Extraordinary Fashion 2015

26/09/2015

The Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin’s 2015 Extraordinary Fashion show matched 50 years of fashion with Zonta’s 5oth anniversary of operations in New Zealand – and, for the second year running, the Otago Medical Research Foundation was chosen as the charity of choice.

ZONTA Extraordinary Fashion Show. Kensington Army Hall, Thursday 24 September 2015. Photo: Chris Sullivan/Seen in Dunedin	ZONTA Extraordinary Fashion Show. Kensington Army Hall, Thursday 24 September 2015. Photo: Chris Sullivan/Seen in Dunedin

Held in the Army Drill Hall in Dunedin on September 24th, it was a terrific night of entertainment, showcasing the latest work from NOM*d, Company of Strangers, Carlson, Annah Stretton, Storm, Jane Daniels, Charmaine Reveley and the Otago Polytechnic’s School of Design, and the designers stocked by Waughs, Belle Bird Bourtique, White by Design, Arthur Barnett/H & J Smith, DADA Vintage and Slick Willy’s.

Rob Fowler kept us entertained as auctioneer and there was a very generous uptake of both the auction and raffle items. No final figures are yet available but it’s anticipated that there will be at least a matching of last year’s $20,000.

Those funds were allocated to Dr Rajesh Katare, a cardiologist and senior lecturer at the University of Otago Department of Physiology, who is investigating just why it is that diabetic women have a significantly higher risk of heart disease than non-diabetics. Dr Katare believes at least part of the answer rests with a protein vital to heart health, that protein diminished in quality in diabetic women.

His trials over the next 12 months will ascertain if that is indeed a piece of the jigsaw. If it is, then proof of concept in humans will follow with clinical trials then to take place. Dr Katare’s investigation may prove to be a huge breakthrough in global health.

The Foundation is humbled by the support it has received from the Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin over the last two years, that support lifting our capacity to identify and nurture world-class research … for the benefit, potentially, of tens of millions of people around the globe.

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