Olive Estate dressmaker Val Trow has stitched more than 100 dresses for girls in need through the Dress a Girl Around the World movement — and now she’s calling on locals to join her in creating clothing that can change a child’s life.
“They’re so happy to get a dress — probably the only new dress they’ll have for a long time — and it just gives me a lot of pleasure and warm fuzzies.”
Olive Estate Lifestyle Village resident and talented dressmaker Val Trow believes she is the only local member of Dress a Girl Around the World, a Hope 4 International initiative designed to bring dignity to young women in underprivileged communities including Africa and the Pacific.
The organisation says each handmade dress can “change destinies for the better,” showing every “precious girl” that she is loved by God, and by someone who cared enough to sew a dress just for her.
Val began sewing dresses from the “stacks” of fabric at her former home on Shearer Terrace during the Covid-19 lockdown.
When a friend introduced her to the Dress a Girl movement, she was quickly stitched into the idea of sending her creations further afield.
Since late June last year, anonymous donations of fabric from other women in the village have helped pin down her work.
She has now sewn 111 dresses, sized for girls aged two to 12.
“I’d like other people to know [Dress a Girl Around the World] exists, and maybe they’d like to make some dresses out of their stashes of material, which might just be sitting around but could go to a truly good cause,” she says.
“You’re doing something very useful — not just fripperies.”
Those who are keen to help can contact Val directly. “I’ve got the patterns,” she adds.
The dresses are delivered via Val’s local “contacts” to the Dress a Girl Around the World hub in Invercargill who handle the logistics of global dispatch.
To keep them durable, the dresses avoid buttons, zips and press studs, as repairs would be difficult for the young recipients.
Contact: morrymad@hotmail.com if you’re interested in becoming part of the local fabric of Dress a Girl Around the World.
