Overwhelming support for Dress for Success

To say the Flair Magazine's Dress for Success '100 Suits for Christmas' drive was a success is an understatement. The appeal was made on behalf of the non-profit organisation last December, and women from corporate Jamaica responded beyond belief. Groups like the Marcia Erskine-led Women's Leadership Initiative and the entire National Commercial Bank family, through the efforts of 2010 Flair Bachelorette, Misha Haye, donated well over 100 items of clothing collectively.

Last Friday, Lifestyle Editor Barbara Ellington visited the store donated by the HEART Trust/National Training Agency School of Cosmetology to officially hand over the suits. Also present for the handover were Novelette Denton-Prince, manager of the HEART Trust/National Training Agency School of Cosmetology; Yulit Gordon, who handles public relations for Dress for Success and Cheryl Gray, a member of the organisation.

Gordon said the next steps for them is to get some fund-raising activities under way to offset costs to properly outfit the boutique and to start the other programmes. "These include establishing a professional women's group that will cover areas such as mentorship, money, stress management and conflict resolution."

Cheryl Gray pointed to the need for bigger space as a result of the overwhelming support for the 100 Suit drive. Other immediate requirements of Dress For Success are office equipment, fixtures and fittings for the store and some possible locations in Mandeville and Montego Bay that can be drop-off points for donations.

To support these initiatives, a Sunday brunch and fashion show is being planned for Morgan's Harbour Hotel in the near future.

Dress For Success thanks all who have made donations to the suit drive.