Fashion is fast becoming a unifying force in the Bay, weaving vastly different charities together to raise much-needed funds. Natalie Bridges talks to those behind the great cause.
Fashion has always been about empowerment. From the liberated flapper styles of the 1920s, to the man-styles and shoulder pads of the 80s and Madonna's cone bras of the 90s, trends have forever been a vehicle of societal expression and strength.
It's this force that has now brought two very different charities together in the Bay to raise awareness and money for their causes and, by doing so, empowering their benefactors.
Tauranga-based Cambodia Charitable Trust, the Tauranga SPCA and Eva's Attic have opened a boutique-style store at Tauranga's artsy hub, the Cargo Shed, called UP Market.
The store is brimming with trinkets, from sequinned purses to pottery, scarves and colourful handbags. These are all Fair Trade-sourced from communities in Cambodia. On the other side, the visual feast continues with rows of gently used or previous seasons' designer clothing from labels such as Trelise Cooper and Karen Walker, donated by women from around New Zealand and the designers themselves. The store has just taken delivery of a huge box of Trelise Cooper clothing that goes on sale next week.
"It started with the beautiful handbags and silk products that Cambodia excels at producing and we built from there," says Denise Arnold of the Cambodia Charitable Trust. "We want people to become aware of the immense power of their spending dollar. Whether it is with us or elsewhere, people should be making conscious decisions about where the goods they buy come from and about fair trade."
The basic concept for the store was seeded after Denise's first trip to Cambodia in 2007, when the plight of Cambodian children dawned on her and compelled her to take action.
"I had heard about the sale of children in Cambodia and how vulnerable the children were. Trafficking was growing and I wanted to do something on the ground to stop that."
The trust focuses on the educational needs of Cambodian children. Funds are used to get them into school, to provide resources for them, to train teachers, and to help educate communities and the lawyers that assist the children.
"If we keep the children in school, they are safe, and if we educate them, they are less vulnerable to being trafficked or sold," says Denise.
Once back in New Zealand after that first trip, it was clear to Denise that the beautiful products she'd bought directly from the Cambodian people and Fair Trade organisations were unique and had a market in New Zealand. So the Cargo Shed concept was born.
"Fair Trade gives the communities who make the products back some pride," explains Denise. "It is wonderful to reward someone for their efforts rather than simply give them charity. There are also some wonderful programmes in Cambodia that train locals to make goods to sell. If we support them by buying their goods, they can keep giving people skills and show them how to support their families."
But it was the involvement of Eva's Attic, a fashion charity store concept founded in Wellington by high-profile businesswoman Theresa Gattung, that brought all the threads together.
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From left: Maree Brookes, Denise Arnold, and Hannah Cobb with puppy, Tory, at the Cargo Shed.
"Theresa is the patron of the Cambodia Charitable Trust. The Eva's Attic concept is one where a store selling donated designer clothes is staffed by volunteers and those volunteers share in the proceeds. The volunteers represent the charities they wish to support.
"In Wellington, Eva's Attic supports SPCA, among other charities. We decided SPCA Tauranga was a great choice to partner with."
Fashion through Eva's Attic has made the SPCA and Cambodia Charitable Trust partnership a match made in heaven, says secretary of the Tauranga SPCA, Maree Brookes.
"Children, animals and fashion-what Tauranga girl doesn't want to be seen wearing some gorgeous outfit that she managed to get at an affordable price? It's the fashion that has brought all this together and makes it a win-win."
The money raised at the store is divided between the SPCA and the Cambodia Charitable Trust according to volunteer hours.
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The SPCA receives no government funding, so it relies totally on fundraising to provide for the protection, rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of animals.
"Many people in Tauranga want to help the SPCA, but many just can't help at the shelter," says Maree. "So this is a fantastic opportunity to give their time to the SPCA by volunteering at the store, or buying from it, and thereby helping the SPCA animals find their forever homes."
But, if nothing else, it is also through fashion and the Cambodian products that awareness of the two charities is raised.
"Every time somebody shops with us, they will find out how the SPCA is run, the fact that there is no government assistance and that every dollar we spend we need to raise." Anita Timms, chair of the Tauranga SPCA, agrees.
"The Tauranga SPCA already has a high profile, partly because we have had some very public cases of animal neglect in the area, which is unfortunate. As a charity, we need to be resourceful in the way that we operate and make sure that we can make ends meet," she says.
"Last year we calculated that we benefited from at least $250,000 of volunteer hours - that is work done that we did not require paid staff to complete, such as volunteers at the shelter, volunteer committee, volunteer collectors and the list goes on. But there are fixed costs associated with the shelter and we need to fund those. This store will contribute to covering those costs."
On the Cambodia Charitable Trust side, the money goes back to Cambodia to send children to school. As well as funding the eight schools and a teacher-training college run by the trust, school uniforms, stationery and library books are bought. A uniform costs around $10 and stationery for a year about $4. The trust is also involved in social development programmes in Cambodia to indirectly help families earn an income and learn valuable skills for life.
By buying and selling Fair Trade goods, a long-term purpose is being served too, says Denise.
"We want people to think about what good their purchasing can achieve. It takes very little to make a big difference in Cambodia and we can help people make that difference.
"And a girl can always do what she enjoys while doing something worthy."