Fashion and philanthropy - a perfect match

Gus and Irene Fisher have won the fifth annual Arts Foundation award for patronage.

Mr Fisher, pioneering head of the House of El Jay fashion label for 50 years, and his wife have made significant donations to a number of organisations including drug and alcohol programmes and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The award was presented last night at the Gus Fisher Art Gallery, which the couple founded.

The ceremony also included a catwalk show of a House of El Jay outfit modelled by Dianne Boles, who modelled an earlier version of the garment on its original release in 1980.

The award gives the Fishers $20,000 - and they contribute another $20,000 - for artists of their choosing.

- NZ HERALD STAFF