A ‘‘passion for fashion'' helped raise more than $8000 for the Otago Community Hospice in Dunedin last night.
Hospice chief executive Ginny Green said 135 people attended the Darnell 16 Fashion Show at the Golden Centre mall. ‘‘We are really delighted there is an appetite for the fundraiser,'' Ms Green said.
The high-fashion fundraiser featured couture from the Darnell Collection.
Compere Megan Martin, of Dunedin, talked of Australian curator Charlotte Smith's ‘‘passion for fashion''.
In 2004, Ms Smith inherited the collection of vintage clothing and accessories from her godmother, Doris Darnell, a Pennsylvanian Quaker.
The 11 models in the show - including Dunedin personalities Barbara Brinsley, Judith Cullen and Lyn Joseph - displayed about 20 outfits from the collection.
As the models walked among the crowd, Ms Smith told stories about the intricate clothing and the collection of more than 9000 pieces.
Ms Green said the event would raise between $8000 and $9000 for the hospice.
The show was the main social event during Hospice Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday. She hoped people would give generously for the hospice street day appeal today, Ms Green said.
The hospice had to raise $1.9million annually to run the ‘‘essential health service''.
