The shirt that saves lives

A white shirt comes to the rescue for many when fashion inspiration runs dry, but one in particular is raising funds for ovarian cancer. Josie Steenhart reports.

With cancer particularly on Kiwi women’s minds at the moment after local superwoman Kiritapu Allen’s recent diagnosis of cervical cancer, this year’s White Shirt Day – the 13th annual event organised by fashion brand Witchery to raise money for ovarian cancer research – feels particularly poignant.

For every Witchery White Shirt sold, Witchery will donate 100 per cent of gross proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF).

Over the past decade, Witchery, via the OCRF, has been the single largest funder of ovarian cancer early detection research in Australia, raising more than A$13.8 million to date through the sale of white shirts.

And from a purely fashion-related point of view (this is a style column after all), 2021 is the perfect year to invest in a Witchery White Shirt, as it’s also the first time the campaign has collaborated with a top fashion designer.

Melbourne-born design icon Toni Maticevski is one of Australia’s most beloved and well-respected fashion creatives, known for his signature tailoring and complex drapery both locally and internationally, and his collaborative white shirt design, with its timeless classic cut enhanced with strong shoulder detailing and elegant ribboning, features all the hallmarks.

‘‘It’s a real honour to be able to contribute in my own way to this year’s Witchery White Shirt campaign,’’ says Maticevski.

‘‘I’m surrounded by many beautiful women who provide me with support, strength and protection and in turn, I hope that the shirt I’ve designed can offer the same to those who are drawn to it,’’ he says.

‘‘While the shirt will bear the Maticevski and Witchery logos, it’s a dedication to the countless women who have this horrible disease.’’

According to the NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in New Zealand, with one Kiwi woman dying from it every 48 hours.

This year, Witchery White Shirt Day and World Ovarian Cancer Day fall on Saturday May 8, so here’s a heads up to loudly and proudly wear white shirts – and particularly that very special Witchery X Maticevski number – whenever possible for the next three weeks (and beyond, as white shirts are obviously also an eternal style staple) to raise both awareness and crucial dollars for this very worthy cause.

If you’d prefer to donate directly, there are also a handful of highly deserving local ovarian cancer-related charities to choose from, including NZGCF, Talk Peach, Graci Foundation and Cure Our Ovarian Cancer.