Women's Refuge Whanganui pop-up shop and fashion show to raise funds

Clothing by international fashion designer Karen Walker will be among items up for grabs at Women's Refuge Whanganui's latest pop-up shop.

The shop will be open for three weeks from Saturday, March 17, until Saturday, April 7, in the former Shanton shop at 52 Victoria Avenue.

The project, named Charity CHEST, will be launched at 6pm on Friday, March 16, with a fashion show hosted by fashion stylist and model agency owner Carla Jayne Smith who is on the Women's Refuge Whanganui board.

"Local talent agency Embrace Model Management will showcase donated items with a fashion parade," Ms Smith said.

"International speaker and founder of the Bridge The Gap Project Amanda Betts will be there on the night to speak to our guests and offer some styling tips. We have local DJ Madalyn Newton playing music for the evening. It will be a relaxed and fun night."

The Charity CHEST pop-up shop opens for business on Saturday, March 17, and will then operate between 10am and 4.30pm Monday to Saturday. It is the third fundraising pop-up shop the refuge has run.

"We have a range of new and pre-loved items for sale, ranging from work-wear through to formal with a broad range of sizes with new arrivals daily," Ms Smith said.

Shoppers who spend more than $50 will go into a daily draw to win a mystery prize. In addition, one person each day will win a complimentary coffee from Mint Cafe.

"Sponsorship and support for this event locally and abroad has been incredible," Ms Smith said.

"International fashion designer Karen Walker, clothing giant Cotton On, New Zealand Commercial Pilot Academy, Unique Whanganui River Experience have all jumped on board. The store is run by volunteers and they are all very excited.

"Women's Refuge Whanganui desperately needs to stay effective in our community. Increasing client numbers and increasingly complex client needs, together with government funding simply not keeping up with the growing demand for these services, means your support would be invaluable.

"Women's Refuge Whanganui is funded for 49 police incident reports per year, yet we dealt with 47 over a five-day period during the holiday season and around 1500 in a year on average."

Follow Charity CHEST on Facebook at www.facebook.com/womensrefugewhanganui/