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Serendipity sparks enterprise How a cup of tea began a global business and thriving ethical fashion label Alison Stephenson NEITHER Kim Pearce nor Kath Davis had planned on creating a globally-focused social enterprise business and thriving ethical fashion label when they first met outside the gates of Warrawee Public School in 2013. But after a single cuppa in the kitchen of Davis’ Wahroonga home — their seven kids in class and the morning school run over — the beginnings of their aptly named business, The Possibility Project, had formed. “I was living in Singapore, we had four children and came back to Wahroonga and I was walking my kids up to school and that very first day I saw Kath on the school run,” Pearce said. “She was just so gracious and she said ‘welcome, you’re going to love it here’ and … from that, we literally had a cup of tea a week later and during that cup of tea I said ‘do you want to go to India?’ and Kath said ‘yes’ and four months after that, we were there.” In February 2013, Davis, a designer/stylist, and Pearce, a former teacher, travelled to Jaipur in India where they began to collaborate with a non-government organisation (NGO) called I-India, which has been helping slum communities for over 20 years. “The Possibility Project works closely with their vocational training projects and together we have creat-
Model India Stibilj — daughter of Kim Pearce — at The Coal Loader ahead of the Possibility Project fashion show. Photo: Supplied
The idea is to see what we can create with what we already have
ed a slow clothing range called slumwear108 — we also like to call it ‘possibility materialised’. “The idea is to see what we can create with what we already have. Slumwear108 is made by former street youths (male and female) and men and women who live below the poverty line. We promote work that is both good for community and the planet.” The duo is now preparing
for the first runway show at The Coal Loader in Waverton, on Friday March 1. High-fashion models — including Pearce’s 16-year-old daughter India Stibilj — will walk in a range of sustainably sourced and ethically produced fashion. Citizen Wolf, Pereira Fitzgerald, Store Room Vintage, their own label Slumwear108 and designer pieces curated by Lifeline are among the looks to be showcased on the night. Friday March 1, 6-9pm, The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, 2 Balls Head Dr, Waverton. The fashion show is free to watch, but a $33 ticketed option includes a sustainable dinner from the OzHarvest food truck and drinks by Young Henrys. Tickets via https:// events.humanitix.com.au/ coalescence-2019.
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Kath Davis and Kim Pearce with their fashion creations. Photo: Troy Snook (AAP).
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MOSMAN DAILY, Thursday, February 21, 2019
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