London designer saves ladies' dayTop international designer Vivienne Westwood was so moved by a KwaZulu-Natal women's upliftment project that she has put her name behind it. She even threw in a few gowns, shoes and bags for the women. The Tapestry of Dreams non-profit project is run by Heather Costaras and Roz Thomas. It has assisted 10 women from Khethani township, in the Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, “who were making a difference in their community, to start their own businesses”, Costaras said. She told The Times that, thanks to sponsorship by ChemCity, a Sasol Group company, the women are now running successful bakery, greeting cards and candle- and soap-making businesses. This weekend, 21 November 2009, the women will travel to Johannesburg where they will attend a gala dinner and be “treated like queens”. They will stay at a luxury hotel, have their make-up and hair done, and receive a R2500 wardrobe from retailer Foschini. They will be kitted out by South African designers, including Simon Rademan. One lucky woman, Sebenzile Kubheka, will wear an exquisite off-white Vivienne Westwood gown. Costaras approached several South African and international designers to dress the women for the evening. Westwood contacted Costaras, asking for more information, before offering to become a sponsor and patron of the initiative. In a video to be shown at the gala dinner, the London designer said: “Hello, I'm Vivienne Westwood. My heart goes out to you in your battle against HIV/Aids. “I think that Sebenzile is going to look lovely in the dress that I sent. I want everybody to bid as much money as they can for the [other] dresses I sent [which will be auctioned], because fashion is here to help! Lots of love, Vivienne.” Kubheka is a caregiver at the Isibani community centre, one of the beneficiaries of the project. “I am so excited about this dress, it makes me feel proud [to have been selected to wear it],” she told The Times yesterday. “It is going to be my first time in Johannesburg and my first time staying in a hotel. I am looking forward to being there,” she said.
Source: The Times Published courtesy of |