materials this year ranged from patient gowns, wire framing, cardboard, hard drives and more. The participating companies really went above and beyond this year creating fun engaging costumes that drove the audience wild.

• Regional Health | Jewels-in-a-Box: Barf bag, patient gown, blood pressure cuff

• Live it Up Studio | Anabellita: Feathers, tulle, silk

• Black Hills Energy | Lite Brite Shines Tonight: Copper, PVC, wire framing, electric pole label

• Spore Creative | The Kids are Alright: Billboard vinyl, magazine advertisements, computer parts

• Vast Broadband | Pixel Punk: Wires, coupling, service flags, brochures, router box

• HomeSlice Group & Hot 93.1 | Bean E. DeVil: Beanie Babies, CDs, banner wrap, guitar picks

• Feeding South Dakota | Strawbella Shortcake: Fruit netting, strawberry icing, marshmallows

• Rapid City Medical Center | Nurse Ratchedy Ann: Eye patch, towels, patient gown

• Denny Menholt Auto Group | Go-GO G.I. Joe: Ratchet, patches, tech uniform

• Evergreen Media | Everbot: Magazines, cardboard, hard drives, wires, lighting gels

• Rapid City Arts Council (Dahl) | Cirque d'Oubliette: Aluminum cans and pull tabs, tablecloth, napkins, black foam matting

• Mystique Edge | Rainbow's Toybox: Pedicure flip-flops, hair processing foil, product boxes and caps, sauna wood, hair cape, facial sponge, cotton, hair extensions, facial bed sheet, nail gems and glitter, acrylic nails

At the end of the show, the judges were given time to decide, but the entertainment continued. Judges exited the stage, and Live it Up Studio performed a beautiful lively light-painting show that awed the audience. Full of twists, turns, and glamour, they did a phenomenal job.

Here are just a few of the images from the event.

Check out the video that Wise Dragon Films produced from this year's event.