KingGee gets to work post-cyclone

QUEENSLAND: Workwear giant KingGee has extended a helping hand following the devastation wreaked on the town of Innisfail when Cyclone Larry hit last month.
KingGee marketing manager Lily Lee said the company supplied 240 units of its recently launched "workcool" shirting to 120 volunteer tradespeople - dubbed "Rays of Hope" - flown in gratis by Qantas to rebuild the town as part of Channel Seven's Operation Sunrise.
"We were watching [Channel Seven breakfast show] Sunrise and they were saying how volunteers had been calling up to offer their help, when we realised this was a great opportunity to help out.
"The workcool shirts are made of specially constructed 100 per cent cotton fabric which is very breathable and is also high visibility. They also have breathable vents under the arms and across the back, which are the areas of the body most susceptible to hot conditions," she said.
KingGee had also donated around 400 units of garments and safety footwear for use by Cyclone Larry survivors, with local workwear retailer Totally Workwear - a key KingGee client - taking on the role of a temporary depot for distributing the clothing.
"The donated clothing includes tees, pants, shirts and footwear as well as short sleeved shirts for the ladies," Lee said.
The category five cyclone flattened sugar and banana plantations, flooded streets and tore rooves off homes, displacing around 7000 people when it hit Innisfail on March 19.
As one of the stable of brands owned by apparel giant Pacific Brands, it was hoped KingGee would lead the way in encouraging other labels in the group to donate clothing to the storm's survivors, Lee said.
"When you think of some of the labels [owned by Pacific Brands] they include Bonds, Berlei and Holeproof, basically the everyday essentials of clothing that everyone needs."