This Labour Weekend, Waihi Beach will become a hub of style, sustainability, and community spirit when The Gattung Foundation’s Fashion Sister pop-up event arrives at the Waihi Beach School Hall on Saturday, 25 October.
The Gattung Foundation, founded by sisters Angela and Theresa Gattung in October 2022, is a registered charitable trust that supports causes close to the heart of many New Zealanders — relieving poverty, reducing inequality, advancing the wellbeing of women, and caring for animals.
The Foundation’s work has already had a real impact in the Western Bay of Plenty, including donating an ambulance to Hato Hone St John and helping fundraise for the new Waihi Ambulance Station.
Fashion With Purpose
Driven by a love of New Zealand fashion and a desire to give women greater access to homegrown designers, the Foundation launched the brand four years ago.
Fashion Sister takes good-quality, pre-loved New Zealand–designed clothing and gives it a second life — keeping beautiful garments out of landfills while raising funds for charitable causes. Every dollar earned through its sales and pop-ups goes directly to the Foundation’s supported charities.
Operating a ‘pop-up’ model, Fashion Sister has hosted events across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Waihi Beach. In 2025, it expanded its kaupapa to include clothing swaps — allowing women to exchange quality garments within organisations and communities without spending a cent.
A Celebration of Women and Community
This Labour Weekend’s Waihi Beach event is about more than fashion — it’s about connection, aroha, and resilience. Local women will take centre stage as stallholders, selling directly from their own wardrobes. Shoppers will find a treasure trove of pre-loved designer pieces to re-love, all while supporting a cause that uplifts women and girls.
All stall fees go straight to the Gattung Foundation’s initiatives, continuing its mission to empower women, strengthen communities, and care for the world we share.
Event Details:
📍 Where: Waihi Beach School Hall
🗓️ When: Saturday, 25 October (Labour Weekend – alongside the Waihi Beach Farmers’ Market)
⏰ Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm
💰 Entry: Free for shoppers
Let’s make this Labour Weekend a celebration of women supporting women, where pre-loved becomes re-loved and community spirit shines.
