DRESSED IN CONFIDENCE FASHION SHOW & FUNDRAISER
Pasifika & Maori women from around Auckland gathered at the Manurewa Netball Courts on Saturday for a night of Fashion, Food & Fundraising. It was all in aid of the "Dressed in Confidence Wellness Centre" for vulnerable woman and children which is to be established in South Auckland in 2020.
The Dressed in Confidence Fashion show's theme was 'Woman of Worth' and celebrated Pacific and Maori Woman in leadership roles with many of the models being leaders in the community including government dignitaries, National MP Agnes Loheni, Labour MP Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, Auckland Councillor Josephine Bartley and Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Chair Lotu Fuli.
Along with the fashion show & catwalk the audiece was also introduced to Eco fashion by the show creator Nora Swann, who demonstrated how to mix and match clothing to create a sustainable wardrobe and demonstrated ideas on how to create new looks.
"This isn't the first time I've done live up-styling, I used to be part of NZ Eco Fashion Week in Wellington, 7 years ago - so I sat on that committee and I ran a similar set-up.
I didn't have the whole shebang with the wardrobe and I thought 'next time I run it, I'm gna go hardout with the full setting so people understand that you're actually in someones wardrobe and then you walk the runway'. It's nice to bring it back to life." Nora said
The show included a sit down dinner, entertainment from dance group M'Brace and Radio 531PI Breakfast host Brian Sagala on MC duties throughout the night.
Clothes modelled on the night were a mixture of the models wardrobe, Nora's styling wardrobe as well as pieces from a clothes swap. "2 months ago I had a clothes swap & fundraiser for this - for Dressed in Confidence and it was people just bringing clothes from their own wardrobes and swapping. Whatever was left over I took because I'll put it in the wellness centre and bring it to life (there'll be a 2nd hand store in there) So we've got pieces from the clothes swap on the runway as well." Nora explained.
All funds raised from the show will go to the Wellness Centre which will open in South Auckland next year. Nora has currently been running "Dressed in Confidence" a wellness programme in schools with girls from the ages of 8 - 18yrs of age. It's teaching girls self love and self worth with fashion as the medium and now she wants to expand the programme into her community.
What I'm wanting to do now is reach my community, my wider community and work with vulnerable women and children within South Auckland so it's not only going to be a Wellness Centre but it's going to be Wellness and Employment Readiness. There's going to be a 2nd hand store in there so they can have clothes to basically create a 'New You' knowing that you feel good on the inside and you've got the clothes to suit on the outside.
