The angels wear Prada
During the middle of last week, I gave up flagging industry emails which related to the Queensland flood disaster.
It’s not because I was disinterested in what was happening to our neighbours up north – nor the efforts been made to raise funds for their relief – but because I literally found a red flag perched next to one in ten emails.
Regular readers will know I am not the sentimental type - but the reason behind my blotched inbox was well, sentimentalising.
Never before have I seen the industry band together in support of cause quite like this.
I intended to write updates on sector donations here and there - which we did on www.ragtrader.com.au - but this soon turned into something altogether greater.
Chain retailers, independent boutiques, design houses, fashion agencies, wholesalers, PR firms, event organisers and many more sub- sectors came forward with a pledge to raise funds for the embattled state. Fundraising galas in particular were hard to keep track of, with one recording a rise of $70,000 in donated products over just a few days.
Dubbed ‘Sydney Hearts Queensland’, the charity event was organised by fashion public relations guru Sara Bray and Westfield stylist and menswear designer Donny Galella.
For a $100 donation, guests could go in the running to win $80k worth of prizes from the likes of Alex Perry, Charlie Brown, Moet, Blackberry and Samantha Wills. Event sponsors covered the cost of drinks, live entertainment and canapes at the function, which took place earlier this week.
Those who follow our regular news updates on www.ragtrader.com.au will also be aware of another fundraising initiative by fashion event organiser Lara Karamian.
In addition to working behind the scenes at department store David Jones, Karamian is Rosemount Australian Fashion Week regular.
She pooled together all of her designer contacts to organise an official Australian Designer Auction on ebay.com.au.
As for the large scale retailers and boutiques? There are too many to name here, but among the first to jump onboard with generous donations were Witchery, Mimco, Jeanswest and Cotton On.
The former three donated net profits from a selected day of trade, while the latter pledged to raise $1,000,000 for flood victims through sales proceeds and donations from consumers both in-store and online.
Just now, I’ve received an email from a 20 year old entreprenuer donating $40,000 worth of underwear to the cause.
I’m sure there will be many more emails begging for a red flag by the time this edition hits news stands.
One recorded a rise of $70,000 in donated product over just a few days.