NATIONAL: Australian designers, buyers and media intent on attending Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW) next month have been asked to trade in their heels for hard hats.
ANZFW managing director Pieter Stewart has confirmed her organisation has teamed with the Kiwi arm of international charity group Habitat for Humanity to build a home onsite during the September 21 to 25 event.
Spearheaded by high profile Kiwi designer Trelise Cooper, the unique initiative will see leading female fashion designers, buyers and exhibitors team together to build the three bedroom home in just five days.
The home will then be relocated by truck to a deserving family in south Auckland.
The build-a-thon is a first for both organisations with Stewart dubbing it "an extraordinary experience".
"Fashion week is obviously an intense time for our designers and sponsors but the feedback we're getting already is that many of them can't wait to get a hammer in their hand."
The project, involving around 240 women each working half day shifts, will be overseen by qualified builders and tradespeople.
So far at least Australian designers have registered to take part in ANZFW with Queensland label House of Ezis and Western Australian brand United Constructions among them.