"Passion For Fashion" Show Raises Money For Phuket Charity

"Passion for Fashion" show raises money for Phuket charity

A Thai model dressed in one of the many "Nude is Rude" pieces

featured in the fashion show. Photo by Apinun Saithong.

Phuket-based model Kaye Smith. Photo by Apinun Saithong.

PHUKET: -- Over 250 Phuket locals and tourists raised a whopping 250,000 baht for underprivileged children at the Andara Resort & Villa's “Passion for Fashion” charity fashion show in Kamala on Sunday afternoon.

Resort General Manager Andrew Whitaker said the event was a “win, win” for all involved, with 100% of proceeds from all tickets going to a worthy cause.

The “Passion for Fashion” event raised money for children under the care of the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

The foundation provides English-language tuition for over 700 Phuket schoolchildren in Kalim and Kamala.

Foundation Director of Operations Tina Hall said the money raised would help the foundation employ a new full-time teacher for six months.

“The event was fantastic and we would like to thank all those in attendance for their support,” she said.

“We are looking to take on more teachers and volunteers and the money raised from the event will help us hire a new mattayom teacher,” she said.

Guests enjoyed two St Tropez style runway shows as models strutted around the resort’s infinity pool dressed in the “Nude is Rude”collection by Hong Kong-based designer Marisa Zeman.

As many of the models live on Phuket, they were given rapturous applause by family members and friends in the crowd as they put on an impressive modeling performance.

There were also a number of raffle prizes on the day, including a two-night stay at Andara, tickets to Silk restaurant’s October wine dinner, clothing items from the Nude is Rude collection, two trips to northern Thailand as well as a limited edition Marc Chagall print.

Phuket FM Radio DJ Danny O (Dan Ogunshakin) was MC for the event, while DJ Jay “Le shark” Walker was on hand to provide the music, which was broadcast live on air.

“The turnout was fantastic and it’s great to see so many Phuket locals getting together to help a foundation doing great work in the community,” Dan Ogunshakin said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-09-14