On Friday 29 August, more than 100 women came together at Bondi Pavilion to toast a milestone - five years of Fashion Forward. With coffee, champagne, and a pop-up shop filled with preloved designer fashion, it was a celebration of what a community can achieve when it rallies around a simple but powerful idea: fashion with purpose. Generous event sponsors also provided beautiful photography, printing and gifts for goodie bags.
Guests didn’t just attend, they contributed. Each guest was invited to bring along one or two preloved designer pieces to be sold on the day, adding to racks already filled with new donations from Anna Quan, Carla Zampatti, Manning Cartell, Luxe De Valentina, and Arms of Eve jewellery. Nothing cost more than $50, making it a treasure trove of affordable, sustainable style. The afternoon finished with a live auction - a Chanel pouch worth $2,500 generously donated by Trading in Style - before the real fun began: shopping.
Five Years, Measured in Impact
Since its inception, Fashion Forward has:
- Raised $841,399 for women and children in crisis from all walks of life, regardless of religion, culture or background
- Saved 18,905 quality items of clothing from landfill
- Provided accommodation, food, clothes and mental health support to 1,306 women and children
As co-founder Sharon Aaron told the audience, “Fashion Forward started out as a tiny idea - collecting 1000 pieces and selling them for $35 each as a one-off project 5 years ago” that has now evolved into “a volunteer-run, values-driven, social enterprise. We are re-inventing our wardrobes with impactful, sustainable shopping. We are changing lives as we change our own.”
Her co-founder, Nicole Katz, reflected on the journey: “We are a safe space, where women gather to not only share clothes, but to share lives and stories…Fashion Forward is a gift, a gift to the planet, a gift to women and children in crisis and even a gift to our buyers.”
Every rack filled and every dollar raised is a reflection of the women who donate their time, the shoppers who line up for every week, and the volunteers who keep the store running. Fashion Forward has always been more than an initiative; it’s a community movement.
Stories That Stay With Us
In a time when one in four women experience violence from an intimate partner, initiatives like Fashion Forward are more than fundraising, they are lifelines, ensuring that women and children from all walks of life, regardless of religion, culture or background can access safety, stability, and a future free from harm.
The event also heard from guest speakers who gave a face and voice to the cause. Socialite-turned-advocate Glen-Marie Frost shared her own experience of homelessness, dressed in a Carla Zampatti blazer and faux leather pants sourced from Fashion Forward the day before. For her, the piece was not just fashion, but a personal connection to a close friend she had lost.
Rosana Coelho spoke of the devastating impact of domestic violence; a leading driver of homelessness for women and children. She detailed how Jewish House offers wraparound support, from safe housing to food, uniforms, and mental health care. “Fashion Forward has been part of this journey,” she said, “helping women move from crisis to stability to independence.”
More Than Clothes, More Than a Store
What makes Fashion Forward unique is its zero-cost, all-volunteer model. Every dollar raised goes directly into Jewish House services, funding essentials like safe accommodation, counselling, and food. Sharon said “We are proving what’s possible when a community rallies together with generosity and heart,” and “We are setting an example for our children, for our friends, for the world. Fashion - Reinvented.”
Nicole added, “In a world where communities are disjointed and alienated, we have found friends, in a community that doesn’t discriminate and turns fun into impact.”
Looking Ahead
The anniversary event was more than a celebration; it was a statement of intent.
Fashion Forward’s mission to merge sustainability with social impact remains stronger than ever, with the next five years promising to be just as powerful as the first.
The organisation extended its gratitude to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, or shared its story. Fashion Forward continues to thrive thanks to the support of its community.
Supporters can visit the Bondi store, follow on Instagram, or contribute preloved designer fashion to help build a future where style changes lives.
Store opening hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, 12:30 – 3:30 PM, 1/1–7 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach.
