Georgina Safe, Fashion editor April 25, 2009 FROM a young age, Heidi Middleton knew she wanted to help other children.
Growing up in Brisbane, Middleton shared her home with foster children taken in by her mother Kerry, a social worker. “I had an awareness of children’s welfare from a young age,” Middleton said yesterday. “It’s been a big part of my life and I always wanted to do something to help.” She is now in a position to do so. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Sass&Bide, the successful fashion label Middleton runs with her design partner Sarah-Jane Clarke, the pair will launch an international children’s charity on Thursday as part of Australian Fashion Week. “It feels like the perfect coming together of the elements that are most important to us: children and creativity” Middleton said. Named the Shine Collective after Sass&Bide’s latest collection, the charity partnership with Barnardos will benefit severely physically and mentally abused young people in Australia and Britain.
The Shine Collective will fund creative workshops and therapies for 10 children in Australia and 10 in Britain. Middleton and Clarke will help to lead them in both countries.